OT/IoT Security

A Malicious SIM Card Can Run Attacker Code Inside the Modems Behind Cellular IoT Devices

Researchers show that a rogue SIM card can execute arbitrary commands on cellular modems inside EV chargers and industrial routers—a novel supply-chain vector for critical infrastructure.

Summary written by editorial AI · Source link below

Filed by THN (Feedburner)11 August 20261 min readRead at source ↗

A malicious SIM card can order the device it sits in to run commands of the attacker's choosing. On the cellular modules built into electric-vehicle chargers, industrial routers, and car telematics units, that is enough to take the whole device over.

Researchers at the University of Birmingham and the security firm Fuzzware tested 26 phones and cellular modules for the capability, found it

Editorial Analysis

Why it matters

European critical infrastructure increasingly relies on cellular IoT; a tampered SIM card achieving full device control introduces a hardware supply-chain risk that current procurement processes rarely evaluate.

What to do

Audit SIM card procurement and provisioning processes for cellular IoT devices and require modem firmware that restricts SIM-issued command execution.

Board brief

A tampered SIM card can take full control of industrial IoT devices like EV chargers and routers—a hardware supply-chain risk with critical-infrastructure implications.

Forward-looking interpretation drafted by editorial AI under human review — not a reproduction of the source. See methodology.

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Editorial Analysis

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