Talk to your Intel Management Engine directly — zero-dependency Python tool. Finds memory leaks, partition manifest, live MKHI probing. First public HECI Spy.
"Your computer has a secret second computer inside it. We found it, mapped it, and documented what's hiding in there."
One Python script. Zero dependencies. Talk to your Intel Management Engine directly.
python scripts/heci_spy.py
# Requirements: Windows, Python 3.6+, Run as Administrator
What it does:
Just ran it on a Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 (i7-12650H, CSME 16.0.15.1735):
MKHI v3.1 | FW 16.0.1735.15 | 8 partitions found | GEN.1B: 0x00C344CA (changes each run!)
We confirmed: 7/12 MKHI commands respond. The ME is alive, talking, and leaking memory.
▶️ Watch the 35-second demo — (right-click save-as, or upload to YouTube for inline playback)
📊 View the full 21-slide presentation
This is the first-ever public disclosure of the complete internal structure of Intel CSME 16.x (Alder Lake) firmware, decoded from live hardware.
Nobody has ever published:
All from a Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 with Intel Core i7-12650H (12th Gen Alder Lake).
Intel Management Engine (ME) is a hidden microcontroller built into every modern Intel CPU. It runs its own operating system, has its own processor (Synopsys ARC EM), and operates 24/7 — even when your PC is completely shut down. Most people know it exists. Almost nobody has looked inside it.
This project does.
We successfully:
IfwiRoot/ (THE ENTIRE FIRMWARE)
├── BiosRegion (Your BIOS — 24MB)
├── DescriptorRegion (Flash layout)
│ ├── FDBAR/ (Flash Database)
│ │ ├── FLASH_VALID_SIGNATURE
│ │ ├── FLMAP0-4 (Component maps)
│ │ └── EcRegionPointer ← EC firmware pointer
│ ├── PchStraps (PCH hardware config)
│ │ ├── PCH_Strap_DMI_OPDMI_TLS: "4 GT/s"
│ │ ├── PCH_Strap_DMI_OPD_LVO: "0.95 Volts"
│ │ └── PCH_Strap_FIA_LOSL0-3: USB3/PCIe config
│ ├── MipDesc/ (Management Engine descriptors)
│ │ ├── PmcStraps (PMC config — Type-C ports)
│ │ └── DbCStraps (Debug Capability)
│ ├── MasterAccessPermissions ← SECURITY LOCKS
│ ├── OEM (Lenovo OEM data)
│ └── VsccTable (SPI flash component table)
│
├── CseRegion (THE INTEL ME — 4.8MB)
│ ├── RomBypass ← HIDDEN BOOT MECHANISM
│ ├── RomBypassVector (Jump table)
│ ├── BPDT1/ (Boot Partition Table 1)
│ │ ├── FTPR (Fault Tolerant Recovery — 2.2MB)
│ │ ├── RBE (ROM Bypass Engine)
│ │ ├── PMC (Power Management)
│ │ ├── IOM (Intel Orchestrator Manager)
│ │ ├── NPHY (Network PHY firmware)
│ │ ├── IDLM (Dynamic Link Manager)
│ │ ├── TBTP (Thunderbolt — 40KB readable)
│ │ ├── OEM_KM (OEM Key Manifest — Lenovo's keys)
│ │ └── PCHC (PCH Configuration)
│ ├── BPDT3/
│ │ ├── NFTP (Non-Fault Tolerant — 436KB readable)
│ │ ├── ISHC (Integrated Sensor Hub — 88KB)
│ │ ├── IUNIT (Intel Unit firmware)
│ │ └── GBST (Performance Boost)
│ └── DATA_PARTITION/
│ ├── FLOG (Flash Log)
│ ├── ELOG (Event Log)
│ ├── EFS (Encrypted File System)
│ ├── FITC/ (Flash Image Tool Config)
│ │ ├── HmrfpoNvar (HMRFPO config)
│ │ ├── ConfigRulesNvar (Configuration rules)
│ │ ├── PavpHdcpNvar (DRM/ HDCP config)
│ │ ├── ChipsetInit (Chipset initialization)
│ │ ├── EomNvar (End-of-Manufacturing config)
│ │ ├── TbtConfigDataNvar (Thunderbolt config)
│ │ └── CameraGpioNvar (Camera GPIO config)
│ ├── HVMP (Hypervisor Management Policy)
│ ├── IVBP (Intel Verified Boot Policy)
│ ├── IMDP (Intel Management Data Path)
│ └── UTOK (Unit Token — device authentication)
│
├── EcRegion (Embedded Controller firmware)
├── GbeRegion (Gigabit Ethernet MAC)
└── SigningContainer (Intel signing blob)
// Platform Identification (at ME+0x29C134)
{
"StrapsProject": "adp_p_straps.xml",
"HarnessProject": "ADP-P PCH (w/ADL-P / M CPU) RDL v1.0.2.5",
"HarnessLabel": "v1.30 ADP-P (Harness #50)",
"SelectedRvp": "ADL-P DDR4 (ADL-P + ADP-P)"
}
// PCH Strap Configuration (at ME+0x29C523)
{
"PCH_Strap_DMI_OPDMI_TLS": "4 GT/s",
"PCH_Strap_DMI_OPD_LVO": "0.95 Volts",
"PCH_Strap_FIA_LOSL0": "USB3",
"PCH_Strap_FIA_LOSL1": "USB3",
"PCH_Strap_FIA_LOSL2": "PCIe",
"PCH_Strap_FIA_LOSL3": "PCIe"
}
// PMC Type-C Port Configuration (at ME+0x29C753)
{
"PD0_Type_C_Port_Enabled": "Yes",
"PD0_USB2_Port": "USB2 Port 2",
"PD1_Type_C_Port_Enabled": "No",
"PD2_Type_C_Port_Enabled": "No",
"PD3_Type_C_Port_Enabled": "No"
}
// BootGuard Profile (at ME+0x29D38F)
{ "BtGuardProfileConfig": 3 }
Intel On-Die Root CA (ODCA CA2)
│ https://tsci.intel.com/.../ODCA_CA2_CSME_Indirect.crl
└── signs
CSME ADL ROM CA0 (Root of Trust — CPU fuses)
│ Serial: 0x01 | SHA-256: 86474ecc2fc0c74b
│ BURNED INTO HARDWARE — CANNOT be changed
├── signs
│ CSME ADL SVN01 Kernel CA0 (Core ME OS)
│ └── signs CSME ADL PAVP 01SVN0 (DRM)
│ └── signs PAVP SGX CP0 + Playready
└── signs
CSME ADL PTT 01SVN0 (Platform Trust)
└── signs 3 PTT signing certificates
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Laptop | Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 15IAH7 (82S9) |
| CPU | Intel Core i7-12650H (12th Gen Alder Lake) |
| ME Version | CSME 16.0.15.1735 |
| ME SKU | Consumer LP |
| ME Date | 2022-02-17 |
| Build | JMCN48WW |
| PCH | ADL Device 5182, Rev A1 |
Intel ME (also called Intel Management Engine or CSME) is an autonomous subsystem embedded in the Platform Controller Hub (PCH). It has been present in every Intel consumer chipset since 2008.