Methods to Unlock PIN/PUK Codes from SIM Cards

This SBIR Phase I project for subtopic 2 under topic H-SB011.2-003 will develop technology to successfully decrypt SIM cards by acquiring or bypassing personal identity number (PIN) and personal unlocking key (PUK) codes from locked SIM cards. Cellphones and other mobile devices play an increasing role in criminal and terrorist activity. SIM cards lock either with a PIN or PUK that disables direct access to, and examination of, data on the SIM. We will develop and design a small portable forensic system that will connect to a computer or PDA. The forensic system will perform two very different methods to extract or bypass the security codes: one method is based on side channel analysis and the other method is to modify the software on the card to read the data. The results from both methods are returned to the user for further analysis. The technical objectives of this Phase I project are to demonstrate a proof-of-principle measurement using these methods and to design a small, lightweight package for the system.