Security researchers take control of a Tesla via drone

Last week at an IT security conference, a pair of cyber security researchers demonstrated how they could unlock and open a Tesla’s doors using only a drone outfitted with a Wi-Fi dongle.

They were originally going to demonstrate this at last year’s Pwn2Own hacking competition, but that contest got canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So, they presented it at this year’s CanSecWest conference instead.

You can view the German cyber security experts’ presentation via a 40-minute-long YouTube video. If you want to skip to the action, you can head directly to the 36-minute mark to see them unlock the Tesla.

The hack shouldn’t be possible today, the researchers explained, because the security flaw they exploited got fixed with a software update last October after they informed Tesla about it. However, the researchers said other automakers might have the same vulnerability in their operating systems.

In their presentation, the researchers said they exploited vulnerabilities in ConnMan, an open source software component produced by Inte that functions as an internet connection manager for embedded devices.

The researchers discovered they could exploit this flaw to take control of a Tesla’s infotainment system. From there, they could do anything a driver could do by pressing the buttons on the car’s console, including unlocking the doors and trunk, changing seat positions, playing music, and controlling the air conditioning.

However, they couldn’t start or drive the car.

In the video, they use a drone equipped with a Wi-Fi dongle to remotely hack into a Tesla Model X’s infotainment system. They said this technique worked on Tesla S, 3, X, and Y models from up to 300 feet away.

The really concerning part is that other automakers besides Tesla use ConnMan software. An improved version of ConnMan came out in February, the researchers said, but it’s not clear how many automakers are using it.

Of course, this isn’t the first time hackers or cyber security researchers have targeted Tesla or its vehicles. In March, hackers breached more than 150,000 security cameras at Tesla and internet security provider Cloudflare. Last year, McAfee researchers used a two-inch strip of tape to trick Tesla autopilot systems into accelerating their vehicles 50 mph above the speed limit. Finally, in 2018, security researchers discovered Tesla keyfobs were vulnerable to spoofing attacks that would allow attackers to steal a Tesla simply by walking past the owner and cloning their key.