CVE-2025-32058: Bosch Infotainment ECU RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-32058 Overview

CVE-2025-32058 is a critical stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability affecting the Bosch-manufactured Infotainment ECU, specifically in the RH850 module used for CAN (Controller Area Network) communication. The vulnerability exists in the custom protocol used for communication between the RH850 module and the infotainment system over the INC interface. An attacker who has already achieved code execution on the infotainment main SoC can exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on the RH850 module and subsequently send arbitrary CAN messages over the connected CAN bus.

This vulnerability was first identified on the Nissan Leaf ZE1 manufactured in 2020, making it a significant concern for automotive cybersecurity.

Critical Impact

Successful exploitation allows an attacker to gain code execution on the RH850 CAN communication module, enabling injection of arbitrary CAN messages that could potentially affect vehicle safety systems and operations.

Affected Products

• Bosch Infotainment ECU with RH850 module
• Nissan Leaf ZE1 (2020 model year)
• Other vehicles utilizing affected Bosch infotainment systems with RH850 CAN communication modules

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-02-15 - CVE-2025-32058 published to NVD
• 2026-02-18 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-32058

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-121 (Stack-based Buffer Overflow), which occurs when a buffer allocated on the stack is overwritten due to improper bounds checking during data processing. In the context of the Bosch Infotainment ECU, the RH850 module processes requests from the infotainment main SoC via a custom protocol over the INC interface. The vulnerability manifests during the processing of these protocol requests, where insufficient validation of input data allows an attacker to overflow stack buffers.

The attack requires local access and prior code execution on the infotainment main SoC. Once this initial foothold is established, the attacker can craft malicious protocol requests that exploit the buffer overflow condition in the RH850's V850 processor core, ultimately achieving code execution on this critical CAN communication module.

The scope of this vulnerability extends beyond the vulnerable component itself, as successful exploitation enables the attacker to send arbitrary CAN messages to other ECUs and systems connected to the vehicle's CAN bus.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2025-32058 is improper input validation during the processing of INC protocol requests on the RH850 module. The custom protocol handler fails to properly validate the size and boundaries of incoming data before copying it to stack-allocated buffers, resulting in a classic stack-based buffer overflow condition (CWE-121).

The RH850 microcontroller architecture, commonly used in automotive applications for its real-time processing capabilities, handles CAN communication duties. The vulnerability in the protocol parsing routine allows an attacker to overwrite the return address and other critical stack values, redirecting program execution to attacker-controlled code.

Attack Vector

The attack requires a multi-stage approach:

1. Initial Compromise: The attacker must first achieve code execution on the infotainment main SoC through a separate vulnerability or attack vector
2. Protocol Exploitation: From the compromised infotainment system, the attacker sends specially crafted INC protocol messages to the RH850 module
3. Buffer Overflow Trigger: The malicious protocol requests exploit the stack-based buffer overflow in the V850 side protocol handler
4. Code Execution on RH850: Successfully overflowing the buffer allows the attacker to gain code execution on the RH850 module
5. CAN Bus Access: With control of the RH850 module, the attacker can inject arbitrary CAN messages to other vehicle ECUs

The vulnerability was demonstrated in research presented at Black Hat, showing how attackers could leverage this flaw to potentially impact vehicle systems that communicate over the CAN bus. For detailed technical analysis, refer to the Black Hat Presentation and the PCA Cybersecurity Advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-32058

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual or unexpected CAN messages appearing on the vehicle's CAN bus that deviate from normal operational patterns
• Evidence of compromise or anomalous behavior on the infotainment main SoC
• Unexpected memory access patterns or crashes in the RH850 module
• Logs indicating malformed or oversized INC protocol messages being processed

Detection Strategies

• Implement CAN bus intrusion detection systems (IDS) to monitor for anomalous message patterns or unexpected message IDs
• Deploy automotive Security Operations Center (SOC) solutions capable of analyzing CAN traffic for signs of injection attacks
• Monitor infotainment system integrity for signs of initial compromise that could precede exploitation of this vulnerability
• Utilize hardware security modules (HSM) where available to validate the integrity of ECU firmware

Monitoring Recommendations

• Establish baseline CAN bus traffic patterns for normal vehicle operation and alert on deviations
• Implement logging and monitoring solutions that can capture INC interface communications for forensic analysis
• Enable telemetry collection from infotainment systems to identify potential compromise attempts
• Consider implementing CAN message authentication where supported by vehicle architecture

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-32058

Immediate Actions Required

• Contact your vehicle manufacturer or authorized dealer to determine if your vehicle is affected and inquire about available firmware updates
• Minimize exposure of infotainment systems to untrusted networks and disable unnecessary connectivity features
• Ensure infotainment systems are updated to the latest available firmware to address potential prerequisite vulnerabilities
• Consider isolating or segmenting the infotainment system from critical vehicle networks where technically feasible

Patch Information

At the time of publication, vehicle owners should contact Nissan or their authorized dealer for information regarding firmware updates that address this vulnerability. For enterprise fleet operators, coordinating with Bosch and vehicle OEMs for detailed patch information and deployment guidance is recommended. Refer to the PCA Cybersecurity Advisory for the latest remediation guidance.

Workarounds

• Disable or restrict Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity on the infotainment system when not in use to reduce remote attack surface
• Avoid connecting untrusted USB devices or media to the infotainment system
• Where possible, implement network segmentation between infotainment and critical vehicle systems
• Monitor for unusual vehicle behavior that could indicate ECU compromise and report to manufacturer

For automotive fleet environments, consider implementing network-level controls and monitoring:

# Example CAN bus monitoring configuration (Linux with SocketCAN)
# Set up CAN interface monitoring for anomaly detection
ip link set can0 type can bitrate 500000
ip link set up can0
candump can0 -L -f /var/log/can/vehicle_can.log