Colorado State University (CSU) researchers warn of significant cybersecurity risks in the trucking industry due to vulnerabilities in Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs).

Big worries: ELDs, installed on trucks to track hours of service, could be exploited by hackers to control trucks, steal data, or potentially cause widespread disruptions, reported CSU News.

The science: The study uncovered that these devices could be compromised via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, allowing malware to spread from truck to truck. Researchers dubbed this a "self-propagating truck-to-truck worm." Just so you know: This discovery came after testing several "off-the-shelf" ELDs commonly used in the industry.

What's next: The team's findings have been presented to the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and are working directly with manufacturers on a firmware update to patch the security gaps.

Manufacturers and truckers alike are now on high alert, recognizing the urgency to safeguard their vehicles and the larger supply chain from potential cyber-attacks.

For those interested in delving deeper, CSU has provided access to their full research paper on the matter.

Meanwhile, CSU's Systems Engineering Department is now the home base for the National CyberTruck Challenge, an event that promotes cybersecurity knowledge among students through field testing and direct engagement with trucks and their complex systems.

The issue is not just technical but an indication of broader vulnerabilities in the interconnected supply chain, making cybersecurity a paramount concern as infrastructure elements get increasingly linked.