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Model 3 FirmwareOperating system · Tesla

CVE-2022-3093

MEDIUM · 6.4 CVSS v3.1 Published 2023-03-29
Fix available
A fix is available. Upgrade to 2022.16.0.3 or later.
See remediation →
69/100
Remediation priority · Elevated
No privileges Zero-click

Official description Straight from the sourceThe vendor's or NVD's own wording, published unedited. Authoritative, but often terse — it says what broke, rarely what to do.

NVD · unedited
This vulnerability allows physical attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected Tesla vehicles. Authentication is not required to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the ice_updater update mechanism. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of user-supplied firmware. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of root. Was ZDI-CAN-17463.

Technical summary Written by usOur analysis, written from the advisory, the CVSS vector and the affected-version data. It adds context the advisory leaves out, and never invents facts that are not in the source.

dbcve analysis · high confidence

A vulnerability in Tesla's ice_updater firmware update mechanism lacks proper validation of user-supplied firmware, allowing physical attackers to execute arbitrary code with root privileges without authentication.

MitigationImplement cryptographic signature validation and integrity checks for all firmware before execution in the ice_updater mechanism.

Verify against the referenced sources before acting — the references below are authoritative for this CVE, this summary is not.

Affected products & versions What the vendor confirmedThe version ranges the vendor confirmed as vulnerable. If your version sits inside a range here, treat yourself as exposed until you have upgraded.

NVD · CPE data
Model 3 FirmwareOperating system
Affected:< 2022.16.0.3
Model S FirmwareOperating system
Affected:< 2022.16.0.3
Model X FirmwareOperating system
Affected:< 2022.16.0.3
Model Y FirmwareOperating system
Affected:< 2022.16.0.3

CVSS breakdown How the score is builtThe industry scoring standard. It rates how the flaw is reached, what it takes to exploit, and what an attacker gains — the score is derived from those, not the other way round.

From the vector
Attack vector
Physical
Complexity
High
Privileges
None
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Am I affected? How to checkSteps we derive from the advisory and the affected-version data, so you can decide whether this CVE reaches your setup. They are a guide, not a scan — your own configuration is the authority.

dbcve checks

Work through these to decide whether this CVE applies to you.

  1. Check installed firmware version
    Access the vehicle's infotainment system: go to 'Software' or 'About' section in the UI to view the current firmware version. Alternatively, use Tesla's diagnostic tool or ODB-II port with appropriate software to read the firmware version.
    Affected if The displayed firmware version is earlier than 2022.16.0.3 for Model 3, S, X, or Y.
  2. Identify vehicle model
    Confirm the specific Tesla model (Model 3, Model S, Model X, or Model Y) by checking the vehicle's title, registration, or the 'About' section in the infotainment system.
    Affected if The vehicle is a Tesla Model 3, S, X, or Y running firmware below 2022.16.0.3.
  3. Locate ice_updater component
    If you have diagnostic or root access to the vehicle's software filesystem, search for the 'ice_updater' binary or service in the /usr/bin, /usr/sbin, or /services directories.
    Affected if The ice_updater firmware update mechanism exists and is executable on the system.
  4. Verify ice_updater configuration
    Examine the configuration files associated with ice_updater, typically found in /etc or /config directories. Look for settings related to signature validation, integrity checks, or firmware verification.
    Affected if No signature validation is enforced or the integrity check is disabled in the ice_updater configuration.

The environment is affected if the Tesla vehicle is a Model 3, S, X, or Y running firmware version earlier than 2022.16.0.3 and the ice_updater mechanism is present without proper firmware signature validation.

Generated from the published advisory. Verify against your own configuration.

Check your environment

Paste your version and any relevant configuration and it will be compared against the affected criteria above. Do not include secrets or credentials.

AI-assisted, checked against the advisory. Informational, not a guarantee.

Remediation Closing itWhat it takes to close this. Where a vendor fix exists we point at it; where none exists we say so plainly, and can build one. Effort estimates are scoped from the advisory, not from your codebase.

dbcve · scoped
Upgrade available Upgrade to 2022.16.0.3 or later
Fixed in 2022.16.0.3
Interim mitigation

Implement cryptographic signature validation and integrity checks for all firmware before execution in the ice_updater mechanism.

Recommended fix High confidence

Tesla Firmware 2022.16.0.3 or later

  1. Connect the vehicle to a trusted WiFi network
  2. Navigate to the vehicle's Settings > Software menu
  3. Check for available software updates
  4. Install the firmware update 2022.16.0.3 or later
  5. Verify the update was successful by checking the firmware version in Settings > Software

Generated from the published advisory — verify against the referenced sources before acting.

Fix this in Model 3 Firmware Scoped from the published advisory
  • Consultation8.0 h
  • Implementation24.0 h
  • Testing16.0 h
  • Review / QA12.0 h
60.0 hours of engineering $10,480
Get the upgrade done

An estimate, not a bill — we confirm scope with you before any work starts. Need it this week? Rush from $16,768.

Scan for this in your stack

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References Go to the primary sourcePrimary sources — vendor advisories, patches and trackers. Where our summary and a reference disagree, the reference wins.

Primary sources

Practitioner notes

Contributed

Peer-ranked notes from engineers who’ve handled CVE-2022-3093 in production — separate from our analysis above.

No notes yet

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What this is

A place for practitioners to share what actually worked: a mitigation you’ve tested, a configuration change, a version- or environment-specific caveat, or a link to a verified patch. The most useful notes rise to the top as peers upvote them, so the signal stays high.

What belongs here
  • Verified mitigations, workarounds, and config changes
  • Version or environment caveats, and links to real fixes
  • No weaponised exploit code, or anything meant to cause harm
  • No spam, self-promotion, credentials, or personal data