Jeep Hacking Vulnerability 'Unique to Chrysler,' Supplier Says
The manufacturer for the Uconnect infotainment system exposed for being vulnerable to hacking says that the issue is unique to Chrysler.
Harman International Industries manufactures the audio system found in the Jeep Cherokee that was hacked remotely last month, but promises that the vulnerability doesn’t apply to infotainment systems it supplies to other automakers. Late last month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation and questioned Harman if other audio systems may be vulnerable to remote hacking.
“This experimental hack is unique to Chrysler,” Harman CEO Dinesh Paliwal said in an interview. “This does not exist, to our assessment, in any other vehicle.”
SEE ALSO: Jeep Cherokee, Uconnect Vulnerable to Wireless Hacking
The vulnerability was revealed last month and resulted in a recall of 1.4 million vehicles to update the Uconnect software. Considering that the fix involves a software update, it is likely that there aren’t vulnerabilities with other automakers, since it is software-based. Regardless, NHTSA is still inquiring to ensure there aren’t any similarities with other infotainment products from Harman that could result in remote hacking.
According to Paliwal, the Jeep hack was traced to a loophole in the internal cellular network, exposing the vehicle’s control area network, often referred to as a CAN bus.
[Source: Automotive News Europe]
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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