Cyber Risks in ISO 15118 Standard Highlighted at Black Hat USA 2025

At the Black Hat USA 2025 News Desk, Salvatore Gariuolo of Trend Micro discussed the cyber risks posed by the ISO 15118 standard for electric vehicle (EV) smart charging and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) communications. The ISO 15118 standard is essential for enabling smart charging, which optimizes energy use and supports renewable energy integration. However, Gariuolo pointed out that this standard can be exploited by malicious actors, introducing significant cybersecurity risks. The discussion at Black Hat USA 2025 highlights the importance of addressing these risks to ensure the safety and reliability of EV infrastructure. The potential exploitation of the ISO 15118 standard by malicious actors underscores the need for robust security measures in the design and implementation of smart charging systems. As EVs become more integrated into the energy grid, the risks extend beyond individual vehicles to the broader energy infrastructure. A successful attack on EV charging systems could have far-reaching implications, including disruptions to power distribution and compromises to grid stability. Cybersecurity professionals must adopt a proactive and comprehensive approach to security to mitigate these risks. This includes implementing strong authentication and encryption protocols, conducting regular security audits, and deploying intrusion detection and prevention systems. In conclusion, while the ISO 15118 standard offers significant benefits for the EV ecosystem, it also introduces new cybersecurity challenges. Addressing these risks requires a proactive and comprehensive security strategy to ensure the safety and reliability of EV infrastructure.