30/12/2023
A trio of cunning IT security researchers hailing from Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin) unraveled Tesla's driving assistant with a mischievous flair, activating what can only be described as the elusive "Elon mode" and gaining unauthorized access to the company's clandestine secrets, as unveiled by Spiegel. Astonishingly, the researchers assert that this vulnerability permeates all Tesla models, casting a shadow of uncertainty over the supposedly impervious electric fleet.
Armed with tools totaling a mere 600 euros, the audacious TU Berlin students—Christian Werling, Niclas Kühnapfel, and Hans-Niklas Jacob—orchestrated a mere two-second voltage drop of 560 millivolts, a seemingly innocuous glitch that opened the gates to Tesla's inner sanctum. Their enigmatic dance with Tesla's autopilot unfolded as they rooted the ARM64-based circuit board, revealing the vulnerability inherent in all Tesla models.
This voltage-induced glitch proved to be a key to unlocking a trove of secrets as researchers extracted arbitrary code and user data from the system's innards. Cryptographic keys and vital system components succumbed to their prying eyes, allowing a meticulous reconstruction of the autopilot's inner workings. In a digital heist of sorts, the researchers even resurrected a video complete with GPS coordinates, a digital artifact deleted by a previous owner but miraculously preserved in the bowels of Tesla's systems.
Unveiling the clandestine "Elon mode," a secret hands-free full self-driving feature, the researchers demonstrated the potential for autonomous operation without any driver input or oversight. This secretive mode, discovered earlier by the intrepid in June 2023, poses questions about Tesla's ability to safeguard its proprietary features from prying eyes.
The implications of this digital caper extend beyond the realm of mere exploration, potentially allowing users to unlock premium features without the customary financial commitment. In a prior exhibition of their prowess at Blackhat, these same researchers showcased an infotainment AMD processor hack, liberating seat heaters without the burden of payment.
While Tesla's "full self-driving" (FSD) capability beckons as a tantalizing upgrade priced at $12,000, its real-world performance has been marred by criticisms, including phantom braking and erroneous decisions. The researchers, with a hint of skepticism, sought to dissect Tesla's safety architecture and expose gaps in its Autopilot system, leaving lingering doubts about the true safety of these futuristic vehicles.
In a stark revelation, the researchers boldly assume that all Tesla vehicles are susceptible to such an attack, driven by the belief that they likely share the same circuit board. Their revelation, presented with a mix of surprise and concern, echoes through the digital corridors, questioning the fortitude of Tesla's intellectual fortress. Yet, a silver lining remains—the physical nature of this hack demands access to the circuit board, a delicate dance of removal, reinstallation, and soldering skills, rendering it more theoretical than practical outside the controlled confines of a laboratory.
