Automotive Penetration Testing

Assured Security Consultants perform in-depth automotive penetration testing to ensure that vehicles, ECUs, backend systems, mobile apps, and supporting infrastructure are secure against modern cyber threats.

Our specialists combine advanced manual techniques, protocol expertise, reverse engineering, and tooling to assess components across the entire automotive ecosystem.

We also offer specialized testing for web applications/APIs and mobile applications, which often form critical parts of the automotive attack surface.

Automotive Cybersecurity Testing

Modern vehicles are complex, interconnected systems combining embedded controllers, cloud services, wireless connectivity, mobile applications, and over-the-air (OTA) update mechanisms. We test vehicles and components according to relevant standards such as UNECE R155/R156 and ISO 21434, ensuring alignment with both regulatory expectations and real-world threat scenarios.

Assured Security Consultants conduct security assessments of:

• Diagnostic systems (e.g., UDS/KWP2000 on CAN, DoIP)
• Infotainment systems, in-car apps and connectivity (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, BLE, NFC, radio)
• Digital key / Phone-as-a-Key systems
• Internal communication buses (CAN, automotive Ethernet, LIN, FlexRay)
• Telematics units, backend services and fleet management systems
• OTA update pipelines
• Embedded cryptographic implementations and certificate management
• Cloud and mobile app ecosystems supporting the vehicle
• Individual ECUs or full-vehicle integrated testing
• Witnessed audits for type approval according to UNECE R155/R156

Our testing is highly tailored: from targeted component reviews to full-vehicle security evaluations.

ECU, Telematics and In-Vehicle Network Testing

We have extensive experience assessing the security of embedded automotive components such as infotainment units, telematics control units, gateways, ADAS controllers and body modules.

In our assessments, we identify vulnerabilities such as:

• Unsafe diagnostic services or security access protection
• Weaknesses in UDS/DoIP implementation
• Lack of isolation or segmentation between vehicle networks
• Vulnerabilities in ECU firmware
• Insufficient authentication between components
• Tampering paths through vehicle apps, infotainment systems or wireless interfaces

Testing can be performed in a rig, on a vehicle or via firmware images.

Full-Vehicle Penetration Testing

Full-Vehicle automotive penetration testing simulates realistic attack scenarios to identify weaknesses across the whole vehicle ecosystem, from sensors and ECUs to cloud services and telematics backends.

Our Automotive Penetration Testing Process

Our methodology follows a structured approach to ensure comprehensive coverage and actionable results:

• Scoping and Planning: We work closely with you to define a scope that fits your product, development stage and regulatory requirements. This may include individual ECUs, telematics units, cloud services, mobile applications or full-vehicle testing. Documentation, architecture/network maps, service descriptions and test access are arranged at this stage.
• Startup Meeting: We begin with a kickoff meeting to align expectations, hand over relevant access credentials or diagnostic keys, and confirm component availability.
• Information Gathering and Reconnaissance: Our team maps the architecture, networks, vehicle services and software components involved. This may include bus analysis, firmware extraction, cloud enumeration and application/API recon.
• Testing Phase: We perform targeted testing activities, such as:
  • Diagnostic and service security testing: UDS/ISO-14229, DoIP, security access, routine control and reprogramming paths.
  • Wireless and connectivity testing: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, BLE, NFC, cellular connectivity and digital key ecosystems.
  • Infotainment and app testing: File handling, sandboxing, browser components, media parsing and external device connectivity.
  • Internal network testing: Bus access, message injection, spoofing, gateway bypass and isolation verification.
  • Backend and telematics testing: API authentication, MQTT/HTTP interfaces, fleet management portals and cloud infrastructure.
  • Firmware and reverse engineering: Cryptographic implementation review, package analysis and vulnerability discovery.
  • Special Objectives (optional): Model-specific attacker goals such as immobilizer bypass, digital key manipulation or movement to safety-critical ECUs.
• Final Analysis and Review: We gather findings, assign risk ratings and relate them to automotive standards such as ISO 21434 and UNECE R155. Recommendations include both direct mitigative actions and long-term security improvements.
• Reporting and Presentation: You receive a detailed written report and a debrief session. We ensure that engineering, cybersecurity and compliance teams understand the vulnerabilities and how to address them. Our reports are designed to be clear and actionable, with evidence and risk assessments tailored to automotive contexts.

Post-Penetration Test Services

After the penetration test, you will have a clear view of your automotive product's security posture and any vulnerabilities identified.

Additional services that we offer include:

• Advisory Services and Training: We provide guidance and training for engineering teams, covering security fundamentals, cryptography, and secure design for automotive systems.
• Verification Testing: When fixes are implemented, we perform verification tests to confirm the vulnerabilities are resolved.
  • Verification results are delivered in a concise report suitable for sharing with regulators, partners or internal stakeholders as evidence of independent testing.

Why Choose Assured Security Consultants?

Assured Security Consultants are experts in automotive cybersecurity, with decade-long experience in penetration testing and security assessments of complex automotive systems. We understand the unique challenges of securing modern vehicles, from embedded controllers to cloud-connected services. Our team has deep knowledge of automotive protocols, standards and best practices, enabling us to deliver high-quality penetration testing services that meet the unique challenges of the automotive industry.

We have expertise across the full automotive ecosystem, from ECUs, embedded software, UDS/DoIP, OTA and digital key systems to telematics cloud platforms and mobile apps.

Our reports are comprehensive and tailored to the automotive industry, providing clear, actionable recommendations that align with regulatory requirements and industry standards. The reports are designed to be accessible to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, ensuring that all parties understand the risks and necessary mitigations. Our risk assessment provided in our reports is based on the potential impact on vehicle safety, privacy and compliance with UNECE R155/R156 and ISO/SAE 21434.

We give our customers ongoing support, including verification testing and advisory services throughout the development lifecycle.

Secure your automotive products with Assured Security Consultants and stay ahead of regulatory requirements and emerging threats. Leave a message below or contact us to schedule an automotive penetration test or discuss your needs.