Connected Vehicle Security
Modern vehicles contain 100+ ECUs (Electronic Control Units) running millions of lines of code, connected via internal networks (CAN bus) and external interfaces (cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth, V2X). Each connection is a potential attack vector.
Vehicle Attack Surfaces
CAN Bus
The Controller Area Network connects vehicle ECUs:- No authentication: Any device on the bus can send any message
- No encryption: All messages are plaintext
- Broadcast: Every ECU sees every message
- Injection attacks: Send malicious commands (braking, steering, acceleration)
Infotainment Systems
Connected to both the internet and vehicle networks:- Browser vulnerabilities leading to vehicle access
- USB/Bluetooth exploitation
- App store malware
- OTA update manipulation
Telematics/Cellular
Remote connectivity for fleet management and services:- Remote vehicle control APIs
- Location tracking and privacy
- Cellular modem vulnerabilities
- SIM-based attacks
V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything)
Communication between vehicles and infrastructure:- Spoofed traffic signals
- Fake vehicle positions
- Denial of service on safety channels
- Privacy through location tracking
ISO/SAE 21434
The automotive cybersecurity engineering standard requires:
- Cybersecurity management system
- Risk assessment methodology
- Security by design in development
- Post-production vulnerability management
- Incident response procedures
Key Security Measures
Network Segmentation
Separate vehicle domains with gateways:- Safety-critical (braking, steering) isolated from infotainment
- Gateway filtering between domains
- Intrusion detection on CAN bus
Secure OTA Updates
- Cryptographic verification of all updates
- Rollback capability
- Staged deployment with monitoring
- Update authenticity verification
Intrusion Detection
Monitor vehicle networks for anomalies:- Unusual CAN message patterns
- Unauthorized ECU communication
- Timing anomalies in message schedules
- Unknown message IDs
Where SuperClue Fits
SuperClue does not test vehicles, CAN bus, or V2X systems. Its DAST scanner can test the web portals and APIs of your connected vehicle backend.