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At this year’s DEF CON conference, hackers will compete to break into a satellite called Moonlighter in a capture the flag competition. This is the first time an on-orbit satellite will be tested in a hacking competition. The satellite, launched by SpaceX, is equipped with code called “flags” that are locked within a sandbox environment. The five teams participating in the competition are Krautsat, mhackeroni, SpaceBitsRUs, Poland Can Into Space, and jmp fs: [rcx].

The objective of the competition is to bridge the gap between cybersecurity experts and space systems specialists. Satellites are increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks, and it is important to address these vulnerabilities. The competition aims to bring together individuals from both fields to collaborate and solve the challenges faced by satellites.

In the capture the flag competition, the teams have to find lines of code or “flags” by completing various challenges. The team with the most points wins, and there are 0,000 worth of prizes. Hacking into a live in-orbit satellite presents unique challenges, including the involvement of space mathematics. The teams have been studying previous years’ competitions and creating programs and scripts to aid them in the challenges.

The capture the flag competition is led by the Air Force Research Laboratory, along with other organizations. It seeks to address the vulnerabilities in space systems, as evidenced by recent research that discovered basic vulnerabilities in real-world satellite firmware. Security experts have expressed concerns about the lack of standard security measures in satellites, especially as critical sectors depend on space systems.

Cyberattacks against space systems have become more common and can have wide-ranging impacts. Space systems tend to rely on obscure software and technology rather than actual defensive measures. The competition brings together individuals with diverse expertise, fostering collaboration between different fields. The Hack-A-Sat contest has become more complex over the years, leading to the formation of conglomerate teams to tackle the challenges.

The competition highlights the importance of addressing the vulnerabilities in space systems and the need for collaboration between cybersecurity and space experts. By bridging the gap between these fields, it is possible to develop more secure and resilient space systems.

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