National Cyber Warfare Foundation (NCWF)

Welcome back, my aspiring cyberwarriors! IoT hacking is one the cutting-edge fields of cybersecurity. This includes IP cameras, Bluetooth devices, Home Security systems, Smart Home devices, and well…unfortunately, medical devices. Each of these devices is vulnerable to attackers taking control of the device, using it in a botnet, or even using it as foothold within […]

The post The “Homeland” VP Pacemaker Hack: Is This Attack Realistic? first appeared on Hackers Arise.

Welcome back, my aspiring cyberwarriors!

IoT hacking is one the cutting-edge fields of cybersecurity. This includes IP cameras, Bluetooth devices, Home Security systems, Smart Home devices, and well…unfortunately, medical devices. Each of these devices is vulnerable to attackers taking control of the device, using it in a botnet, or even using it as foothold within your network to pivot to more valuable systems.

I really enjoy when mass media depicts hackers accurately. Most TV shows and movies make the hackers look like wizards with superpowers but in reality, we are just regular people…with superpowers. Mr Robot is my favorite show because it depicts real hacks and hacking.

Often, art imitates and life and sometimes life imitates art. There was an intriguing TV show a few years back called Homeland. It was about an American soldier captured in Iraq who is turned against his country. When he is released from captivity and sent back to the US, he is determined to exact his revenge upon the US Vice-President. To do so, he attempts to hack his heart pacemaker. Is this hack real?

Let’s examine it.

The Scene

In the show, Brody, the American soldier, assassinates the U.S. Vice President by hacking his heart pacemaker. In this case he;

Learns the VP has a pacemaker with wireless capability.

Gets the device’s serial number via a corrupt congressman.

Remotely connects to the pacemaker using the serial.

Sends a lethal command, causing the VP’s heart to fail instantly.

How Real Is This?

It’s not pure fiction. The Homeland scenario is dramatized, but the core risk is real. A hacker known as Barnaby Jack, developed a hack that he said could kill someone from 50ft away. Suspiciously, he died suddenly before he could give the details as a cybersecurity conference.

Step 1. Wireless Medical Devices Are Vulnerable

Many pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) use wireless protocols (like Bluetooth or proprietary RF) to communicate with doctors’ equipment for monitoring and reprogramming.

Security researchers have shown these wireless links can be intercepted or spoofed, especially if encryption/authentication is weak or missing.

Step 2. Serial Numbers and Authentication

In Homeland, the serial number is used as a “password.” In reality, some devices have used static or easily guessable credentials, and some have been shown to accept commands with minimal authentication.

Security researchers (like Barnaby Jack) have demonstrated attacks requiring only proximity and a bit of device info to take control of pacemakers and ICDs.

Step 3. What Can a Hacker Do?

Pacemakers: Typically, they only deliver low-voltage pulses to regulate heartbeat. They cannot deliver a lethal shock.

ICDs: These can deliver high-voltage shocks to correct dangerous arrhythmias. If hacked, an attacker could theoretically trigger a shock at the wrong time, potentially inducing heart attack.

Remote attacks: If the device is internet-connected (directly or via a paired device), attacks could be launched from anywhere.

Step 4. Real-World Paranoia

Former VP Dick Cheney had the wireless feature of his own ICD disabled out of fear of assassination by hacking.

The FDA has recalled devices over vulnerabilities, and researchers have repeatedly shown proof-of-concept hacks on medical devices

Attack Chain: How a Real-World Pacemaker/ICD Hack Might Work

Step	Technique/Vector
Recon	Identify device make/model (hospital records, social engineering, physical access)
Info Gathering	Obtain serial number (physical inspection, medical leaks, social engineering)
Wireless Probing	Use SDR, Bluetooth, or RF tools to sniff device traffic
Authentication Bypass	Exploit weak/no authentication to connect
Command Injection	Send malicious commands (change pacing, trigger shock on ICD)
Impact	Disrupt heart rhythm, potentially cause cardiac event

Why This Matters

Medical devices are computers: Old, unpatched, and often lacking basic security controls.

Attack surface is growing: More devices connect via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or even the internet for remote monitoring.

Life-and-death consequences: Unlike most hacks, these can kill.

Summary

Although the Homeland hack is dramatized, the underlying threat is real. IoT hacking is among the most important fields of cybersecurity and is often overlooked. IoT devices, like this heart-pacemaker, are often shipped with little concern for security. If the medical device industry does not up its cybersecurity game, sadly, people will die.

As a hacker or defender, know that:

Medical device security is often an afterthought.

Wireless and networked implants are vulnerable to attack if not properly secured.

Physical and cyber hygiene (disabling wireless, patching firmware, strong authentication) is critical for life-critical systems.

Look for our upcoming Medical Device Hacking training