Chicago based United States’ aerospace tech giant Boeing is likely to face another public controversy related to its 787 Dreamliner jets after a new pandora box opened for an aviation giant.
A new report from Ruben Santamarta, a security researcher revealed on wired claims that leaked code has exposed potential security flaws in the 787 Dreamliner systems, which could allegedly allow an unauthorized individual to access a highly restricted part of the plane’s network. That access may permit the individual to potentially gain control over things ranging from the aircraft’s in-flight entertainment system to its flight control systems and important sensors.
Boeing denied those claims, claiming that the scenarios stated by the researcher “cannot affect any critical or essential airplane system and do not describe a way for remote attackers to access important 787 systems like the avionics system.”
Boeing even claimed that it tested the accused claims both in a lab simulation and on an airplane and found that “existing defenses in the broader 787 network prevent the scenarios claimed.”
A spokesperson for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it has been working with Boeing and the Department of Homeland Security to assess the claims and the agency is “satisfied with the assessment of the issue.”
Boeing said the researcher did not have access to its larger system or working environments, claiming the presentation “irresponsible and misleading.”
Wired also noted that the security researcher admitted that he doesn’t have a full enough picture of the jet, or access to one, to be able to confirm his claims.
Other experts told Wired that based on the initial findings alone, an intruder would not be able to cause immediate danger to the system, hence pose no threat to passengers.
Nonetheless, the experts believe he has found a possible vulnerability that could lead to unavoidable disaster, if not sorted out soon.
To read technical details and original material of claim published by wired, Click here.
