Researchers said Friday that they had repaired a digital weakness in the computer systems used on some Boeing flights, which might have allowed rogue hackers to change data and lead pilots to make fatal mistakes.
In a study, cybersecurity firm Pen Test Partners stated that hackers with direct access to the electronic flight bag, a tablet device used by pilots to plan flights, were tampering with older versions of a digital tool used to calculate landing and take-off speeds on some planes.
According to the report, if the data is modified and the resulting estimation errors are not detected during the required crew inspection or verification process, the aircraft could land on a very short runway or take off at incorrect speeds, resulting in a crash in the tail of the aircraft. on the ground or off the runway.
Boeing stated in a statement that it was not aware of any aircraft affected by the issue, but that a software update had been published to resolve it.
The impact on flight safety is quite modest, according to Alex Lomas, a security consultant with Pen Test Partners, during Friday’s presentation. Pilots are taught how to deal with uncommon situations.
Fixed a digital vulnerability in various Boeing aircraft’s computer systems
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