- How Zveare Discovered the Vulnerabilities and Gained Control Over the System
- Comparison Table: Digital Car Hacking Vulnerabilities and Their Potential Impact
- Why These Vulnerabilities Matter for the Automotive Industry
- Strategies to Mitigate Security Risks in Smart Cars
- Table: Major Digital Car Security Challenges and Recommended Solutions
In the connected smart-car world, threats extend beyond the road to the digital realm governed by modern technology. Security researcher Eaton Zveare discovered critical vulnerabilities in the management system of a popular (unnamed) car brand, enabling near hacker-level full digital control. However, wearing a “white hat,” Zveare’s intent was to help the company identify and fix the flaws rather than exploit them.
How Zveare Discovered the Vulnerabilities and Gained Control Over the System
Type of vulnerabilities: Two simple flaws in the API of an online car dealer management gateway.
Outcome: The researcher gained admin-level access over more than a thousand dealer portals across the United States.
Capabilities of the exploit included:
Real-time tracking of vehicles via their VIN numbers.
Remote unlocking of cars once their location is known—even in public places.
Access to personal purchaser data including names and addresses.
Viewing detailed financial transaction information.
The ability to cancel shipments to dealers, disrupting supply chains.
What This Incident Reflects About Modern Car Security Risks
Increasing dependence on digital systems: Modern cars rely heavily on smartphone apps and wireless communication for myriad functions.
Interconnected digital gateways: Dealer management systems that link production, shipment, and control create tempting targets for hackers.
Growing attack surface: From mechanical key hacks to exploiting complex digital networks, new severe intrusion threats are emerging.
Ease of access: As demonstrated, sometimes just an email address suffices to breach critical systems.
Comparison Table: Digital Car Hacking Vulnerabilities and Their Potential Impact
Why These Vulnerabilities Matter for the Automotive Industry
System integration: Today’s vehicles are tied to communications networks, cloud services, mobile apps, and enterprise systems, amplifying attack vectors.
Rising cybersecurity threats: 2025 statistics show sharp increases in discovered car system vulnerabilities, making defense increasingly complex.
Rapid technological evolution: AI and over-the-air (OTA) updates improve vehicles but also open new security gaps if not well secured.
Legal and financial repercussions: Such breaches can result in substantial financial losses, reputation damage, and large-scale recalls.
Strategies to Mitigate Security Risks in Smart Cars
Implement multi-factor authentication: Securing access to dealer and customer administration via layered authentication systems.
Continuous security updates: Regular vulnerability analysis paired with prompt OTA patches.
Strong data encryption: Especially for user data and access points to admin and cloud systems.
Log monitoring and AI analytics: Use AI-powered systems to detect unusual behavior or intrusion attempts in real-time.
Training technical and security teams: Enhancing awareness and adherence to security protocols and risk assessment.
Table: Major Digital Car Security Challenges and Recommended Solutions
The discovery of security flaws in a major car brand’s system by a white hat hacker highlights the critical importance of cybersecurity in the modern connected automotive industry. As digital integration grows and technology advances, these challenges become paramount to protect privacy, security, and safety.
Manufacturers and developers must adopt comprehensive security approaches including frequent updates, strong encryption, AI-driven threat detection, and close collaboration with security researchers to prevent exploitation before vulnerabilities reach malicious actors.
This reality also highlights the need for user awareness, as vehicle security becomes an inseparable part of safe driving and everyday life in the age of connected smart vehicles.
