Attacking Flight Management Systems
Uses reverse engineering to uncover vulnerabilities in flight management computers and demonstrates manipulation of navigation data.
Summary
The Critical Role of Flight Management Systems
Flight Management Systems (FMS) automate in-flight navigation, calculate fuel efficiency profiles, generate route plans, and provide lateral and vertical guidance commands directly to the autopilot.
Reverse Engineering FMS Firmware
Researchers reverse-engineered the software and firmware of a widely deployed commercial flight management computer, analyzing how it processes navigation databases and external bus commands.
Manipulating Navigation and Waypoint Databases
Vulnerabilities discovered in the software validation routines allow an attacker to alter stored waypoint coordinates, airway identifiers, and procedural altitude constraints.
Operational Risk Scenarios in Navigation Control
Tampering with flight management data can mislead cockpit navigation displays, degrade autopilot tracking precision, and induce pilot disorientation during instrument approach procedures.
Related talks
Aerospace Village·28 min
Karl Koscher
Examines the architecture and security design of Boeing 737 Communication Management Units through embedded reverse engineering.
Aerospace Village·30 min
Nicholas Childs
Nicholas Childs demystifies aircraft avionics communication buses, providing a foundational primer on ARINC 429, MIL-STD-1553, and cockpit data networks.
Aerospace Village·24 min
Michael Vanguardia
Outlines Boeing's product security framework for integrating cyber resiliency into commercial airplane design and verification.