The name, phone number, and email address of the vehicle owner are then obtained by using the token in conjunction with another HTTP request to a dealer APIGW endpoint and the vehicle identification number (VIN) of an automobile. Furthermore, the researchers discovered that accessing a victim's car can be accomplished as simply as sending four HTTP requests, which leads to the execution of internet-to-vehicle orders, as follows:

• Using the previously outlined technique, create the dealer token and extract the "token" header from the HTTP response.
• Obtain the victim's phone number and email address.
• Use the compromised email address and VIN to change the owner's prior access and add the attacker as the main account holder.
• By putting an email address under their control as the primary owner of the car, the attacker can gain access to the victim's vehicle and execute arbitrary commands.

The victim did not receive any indication that someone had accessed their car or changed their access credentials. By resolving a person's license plate and using the API to obtain their VIN, an attacker may follow a victim passively and issue active orders like unlock, start, or honk.

In a best-case attack scenario, a malevolent actor could input a Kia car's license plate into a customized dashboard, obtain the victim's data, and then, after around 30 seconds, start giving commands to the car. As of August 14, 2024, Kia has fixed the issues following its responsible disclosure in June. There's no proof that these vulnerabilities have ever been used in the wild.

Impact

• Unauthorized Remote Access
• Sensitive Data Theft
• Command Execution

Remediation

• Organizations must test their assets for the vulnerability mentioned above and apply the available security patch or mitigation steps as soon as possible.
• Implement multi-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security to login processes.
• Regularly monitor network activity for any unusual behavior, as this may indicate that a cyberattack is underway.
• Organizations must stay vigilant and follow best practices for cybersecurity to protect their systems and data from potential threats. This includes regularly updating software and implementing strong access controls and monitoring tools.
• Develop a comprehensive incident response plan to respond effectively in case of a security breach or data leakage.
• Maintain regular backups of critical data and systems to ensure data recovery in case of a security incident.
• Adhere to security best practices, including the principle of least privilege, and ensure that users and applications have only the necessary permissions.
• Establish a robust patch management process to ensure that security patches are evaluated, tested, and applied promptly.
• Conduct security audits and assessments to evaluate the overall security posture of your systems and networks.
• Implement network segmentation to contain and isolate potential threats to limit their impact on critical systems.