CVE-2018-11477 in iCar 2 Wi-Fi OBD2 Dongle
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered on Vgate iCar 2 Wi-Fi OBD2 Dongle devices. The data packets that are sent between the iOS or Android application and the OBD dongle are not encrypted. The combination of this vulnerability with the lack of wireless network protection exposes all transferred car data to the public.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/10/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-11477 affects Vgate iCar 2 Wi-Fi OBD2 dongle devices, representing a critical security flaw in automotive diagnostic communication systems. This issue stems from the absence of encryption mechanisms in data transmission between mobile applications and the OBD dongle, creating an exploitable weakness that compromises sensitive vehicle information. The vulnerability manifests through unencrypted communication channels that transmit diagnostic data, vehicle status information, and potentially personal identifiers without any form of cryptographic protection. The security implications extend beyond simple data exposure, as the lack of encryption combined with insufficient wireless network protection creates a comprehensive attack surface that allows unauthorized parties to intercept and analyze transmitted information. This vulnerability directly violates fundamental security principles for wireless communication systems and represents a significant risk to vehicle owners' privacy and data security.
The technical flaw in CVE-2018-11477 resides in the implementation of the communication protocol used by the Vgate iCar 2 device, which fails to incorporate standard encryption mechanisms such as TLS or SSL for securing data transmission. The absence of encryption creates a man-in-the-middle attack vector where malicious actors can intercept data packets transmitted between the mobile application and the OBD2 dongle. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-310, which addresses cryptographic weaknesses in software implementations, specifically highlighting the lack of proper encryption for sensitive data transmission. The flaw operates at the application layer of the communication stack, where data is transmitted over unsecured Wi-Fi networks without authentication or data integrity protection. Mobile applications connecting to the device can inadvertently expose vehicle identification numbers, engine diagnostics, fuel consumption data, and other sensitive operational parameters to any network observer with minimal technical expertise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data exposure, as it creates a comprehensive threat landscape for vehicle owners and potentially malicious actors. The unencrypted nature of the data transmission means that sensitive vehicle information becomes publicly accessible to anyone within range of the wireless network, including vehicle diagnostics, maintenance records, and potentially personal location data derived from vehicle usage patterns. This vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including wireless network sniffing, packet capture, and network monitoring tools that are readily available to threat actors. The exposure of vehicle diagnostic data could enable attackers to identify vehicle vulnerabilities, plan targeted attacks, or even facilitate theft by gathering information about vehicle systems. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1046 Network Service Scanning and T1071.004 Application Layer Protocol: DNS, as attackers can leverage the unencrypted communication to gather intelligence about vehicle systems and potentially exploit other connected components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-11477 require immediate implementation of encryption mechanisms and network security controls to protect vehicle data transmission. Organizations and individuals should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of the OBD2 device to unauthorized networks. The most effective mitigation involves upgrading firmware to include encryption protocols for all data transmission between mobile applications and the OBD2 device, ensuring that all communication occurs over secure channels with proper authentication mechanisms. Network administrators should implement wireless network security measures including WPA3 encryption, network access control, and regular security audits to prevent unauthorized access to vehicle communication systems. The vulnerability also necessitates the implementation of secure communication protocols such as TLS 1.3 for all data transmission between mobile applications and vehicle diagnostic systems, aligning with industry standards for automotive cybersecurity. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of connecting to unsecured networks and the importance of maintaining updated firmware versions to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities. Organizations should consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect and respond to unauthorized access attempts to vehicle diagnostic systems.