At DEF CON 33, a researcher showed how two API authentication flaws in a centralised dealer portal for a top automaker enabled national admin access across 1,000+ US dealers. With weak VIN/name lookups and broken enrolment/pairing, attackers could remotely unlock/start cars, track location, and even transfer ownership silently.
This video breaks down the attack path, why centralisation magnifies risk, and what owners and teams can do: lock down dealer workflows, remove weak lookups, and harden API auth.
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0:00 - Coming Up
0:13 - Another example from Defcon 2025
0:24 - Flaws found in a carmaker's web portal
0:35 - What the hacker found
01:03 - The takeaway
01:21 - It's ridiculous that cars are connected this way
01:36 - Doxxing from parking lot
03:56 - Phishing on the dealer's dime
04:00 - Final takeaways
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Disclaimer: This video is for educational purposes only.
#defcon #carhack #api