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FBI Alleges Security Researcher Tampered With a Plane's Flight Control Systems

Posted by Soulskill on from the feel-free-to-not-do-that dept.

Salo2112 writes with a followup to a story from April in which a security researcher was pulled off a plane by FBI agents seemingly over a tweet referencing a security weakness in one of the plane's systems. At the time, the FBI insisted he had actually tampered with core systems on an earlier flight, and now we have details. The FBI's search warrant application (PDF) alleges that the researcher, Chris Roberts, not only hacked the in-flight entertainment system, but also accessed the Thrust Management Computer and issued a climb command. "He stated that he thereby caused one of the airplane engines to climb resulting in a lateral or sideways movement of the plane during one of these flights. He also stated that he used Vortex software after comprising/exploiting or ‘hacking’ the airplane’s networks. He used the software to monitor traffic from the cockpit system." Roberts says the FBI has presented his statements out of their proper context.

4 of 190 comments (clear)

  1. call me skeptical by ganjadude · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Somehow I doubt this actually happened. While I can believe that in theory it might be possible. I just dont see this guy, a security researcher from what I understand has a great reputation would have done this.

    More likely the government is trying to save face right now. and since the TSA cant seem to catch any real terrorists, might as well make an example out of someone instead.

    --
    have you seen my sig? there are many others like it but none that are the same
    1. Re:call me skeptical by sjames · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Surely if he ACTUALLY did any such thing the FAA would have issued a notice requiring aircraft WiFi (at least in that model plane)to be disabled. It seems like we have an id10t at the FBI who wants to notch his belt and hasn't considered the wider implications of his allegations.

      Consider if the FBI should prevail in court. Suddenly the FAA comes under fire and has to publicly denounce the verdict and the FBI to save itself. The flip side is that the FAA gets proactive and testifies that it can't happen and the FBI gets to sit in the hot seat.

    2. Re:call me skeptical by Rich0 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Well, either he did manage to access the flight controls from the entertainment system, or he didn't.

      If he didn't, I don't think the FBI has much of a case.

      If he did, then the FAA should certainly be issuing an airworthiness directive banning any inflight entertainment system with a connection to the flight control systems. I don't think it is likely that they'd be satisfied with passwords. As far as the FAA is concerned video games on planes are optional, safe flight is not.

      The fact that the FAA hasn't gotten involved makes me skeptical of the FBI's claims. I have a lot of issues with how the FAA does things, but they usually take any kind of potential aircraft defect seriously.

  2. FBI probably left out the virtual simulation part by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Do not under any circumstance EVER talk to law enforcement. It's that simple stupid. I don't care if the cop threatens to tow your car and take your children. STFU. If they have something on you they will do it anyway and if they don't then they're trying to get you to say something for which they can arrest you. Nothing you say will ever help you in a court of law. Law enforcement are TRAINED TO LIE in order to get the responses they're after. "Sir- I'll need to ask you to step out of your car so I can search it". He's not ordering you to step out of your car. He's asking permission to search your car. If you comply he'll testify in court you gave permission for them to search your car. The exact phrasing will never be heard in court as the cop will just summarize it as "I asked for permission to search he responded yes". Had you STFU and only surrendered your name and address and if driving your ID, insurance, and registration you would never have ended up arrested. Yes- cops will "get angry" if you don't "cooperate". They will threaten to arrest you. However these are generally lies to get you to do what they want (allow a search, etc). If you don't "cooperate" they won't actually arrest you 99% of the time because they haven't got anything on you.