Issue Flashing Firmware to STM32F3 on ChipWhisperer-Lite (Capture + UFO)

Embedded Security ChipWhisperer Hardware
1

Hi everyone,

I’m trying to flash the firmware onto my STM32F3 target using the ChipWhisperer-Lite (Capture + UFO). However, I’m getting the following error:

Failed to detect chip. Check following:

  1. Connections and device power.
  2. Device has valid clock (or remove clock entirely for internal osc).
  3. On Rev -02 CW308T-STM32Fx boards, BOOT0 is routed to PDIC.

OSError: Could not detect STM32F, check connections, BOOT MODE entry setup.

PLATFORM = ‘CWLITEARM’
SS_VER = ‘SS_VER_2_1’
CRYPTO_TARGET = ‘TINYAES128C’

I used the following command in Python:

cw.program_target(scope, cw.programmers.STM32FProgrammer,
"

WhatsApp Image 2025-03-17 at 16.58.25
WhatsApp Image 2025-03-17 at 16.58.251920×2560 1.04 MB

chipwhisperer/hardware/victims/firmware/simpleserial-base/simpleserial-base-CW308_STM32F3.hex")
image
image901×919 74.3 KB

2

I can’t quite tell from your picture, where is your J3 jumper? You need a jumper on row 3 (HS2/out) so that the target gets the clock from the CW-lite (see: CW308 UFO — ChipWhisperer Documentation).

This is why the error message says to check that the target has a valid clock.

3

Thanks for your response!

I’ve checked the J3 jumper, and it is correctly placed on row 3 (HS2/out) to receive the clock from the CW-Lite. I’ve attached a close-up picture of that row to confirm.

Since the issue persists, could there be another reason why the STM32F3 is not detected? I’ve also double-checked BOOT0/BOOT1 settings and power connections.

Any further suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

WhatsApp Image 2025-03-19 at 10.32.24
WhatsApp Image 2025-03-19 at 10.32.24900×1600 117 KB

4

Hmm…

  • did you run scope.default_setup()?
  • is the target firmly pressed into the CW308? There are pictures and videos here to give you an idea of what it should be.
5

Yes, I ran scope.default_setup() and ensured that the target is firmly pressed into the CW308. I also checked the reference pictures and videos to confirm the correct setup.

However, the issue still persists.

I tried plugging an external crystal oscillator (X1) in, but the issue still persists.

Thanks for your help!

6

In that case it sounds like your STM32 is dead. Contact sales@newae.com to arrange a replacement. If you have any other CW308 target it would be useful to check whether they function normally, to rule out any other possible problem here.

7

hi, i’ve had this issue too. Have you tried to run it on a different environment?
I haven’t been able to successfully find the cause of this, but I’ve had this issue on 2 of my machines with arch linux.
However, when I connected from the same machine to a remote ubuntu VM, and forwarded the USB, it works. Might be worth a try :slight_smile:

8

Try to put a jumper between PDIC (17 contact UFO) and boot0 (11 contact UFO)

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photo_2025-03-25_15-32-49721×1280 196 KB

9

Try several programming versions commands

PLATFORM = ‘CW308_STM32F3’
fw_path = ‘…/…/hardware/victims/firmware/basic-passwdcheck/basic-passwdcheck-{}.hex’.format(PLATFORM)
cw.program_target(scope, cw.programmers.STM32FProgrammer, fw_path)
cw.program_target(scope, prog, fw_path)

Or flash with an external programmer jlink/st-link

10

I’ve resolved the issue! I removed the jumpers and put them back in place, and now everything works fine. I think it was just a false contact.

Thanks for your help!

1 Like
11

FYI this is only for rev-02 boards, as explained here. OP has a rev-03 board.