This Coin-Sized Device Can Hack a Boeing 737
Security researchers found that in less than 60 seconds, they could open a hatch on a plane’s exterior, plug in a tiny device, and redirect the aircraft’s autopilot or sabotage its flight plan.
A team of researchers from the University of California San Diego and Oberlin College will demonstrate at an upcoming cybersecurity conference how they can hack a Boeing 737 to manipulate its autopilot and flight calculations. Their device, roughly the size of a coin and costing less than $100, can be fitted into an accessible port within minutes.
Once in place, it can send misleading signals to the plane's internal systems, potentially causing incursions on runways, diversions to different countries, or even catastrophic crashes. The researchers aim to highlight physical access hacking as a practical threat and a significant oversight in aircraft security compared to traditional threats like bombs.
They emphasize that the vulnerability lies in an easily accessible port, enabling an attacker to take control of the autopilot and deceive the pilot about flight plan changes. Although Boeing has reviewed the research and responded with its own assurances of sufficient protection, the researchers argue that the aviation industry should consider long-term cybersecurity improvements and immediate operational security measures.
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