CVE-2023-40293 in Infotainment
Summary
by MITRE • 08/14/2023
Harman Infotainment 20190525031613 and later allows command injection via unauthenticated RPC with a D-Bus connection object.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/27/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-40293 affects Harman Infotainment systems version 20190525031613 and later, presenting a critical command injection flaw that can be exploited through unauthenticated remote procedure calls using D-Bus connection objects. This issue resides within automotive infotainment systems that are increasingly connected to vehicle networks and external services, creating significant attack surface expansion. The flaw allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the affected system without requiring authentication, potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to vehicle functionalities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the D-Bus communication interface used by the Harman Infotainment system. D-Bus is a message bus system commonly used in Linux-based automotive environments for inter-process communication between system components. When the system processes RPC requests through D-Bus without proper validation of input parameters, malicious actors can inject command sequences that get executed within the system context. This represents a classic command injection vulnerability where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into system commands without adequate sanitization or escaping mechanisms. The vulnerability falls under CWE-77 which specifically addresses command injection flaws in software systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple remote code execution, as automotive infotainment systems often serve as gateways to other vehicle control systems and network segments. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could potentially gain access to vehicle diagnostic systems, entertainment controls, navigation functions, and in some cases, critical vehicle safety systems. The unauthenticated nature of the attack means that no credentials or prior access are required, making the exploitation relatively straightforward and increasing the risk to vehicle owners and fleet operators. This vulnerability particularly concerns automotive cybersecurity professionals as it directly impacts the security posture of connected vehicles and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 which covers command and scripting interpreter.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-40293 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from Harman to address the underlying D-Bus input validation issues. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate infotainment systems from critical vehicle control networks, as recommended by automotive security frameworks such as ISO/SAE 21434. Additional protective measures include monitoring D-Bus traffic for suspicious command sequences, implementing D-Bus access controls, and conducting regular security assessments of automotive network components. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices in automotive software development and demonstrates the need for robust input validation mechanisms in all communication interfaces, particularly those that operate without authentication requirements. Security teams should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems specifically designed for automotive networks to monitor for exploitation attempts targeting similar vulnerabilities in vehicle infotainment systems.