Satellites Beware: Hackers Find Space Invaders Easier Than Ever!
At Black Hat, experts showed how hacking satellites is cheaper than anti-satellite missiles. Demonstrating software vulnerabilities, they proved a satellite could be hacked with an unauthenticated phone call. While all issues were fixed, relying on buggy code for orbital control is risky business.
Hot Take:
*Prepare to be shocked as we discover that hacking satellites is easier than making a perfect soufflé. Forget anti-satellite missiles; just get a laptop, some questionable software, and voilà, you’re the new space overlord!*
Key Points:
– **Satellites Galore:** The number of satellites has skyrocketed from under 1,000 in 2005 to about 12,300 in 2023, including a massive fleet from SpaceX.
– **Open Source, Open Season:** Vulnerabilities in popular open-source satellite control software, like Yamcs and OpenC3 Cosmos, have been exposed.
– **NASA’s Got Holes:** NASA’s systems, including the Core Flight System and CryptoLib, are riddled with critical vulnerabilities.
– **Simulated Chaos:** Researchers demonstrated how easy it is to change a satellite’s orbit or crash its software using these vulnerabilities.
– **Fixes in Place:** All identified vulnerabilities have been disclosed and patched, but the potential for more issues remains.