Google is continuously advancing the security of Pixel devices. We have been focusing on hardening the cellular baseband modem against exploitation. Recognizing the risks associated within the complex modem firmware, Pixel 9 shipped with mitigations against a range of memory-safety vulnerabilities. For Pixel 10, Google is advancing its proactive security measures further. Following our previous di...
**STEELMAN**: Google's integration of Rust into Pixel modem firmware represents a proactive and technically sound approach to mitigating memory-safety vulnerabilities in low-level systems. By replacing a critical attack surface—the DNS parser—with memory-safe code, Google reduces the risk of exploitation while demonstrating the feasibility of Rust in embedded environments. The use of *hickory-proto*, a well-maintained open-source crate, leverages community expertise, and the modifications for *n...