DEF CON 32 Workshop Schedule
All workshops will be held in the workshop area within the Aerospace Village
Friday 8/9
10:30 AM
2 hours
Building the Ultimate Budget-Friendly Low Earth Orbit Satellite Ground Station
Victor Fernandez Minguillon
In this workshop, we explore the design, construction, and configuration of cost-effective Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite ground stations using open source tools. The aim is to demonstrate that high-quality ground stations can be developed on a limited budget without sacrificing performance. We will delve into the selection of hardware components, the integration process, and the software tools necessary for seamless operation. Additionally, real-world applications and case studies will be showcased to highlight the practical benefits and potential of these budget-friendly solutions. Attendees will leave with a comprehensive understanding of how to leverage open source resources to build and operate efficient ground stations, making advanced aerospace technology accessible to enthusiasts and professionals alike.
Workshop requirements. Please have/bring the following:
- Intel or ARM computer running Ubuntu Desktop 22.04 or higher, Debian 12 or any OS that allow virtualization (minimum 4 cores and 8GB of RAM).
- Software Defined Radio USB Dongle based on Realtek RTL2832U chip such as RTL-SDR
- Materials required to build the antenna:
- Antenna kit. Antenna kits available for attendees for a small donation to Aerospace Village. Each kit includes:
--Pre-cut AWG 12 Copper wire
--SO-239 connector
--4x M3x10mm screws w/ nuts
--4x Ring Terminal 16-14 AWG, 4 Stud Size
--PTEG 1-1/2 pipe antenna mount
-SMA Male to N Male cable to use to build the antenna. (3 or 6 ft recommended)
-Soldering station
-Soldering wire
- Phillips screwdriver set
- Long nose pliers
- Cutting plier
- Metal file
- Measurement tape
1:00 PM
2 hours
BYOS – Bring Your Own Satellite
Tim Fowler
In this workshop, attendees are introduced to the basics of satellite communication in a hands-on manner. Also, through the power of virtualization and open-source software, attendees will get a step-by-step guide to create their own personal satellite lab, while helping discover the fundamental principles of satellite communication, from orbital mechanics to data transmission protocols, as you design, simulate, and experiment with satellite systems in a risk-free, virtual environment. Unveil the secrets of satellite technology, gain hands-on experience with real-world scenarios, and configuring and controlling your virtual satellite. This unique learning experience equips you with the knowledge and practical skills needed to explore the possibilities of satellite communication. Unlock the universe of opportunities that satellite communication offers, right from your own laptop.
Attendee Requirements:
A moder laptop with VMware Workstation or VMware Fusion Installed.
Both Intel/AMD64 and ARM64 are supported in this workshop
Internet Access is not Required but the ability to connect to a local Wi-Fi network will be in order to access the workshop materials.
Audience Skill Level: Beginner
BYOS is a beginner friendly workshop that does require some use of the Linux command line, however if you have never used the command line before, you can still be successful in this lab.
Some concepts will be new to attendees and the workshop is setup to allow ample time for questions and troubleshooting.
1:00pm
50 min
Simulated Drone Hacking
Nick Aleks and Rudy Mendoza
Note: This instance of this workshop takes place in the Red Team Village Track 4.
Drone hacking tends to be an expensive and sometimes unsafe, but not if you use a simulator!. I have developed a drone hacking simulator called the Damn Vulnerable Drone (https://github.com/nicholasaleks/Damn-Vulnerable-Drone).
The Damn Vulnerable Drone is a virtually simulated environment designed for offensive security professionals to safely learn and practice drone hacking techniques. It simulates real-world ArduPilot & MAVLink drone architectures and vulnerabilities, offering a hands-on experience in exploiting drone systems.
3:30 PM
2 hours
Space Pirate Simulator
Michael Butler and Jacob Oakley
It's time to go beyond hacking the planet! Join us for an offensive cybersecurity in space workshop. We will discuss the challenges that are introduced when attacking space vehicles and work with space industry software such as COSMOS, the ground station software used by NASA, and a modified version of NOS3, NASA's satellite simulator. Attendees will have access to cloud environments that contain an operator station, a ground station, and a simulated satellite. We will walk you through the basics of accessing, operating, and of course, attacking these stations for the ultimate goal of taking control of the satellite.
All skill levels are welcome.
Equipment needed: Laptop with admin access and the ability to RDP and SSH to a given IP address
Saturday 8/10
10:30 AM
1 hour
Introduction to Drone Security
Hahna Kane Latonick
Recent advancements in drone technology are opening new opportunities and applications in various industries across all domains. Drones are quickly becoming integrated into our everyday lives for commercial and recreational use like many IoT devices; however, these advancements also present new cybersecurity challenges as drones grow in popularity. This talk provides an introduction to drone security covering the core components of drone technology (e.g., hardware, software, firmware, and communication protocols), cybersecurity risks and mitigations, and cybersecurity best practices for drone operations. Attendees will gain an understanding of drone systems and important security measures that help protect these devices (and its operators) from emerging and evolving threats.
This is a beginner level workshop.
12:00 PM
1 hour
Secure the Skies: A Modern Android Security Research Framework for Drone Ground Control Stations and Applications
Jonathan Waterman
Drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are becoming increasingly popular for various applications, from delivery and surveillance to emergency response and military support. While traditionally controlled by dedicated remote controllers (ground control stations), Android is emerging as a powerful platform for drone development and operation. For example, some drone manufacturers, like DJI, have developed their own custom Android-based operating systems (OS) for their drones. Open-source Android-based flight control software like QGroundControl and Mission Planner are also available, allowing developers to build custom drone control applications. With the growing reliance on Android within the drone market, the necessity to understand the landscape of Android-based vulnerabilities and exposure has become more important than ever before, especially to ensure secure, safe, and reliable drone operations.
1:30 PM
1 hour
Open Source Drone Hacking Simulator
Nick Aleks and Rudy Mendoza
Drone hacking tends to be expensive and sometimes unsafe, but not if you use a simulator!. We have developed a drone hacking simulator called the Damn Vulnerable Drone (https://github.com/nicholasaleks/Damn-Vulnerable-Drone).
The Damn Vulnerable Drone is a virtually simulated environment designed for offensive security professionals to safely learn and practice drone hacking techniques. It simulates real-world ArduPilot & MAVLink drone architectures and vulnerabilities, offering hands-on experience in exploiting drone systems.
Prerequisites: Basic Pentesting Skills & Familiar with Kali (No Drone Hacking Experience required)
Equipment needed:
- Laptop with the latest version of Kali & Docker installed
- 8GB RAM
- 2 CPUs
- 100 GB Disk Storage
Sunday 8/11
10:00 AM
1 hour
How to Corrupt Youth to Cyber Focused Space Science
RC Jones
Bringing cyber focused space science to schools can be challenging given school restrictions, firewalls, and expense of equipment. This presentation will go over multiple space-centric outreach activities for youth of all ages. From talking to astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to listening to satellites in the classroom. These various programs are bound to capture the imagination. Some of the projects to be discussed are the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program, Slow-Scan Television (SSTV) images from the ISS, AMSat CubeSat Simulators, and setting up a RTL-SDR to capture information from satellites in the classroom. There are a variety of ways to start a countdown to space science careers in youth and these projects can help you connect with the imagination of youth near you.
11:00 AM
2 hours
Watch The Skies: Build Your Own ADS-B receiver
Jim "Gurney" Ross
In this workshop we will build an inexpensive ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast) receiver with a Raspberry Pi and RTL-SDR. The receiver will track and display aircraft (commercial, private, and military) providing real-time altitude, direction, speed, GPS location and aircraft information. We'll discuss ADS-B technology and its importance to air traffic control. We'll also discuss building cheap external antennas to improve reception.
We will have 10 FREE ADS-B receiver kits that will be given away, at our discretion, to middle through high school students (11-18 years old). An additional 10 ADS-B kits will be available to any attendee for a modest donation to the Aerospace Village. Please see the Aerospace Village control tower to reserve your spot.