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PatchSiren cyber security CVE debrief

CVE-2016-9337 Tesla CVE debrief

CVE-2016-9337 describes a command-injection weakness in Tesla Model S Gateway ECU systems with web browser functionality enabled, affecting firmware versions before 7.1 (2.36.31) per the supplied CVE description. NVD maps the issue to CWE-77 and scores it CVSS 6.8/Medium (AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H), indicating that remote exploitation is possible but requires user interaction; successful abuse could let an attacker install malicious software and send messages onto the vehicle CAN bus.

Vendor
Tesla
Product
Unknown
CVSS
MEDIUM 6.8
CISA KEV
Not listed in stored evidence
Original CVE published
2016-09-09
Original CVE updated
2025-06-05
Advisory published
2016-09-09
Advisory updated
2025-06-05

Who should care

Tesla Model S owners and operators running affected firmware with browser functionality enabled; fleet and service teams responsible for vehicle software updates; security and incident-response teams monitoring automotive or connected-vehicle environments.

Technical summary

The vulnerable component is the Tesla Gateway ECU. According to the supplied description, an attacker could leverage a command-injection condition to install malicious software and then transmit messages on the vehicle CAN bus. The NVD record identifies the weakness as CWE-77 and classifies the exposure with network vector AV:N, high attack complexity, no privileges required, and required user interaction.

Defensive priority

Medium overall, with elevated operational concern for any affected vehicle because the component sits in a safety-relevant control path. Prioritize remediation on exposed or fleet-managed vehicles, especially those with browser functionality enabled.

Recommended defensive actions

  • Upgrade affected vehicles to firmware version 7.1 (2.36.31) or later, as stated in the supplied CVE description.
  • Disable or restrict browser functionality where it is not required by operations or policy.
  • Review the linked US-CERT/ICS-CERT advisory (ICSA-16-341-01) for vendor guidance and validation steps.
  • Monitor for unusual in-vehicle network or CAN bus behavior that could indicate unauthorized command traffic.
  • Inventory vehicle software versions so affected assets can be identified and remediated quickly.

Evidence notes

This debrief is based only on the supplied CVE/NVD corpus and linked references. The CVE description states the affected platform, browser precondition, and firmware boundary (before 7.1 / 2.36.31). The NVD metadata identifies the vulnerable CPE as tesla:gateway_ecu, the weakness as CWE-77, and the CVSS vector as CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H. The record references US-CERT advisory ICSA-16-341-01 and SecurityFocus BID 94697.

Sources and references

Verified primary and authoritative sources

  • CVE-2016-9337 CVE Program record

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-9337

    CVE Program - Official CVE Program record with source-provided CVE metadata.

  • CVE-2016-9337 NVD vulnerability detail

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-9337

    NIST National Vulnerability Database - Official NIST NVD detail page and source-specific vulnerability assessment.

Supplemental references

Methodology and review provenance

AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.