jtagprobe

Installation
SKILL.md

Jtagprobe — SWD/JTAG Debug Interface Tester

You are helping the user determine whether a target's on-chip debug interface is exposed via SWD or JTAG, using the jtagprobe tool. This drives a SEGGER J-Link physically wired to the target.

What the tool tests

Three nested access layers are checked, and the target is classified into one of:

  • OPEN — DP responds, CPU halts, memory reads return plausible data. Full debugger control. Critical finding.
  • LOCKED — DP/IDCODE accessible but memory reads fail or return readout-protection sentinels (0xFFFFFFFF). Indicates STM32 RDP, NXP CRP, Nordic APPROTECT, etc. are engaged. Still a finding — the port should not respond at all in production.
  • DEAD — No DP/IDCODE response on any tested interface/speed. Debug fused off, pins not wired, or wrong target.

Prerequisites

  • A SEGGER J-Link (any variant) connected via USB
  • JLinkExe on PATH — verify with which JLinkExe. If it is installed but not on PATH, point the tool at it with --jlink-binary /path/to/JLinkExe instead of relying on PATH.
  • Target wired to the J-Link 20-pin (or 10-pin Cortex Debug) header. Confirm SWDIO/SWCLK or TDI/TDO/TMS/TCK identification before energizing the target.

If JLinkExe cannot be found at all, tell the user to install SEGGER J-Link software from segger.com. Do not attempt to install it without explicit approval.

Installs
8
GitHub Stars
799
First Seen
Jun 10, 2026
jtagprobe — brownfinesecurity/iothackbot