nthach

Most automotive RFID uses weak 48-96 bit encryption, while some systems can be cracked easily if you know/get the master seed value - GM's systems are known for this.

Honda uses a brake-press bypass system for their immobilizers, anyone with access to Honda's extranet can get access to the brake bypass sequence.

RX469

iTrader: (1)

What about ramdon 'code-hopping' that aftermarket manufacturers use?

My0gr81

They used to before RFID, once they impemented RFID, most just use a state counter and the RFID code. As mentioned, the RFID code can be brute forced and the state counter can be assumed, creating an easy subsitution attack scenario.

mrraider

In other words, it's no harder than cracking a WiFi WEP key. The rewards however, are far greater than free **** downloads.

M45owner

Technology is constantly progressing....I am sure by the time these new "intelli-keys" hit the market on the new cars, there is already a way to get around it. This proves it.

My0gr81

Here is some more information on the "hack". It seems some automakers aren't keen to see this published in the wild.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23487928

Blackraven

^^^
When all else fails, you are free to shoot and kill the perpetrator without hesitation

1JZPWRD

iTrader: (59)

I have always said, if someone wants your car, then they will get it. They have a device for everything out there now, just computer software hacks. Its out there, but we innocent people choose not to think about ways to steal cars, but the idea of how to achieve this own our own, by working hard and saving money at it. Just look what happened to Jessica Barton's MKIV. It was parked outside her condo and was gone in minutes, found hacked up just ten minutes down the road. They found so many of her parts, cut, scattered, and busted.

UpSideDown

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology...ing-codes-cars


A British-based computer scientist has been banned from publishing an academic paper revealing the secret codes used to start luxury cars including Porsches, Audis, Bentleys and Lamborghinis as it could lead to the theft of millions of vehicles, a judge has ruled.

The high court imposed an injunction on the University of Birmingham's Flavio Garcia, a lecturer in computer science, who has cracked the security system by discovering the unique algorithm that allows the car to verify the identity of the ignition key.

The UK injunction is an interim step in a case launched by Volkswagen's parent, which owns the four luxury marques, against Garcia and two other cryptography experts from a Dutch university.

It complained that the publication could "allow someone, especially a sophisticated criminal gang with the right tools, to break the security and steal a car". The cars are protected by a system called Megamos Crypto, an algorithm which works out the codes that are sent between the key and the car.

The scientists wanted to publish their paper at the well-respected Usenix Security Symposium in Washington DC in August, but the court has imposed an interim injunction. Volkswagen had asked the scientists to publish a redacted version of their paper – Dismantling Megamos Crypto: Wirelessly Lockpicking a Vehicle Immobiliser – without the codes, but they declined.

Volkswagen told the court that the technology they examined was used in a number of its vehicles and other mass market cars manufactured by itself and others.

Garcia and his colleagues from the Stichting Katholieke Universiteit, Baris Ege and Roel Verdult, said they were "responsible, legitimate academics doing responsible, legitimate academic work" and their aim was to improve security for everyone, not to give criminals a helping hand at hacking into high-end cars that can cost their owners £250,000.

They argued that "the public have a right to see weaknesses in security on which they rely exposed". Otherwise, the "industry and criminals know security is weak but the public do not".

It emerged in court that their complex mathematical investigation examined the software behind the code. It has been available on the internet since 2009.

The scientists said it had probably used a technique called "chip slicing" which involves analysing a chip under a microscope and taking it to pieces and inferring the algorithm from the arrangement of the microscopic transistors on the chip itself – a process that costs around £50,000. The judgment was handed down three weeks ago without attracting any publicity, but has now become part of a wider discussion about car manufacturers' responsibilities relating to car security.

The scientists said they examined security on everything from Oyster cards to cars to enable manufacturers to identify weaknesses and improve on them.

Finding in Volkswagen's favour, Mr Justice Birss said he recognised the importance of the right for academics to publish, but it would mean "that car crime will be facilitated". A Volkswagen spokesman declined to comment on the interim injunction.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

Cool, now reveal the codes to unlock my "uncrackable" Lexus ECU

UpSideDown

Then he will have Toyota after him too.

dmvp29

The fact that he was able to crack the code is troubling (and useful) in and of itself. Hopefully car manufacturers update their encryption algorithms now.

UpSideDown

I think VW should hire him!

Stormwind

Prediction : dot forces vw to recall every vw, porsche, lamborghini, bentley ever made that is sold in the usa.

My0gr81

Repost from here:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/8063339-post21.html

Perhaps, both threads could be merged. Interesting discussion on the merits that your garage door opener is probably safer than the keyless entry implementation from most car makers. Most all car makers have gone to the easier to implement RFID based system. If that implementation used software provided by the vendor mentioned in the article, because the code was posted online, it is vulnerable to a substitution attack.