CVE-2020-10558 in Model 3
Summary
by MITRE
The driving interface of Tesla Model 3 vehicles in any release before 2020.4.10 allows Denial of Service to occur due to improper process separation, which allows attackers to disable the speedometer, web browser, climate controls, turn signal visual and sounds, navigation, autopilot notifications, along with other miscellaneous functions from the main screen.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/11/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-10558 represents a critical flaw in the Tesla Model 3 vehicle's infotainment system architecture that fundamentally undermines the operational integrity of the vehicle's user interface. This weakness exists within the driving interface software of Tesla vehicles prior to the 2020.4.10 firmware release, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute denial of service attacks that can disable essential vehicle functions. The flaw specifically manifests through inadequate process separation mechanisms that allow a single compromised process to affect multiple critical subsystems simultaneously, demonstrating a fundamental architectural failure in the vehicle's cybersecurity design.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient isolation between different software processes running on the vehicle's central display system. When an attacker exploits this weakness, they can manipulate the system's process management to cause cascading failures across multiple vehicle functions that should operate independently. The affected systems include the speedometer display, web browser functionality, climate control systems, turn signal visual and audio indicators, navigation services, autopilot notifications, and various other interface components. This improper process separation creates a single point of failure that can disable multiple critical vehicle systems simultaneously, fundamentally compromising vehicle safety and usability.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to vehicle safety and driver experience as it allows attackers to disable critical vehicle functions that drivers rely upon for safe operation. The ability to disable speedometer information creates immediate safety concerns, while disabling climate controls, turn signals, and navigation systems can lead to dangerous driving conditions. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple inconvenience to potentially dangerous situations where drivers lose access to essential vehicle information and controls during operation. This represents a significant concern for automotive cybersecurity and demonstrates the critical need for proper process isolation in vehicle systems, aligning with the principles outlined in the automotive cybersecurity framework and CWE-664, which addresses improper control of a resource through lifetime management.
The attack surface for this vulnerability involves unauthorized access to the vehicle's infotainment system, potentially through compromised software updates, malicious USB devices, or other attack vectors that allow code execution within the vehicle's software environment. This flaw violates the principle of least privilege and proper system compartmentalization that should be implemented in automotive systems, creating a situation where a single compromised process can affect multiple safety-critical systems. Mitigation strategies should include implementing proper process isolation, regular firmware updates, and enhanced security monitoring of vehicle systems. The vulnerability highlights the importance of automotive cybersecurity standards such as ISO/SAE 21434 and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, which emphasize the need for secure system design and proper resource management to prevent cascading failures in automotive environments. Tesla's subsequent release of firmware version 2020.4.10 addressed this issue through improved process separation mechanisms and enhanced system isolation to prevent similar vulnerabilities from affecting vehicle operations.