Christian Werling, one of the doctoral students involved in the research, explained that they discovered this technique by causing a momentary hiccup in the processor, causing it to skip an instruction and accept their manipulated code instead. The team plans to present their findings at the upcoming Black Hat cybersecurity conference.
It’s important to note that this jailbreak method requires physical access to a Tesla vehicle, making it more challenging for Tesla to revoke the exploit. According to the researchers, Tesla would need direct access to the car to undo the effects of the jailbreak. As a result, this exploit could potentially allow for the activation of premium features, even in regions where Tesla has not yet made them available.
In addition to unlocking premium features, the researchers claim to have obtained the encryption key that verifies the car’s identity over Tesla’s network. This discovery could lead to the ability to unlock even more features in the future. Moreover, the team managed to extract personal information from the test car, including recent GPS locations, contacts, call logs, and calendar appointments, raising concerns about potential privacy risks.
Over the years, hackers have attempted to bypass Tesla’s paywalls for premium features, with some limited success. Recent efforts even resulted in the discovery of an “Elon Mode” for hands-free FSD operations. However, the hardware-based nature of this new jailbreak makes it more difficult for Tesla to counteract the exploit effectively.
As of now, Tesla has not issued a statement on the matter, and the researchers anticipate that the lack of a communications department could hinder the company’s response. The potential implications of this hardware exploit and its widespread availability have raised serious concerns for Tesla and its customers. Further research and testing are required to fully understand the extent of the exploit’s capabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Tesla jailbreak
What did the researchers from the Technical University of Berlin discover?
The researchers from the Technical University of Berlin discovered a hardware exploit in Tesla’s infotainment system that allowed them to unlock paid upgrades for free, including Full Self-Driving (FSD) and heated rear seats.
How did the researchers achieve the jailbreak?
The researchers used a technique called voltage glitching, which involved tinkering with the supply voltage of the infotainment system’s processor. By causing a momentary hiccup in the CPU, they were able to trick it into accepting their manipulated code, granting access to premium features.
What other features could the jailbreak potentially unlock?
In addition to FSD and heated rear seats, the researchers claimed that the exploit could potentially unlock other features that Tesla has not yet made available in certain regions.
Does the jailbreak require physical access to the Tesla vehicle?
Yes, since it is a hardware-based exploit, the jailbreak process requires physical access to the Tesla vehicle.
Can Tesla revoke this exploit easily?
According to the researchers, revoking this hardware-based exploit would be more difficult for Tesla. It would require direct physical access to the car, making it challenging to counteract effectively.
What personal information did the researchers obtain from the test car?
The researchers were able to obtain personal information from the test car, including its recent GPS locations, contacts, call logs, and calendar appointments.
How has Tesla responded to previous hacking attempts?
Tesla has been engaged in a cat-and-mouse game with hackers attempting to unlock premium features. While some efforts have been successful in the past, Tesla’s response to this new hardware exploit remains to be seen.
What are the potential implications of this Tesla jailbreak?
The jailbreak could raise cybersecurity concerns as it allows unauthorized access to premium features and personal information, posing potential privacy risks to Tesla owners.
Is Tesla expected to issue a statement on this matter?
As of now, Tesla has not issued a statement on the jailbreak. The lack of a communications department could potentially impact the company’s response.
More about Tesla jailbreak
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TechCrunch: Researchers reveal Tesla jailbreak that could unlock Full Self-Driving for free
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