CVE-2025-32059 in Infotainment System ECU
Summary
by MITRE • 02/15/2026
The specific flaw exists within the Bluetooth stack developed by Alps Alpine of the Infotainment ECU manufactured by Bosch. The issue results from the lack of proper boundary validation of user-supplied data, which can result in a stack-based buffer overflow when receiving a specific packet on the established upper layer L2CAP channel. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to obtain remote code execution on the Infotainment ECU with root privileges.
First identified on Nissan Leaf ZE1 manufactured in 2020.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/20/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-32059 represents a critical security flaw within the Bluetooth stack implementation of Bosch Infotainment ECUs, specifically affecting vehicles manufactured by Nissan with the Leaf ZE1 model from 2020. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the L2CAP (Logical Link Control and Adaptation Protocol) layer of the Bluetooth communication stack developed by Alps Alpine. The flaw manifests when the system receives a specially crafted packet through the established upper layer L2CAP channel, creating a condition where user-supplied data is not properly bounded before processing. This fundamental weakness in data validation creates an exploitable stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability that can be remotely triggered without requiring physical access to the vehicle's systems.
The technical execution of this vulnerability occurs at the protocol level within the Bluetooth stack where incoming packets are processed without sufficient boundary checks on the data payload. When a maliciously constructed packet is transmitted to the Infotainment ECU, the system fails to validate the size or content of the received data against predetermined limits, allowing an attacker to overflow the allocated stack buffer space. This overflow condition can be carefully manipulated to overwrite critical memory locations including return addresses, function pointers, or other control data structures within the execution context. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means that an attacker can initiate the attack from a distance, potentially within Bluetooth range of the vehicle, without requiring direct physical access to the ECU or vehicle systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and potentially catastrophic for vehicle security and safety. Successful exploitation of CVE-2025-32059 enables an attacker to achieve remote code execution with root privileges on the Infotainment ECU, effectively granting complete control over the vehicle's entertainment and information systems. This level of access could potentially allow an attacker to manipulate vehicle functions, access sensitive data, or even interfere with critical vehicle operations that depend on the infotainment system. The vulnerability affects a specific vehicle model from 2020, indicating that automotive manufacturers and fleet operators must consider the risk to their existing inventory, particularly those vehicles that may have Bluetooth connectivity enabled and are not properly secured against such attacks. The remote execution capability makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited from a distance, potentially allowing attackers to target multiple vehicles within range without requiring physical proximity.
Security mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate firmware updates from Bosch to address the buffer overflow condition through proper input validation and boundary checking mechanisms. The fix should implement robust data validation procedures that enforce strict limits on packet sizes and content before processing, preventing any potential buffer overflow conditions. Additionally, network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit Bluetooth communication to only authorized devices and services. Organizations should also consider deploying network monitoring tools to detect anomalous Bluetooth traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 stack-based buffer overflow and may be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566 for credential access through social engineering, though the direct execution path is through network-based attack vectors rather than traditional social engineering methods. The vulnerability highlights the critical need for automotive cybersecurity frameworks that address both traditional software security concerns and the unique challenges posed by connected vehicle systems, particularly in the context of the automotive industry's increasing reliance on wireless connectivity and remote access capabilities.