Hyundai suffered a major data breach in February 2024, disclosed months later after a prolonged investigation. Hackers infiltrated **Hyundai AutoEver America (HAEA)**, the digital backbone for Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis in North America, gaining **unrestricted access for nine days** (February 22–March 2). The breach exposed highly sensitive customer data, including **full names, Social Security numbers (SSNs), and driver’s license information**—critical identifiers for identity theft and fraud. HAEA’s systems, which manage dealership operations, remote vehicle software, and customer purchase processing, were compromised, allowing attackers to exfiltrate data undetected. This marks Hyundai’s **third major security incident in three years**, highlighting systemic vulnerabilities in its digital infrastructure. The delayed disclosure underscores the severity, as victims remained unaware while their data circulated in criminal networks. The breach’s scale and the nature of stolen data pose long-term risks, including financial fraud, phishing, and reputational damage to Hyundai’s brand trust.
Source: https://www.jalopnik.com/2023359/hyundai-data-breach-leaked-millions-social-security-numbers/
Hyundai AutoEver America cybersecurity rating report: https://www.rankiteo.com/company/hyundai-autoever-america
"id": "hyu2792127111125",
"linkid": "hyundai-autoever-america",
"type": "Breach",
"date": "2/2024",
"severity": "85",
"impact": "4",
"explanation": "Attack with significant impact with customers data leaks"{'affected_entities': [{'customers_affected': 'Millions',
'industry': 'Automotive',
'location': 'Global (primary impact in North America)',
'name': 'Hyundai Motor Company',
'size': 'Large (Multinational corporation)',
'type': 'Automotive Manufacturer'},
{'industry': 'Automotive Technology',
'location': 'California, USA',
'name': 'Hyundai AutoEver America (HAEA)',
'type': 'Subsidiary (Digital/IT Services)'},
{'industry': 'Automotive',
'location': 'North America (indirect impact via HAEA)',
'name': 'Kia Motors',
'type': 'Automotive Manufacturer'},
{'industry': 'Automotive',
'location': 'North America (indirect impact via HAEA)',
'name': 'Genesis Motors',
'type': 'Automotive Manufacturer (Luxury Division)'}],
'customer_advisories': 'Delayed notification to affected customers',
'data_breach': {'data_exfiltration': 'Likely (hackers had unsupervised access '
'for nine days)',
'personally_identifiable_information': ['Full names',
'Social Security '
'numbers',
"Driver's license "
'information'],
'sensitivity_of_data': "High (SSNs, driver's licenses)",
'type_of_data_compromised': ['Personally Identifiable '
'Information (PII)']},
'date_detected': '2024-03-02',
'description': 'Hyundai is alerting millions of customers about a data breach '
'that exposed sensitive personal information, including Social '
"Security numbers and driver's licenses. The breach occurred "
'in February 2024 but was only disclosed months later after a '
'lengthy investigation. Hackers gained unauthorized access to '
"Hyundai AutoEver America (HAEA) systems—Hyundai's digital "
'backbone for North American operations—between February 22 '
'and March 2, 2024, and remained undetected for nine days. '
"This marks Hyundai's third major security incident in three "
'years.',
'impact': {'brand_reputation_impact': 'High (third major incident in three '
'years, delayed disclosure)',
'data_compromised': ['Full names',
'Social Security numbers',
"Driver's license information"],
'identity_theft_risk': "High (SSNs and driver's licenses exposed)",
'systems_affected': ['Hyundai AutoEver America (HAEA) systems',
'Dealership computer systems',
'Software enabling remote car features']},
'initial_access_broker': {'high_value_targets': ['HAEA systems',
'Dealership databases',
'Remote car feature '
'software']},
'investigation_status': 'Completed (took months)',
'post_incident_analysis': {'root_causes': ['Unauthorized access to HAEA '
'systems',
'Delayed detection (nine days of '
'unsupervised access)']},
'recommendations': ['Minimize data collection/retention to reduce exposure',
'Improve detection capabilities to reduce dwell time',
'Enhance transparency in breach disclosures'],
'references': [{'source': 'Forbes'}],
'response': {'communication_strategy': 'Delayed disclosure to customers '
'(months after breach)',
'incident_response_plan_activated': 'Yes (investigation took '
'months)'},
'title': "Hyundai Data Breach Exposes Social Security Numbers and Driver's "
'Licenses',
'type': ['Data Breach', 'Unauthorized Access']}