A team of researchers, led by security expert Sam Curry, discovered critical vulnerabilities in a website dedicated to Kia vehicle owners, which could have allowed attackers to remotely control millions of cars. By exploiting these security flaws, attackers could send commands to vehicles in under 30 seconds using only the car’s license plate. These commands granted access to essential vehicle functions, including unlocking doors, starting the car, and even honking, all without the owner’s knowledge or consent. This vulnerability posed a serious risk, as attackers could potentially track and manipulate Kia vehicles across the country.
Beyond remote control, these vulnerabilities also exposed the personal information of Kia vehicle owners. Attackers were able to obtain sensitive details, such as the owner’s name, address, email, and phone number. Additionally, attackers could create a second user on the vehicle’s system, effectively giving themselves primary account holder access. This allowed for control over the car’s systems and notifications, which meant owners wouldn’t receive alerts about changes to access permissions or unauthorized usage, leaving them unaware of any intrusions.
Curry and his team found that the Kia owners’ website relied on a backend reverse-proxy system to redirect commands to an API responsible for executing vehicle functions. By manipulating requests in the system, they were able to generate access tokens and interact with backend dealer APIs that manage vehicle and user information. This loophole enabled the researchers to retrieve personal data, alter user credentials, and access other critical dealership functions tied to vehicle lookup, account management, and enrollment.
The vulnerabilities were reported to Kia in June 2024, prompting the carmaker to take immediate action. Kia acknowledged the findings and worked to implement security fixes, which were completed by mid-August. During this time, the research team created a proof-of-concept dashboard that could exploit these vulnerabilities to show how an attacker might track vehicles, retrieve personal information, and execute unauthorized commands. This case underscores the importance of rigorous cybersecurity measures for connected vehicle services, especially as the automotive industry continues to integrate more online and remote control features into modern vehicles.
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