The Tesla Model X reportedly has a security vulnerability that allowed a hacker to take control of the vehicle in a matter of seconds through the use of Bluetooth. This is not the first time that a Tesla EV has reportedly been hacked, although the speed at which the incident took place highlights some of the pitfalls with vehicles running on software.
There's a good reason why the Model X is considered one of Tesla's most expensive vehicles. After all, it's basically outfitted with some of the best safety features in its category, even earning itself a five-star safety rating from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. However, integrating a lot of tech inside a vehicle does come with its own problems, and hackers have already proven in the past that even Teslas can be vulnerable to software attacks. Last month, a hacker was able to unearth supposedly inaccessible data that Tesla had been collecting from vehicles, but now, another hacker was able to break into more than just sensitive data.
According to Wired, a security researcher named Lennert Wouters found a way to breach the defenses of a Tesla Model X with the whole process of unlocking the vehicle taking only 90 seconds. Of course, Wouters had to go to the trouble of putting together a specific hardware kit, which contained a modified Model X key fob and Body Control Module connected to a Raspberry Pi minicomputer circuitry board, all of which cost around $300. Wouters specified that utilizing the hacking tool correctly can fool the vehicle into thinking that it's being unlocked by the owner.
While that would only go as far as unlocking the vehicle, getting it to run required additional steps, including plugging a computer into a port inside the vehicle. The whole process, including how Bluetooth helped in obtaining the details needed to clone the real key fob signature, can be seen in the video below. Tesla was reportedly made aware of the issue and is understood to be rolling out a fix.
Tesla Vehicle Tech A Double-Edged Sword
One of the biggest advantages of a Tesla vehicle over the competition is the cutting-edge technology and the convenience of over-the-air updates. However, this also leaves them susceptible to exploits. While Tesla is constantly finding ways to discourage hackers through software updates and warnings, that hasn't stopped others from making their own modifications. If hackers are able to unlock some of the vehicle's more expensive features at a lesser cost, that could discourage others from investing in more expensive Performance packages.
The mere thought of hackers being able to break into an almost $100,000 SUV at less than a fraction of the cost can easily be an unsettling thought for Model X owners. However, Tesla CEO Elon Musk's promise of delivering a fiery software update over the holidays might be enough to put some of those concerns at ease.
Source: Wired