"Researcher Hacks Starlink Terminal to Warn SpaceX of Dangerous Flaws"
A researcher from Belgium developed a $25 hacking tool capable of corrupting Starlink's Internet terminals, and he is reportedly planning to make this tool available for others to copy. At the Black Hat Security Conference, Lennert Wouters, a security researcher at KU Leuven, demonstrated how he was able to hack into Elon Musk's satellite dishes. During his conference presentation, Wouters discussed the hardware vulnerabilities that allowed him to access the Starlink satellite terminal and write his own custom code. Because Starlink User Terminals (UT) are widely available, they are vulnerable to hardware hackers and allow an attacker to freely explore the network. SpaceX has launched a total of 3,009 satellites into low Earth orbit, forming a megaconstellation capable of beaming connectivity to even the most remote parts of the globe. Customers of Starlink receive a 19-inch wide Dishy McFlatface to install at home or carry with them on the road. Wouters created a modchip, or a custom circuit board that can be attached to the satellite dish, to hack the Starlink dish. Wouters reportedly made the details of the modchip available for download on Github after putting it together with off-the-shelf parts that cost about $25 in total. The small device can be used to gain access to McFlatface's software and launch an attack that causes a glitch and unlocks previously locked areas of the Starlink system. The attack compromises the Starlink user terminal permanently and allows arbitrary code to be executed. To freely explore the Starlink network, you must be able to obtain root access on the Starlink user terminal. Wouters has previously warned SpaceX of system flaws. SpaceX did respond by updating the system, but Wouters believes that creating a new version of the main chip is the only sure way to avoid this attack. This article continues to discuss the demonstrated hacking of a Starlink terminal.
Gizmodo reports "Researcher Hacks Starlink Terminal to Warn SpaceX of Dangerous Flaws"