Validating an electronic control unit of a vehicle

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory; and

circuitry configured to:

generate a run-time cryptographic hash based on an identification (ID) number of an electronic control unit of a vehicle;

compare the run-time cryptographic hash with a cryptographic hash stored in a portion of the memory;

report the electronic control unit as unauthenticated to a host in response to the run-time cryptographic hash and the cryptographic hash being unequal;

receive an updated cryptographic hash in response to replacing the electronic control unit;

generate an updated run-time cryptographic hash based on an ID number of the replacement electronic control unit;

compare the updated run-time cryptographic hash with the updated cryptographic hash;

report the replacement electronic control unit as unauthenticated to the host in response to the updated run-time cryptographic hash and the updated cryptographic hash being unequal; and

send a message from the host to a dealer of the vehicle, manufacturer of the vehicle, or someone warrantying the vehicle in response to the electronic control unit or the replacement electronic control unit being unauthenticated.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is configured to generate the run-time cryptographic hash by reading the ID number stored in the portion of the memory and using a hash function to hash the data.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the memory is a secure portion of the memory.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the memory is defined by one or more registers.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is configured to detect a power on of the vehicle.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the circuitry is configured to compare the run-time cryptographic hash with a cryptographic hash stored in the portion of memory in response to detecting the power on of the vehicle.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the circuitry is configured to generate the run-time cryptographic hash based on the ID number in response to detecting the power on of the vehicle.

8. A method of validating an electronic control unit of a vehicle, comprising:

detecting a power on of a vehicle;

generating a run-time cryptographic hash based on an identification (ID) number of an electronic control unit of the vehicle;

comparing the run-time cryptographic hash with a cryptographic hash stored in a portion of a memory in response to detecting the power on;

reporting the electronic control unit as unauthenticated to a host in response to the run-time cryptographic hash and the cryptographic hash being unequal;

receiving an updated cryptographic hash in response to replacing the electronic control unit;

generating an updated run-time cryptographic hash based on an ID number of the replacement electronic control unit;

comparing the updated run-time cryptographic hash with the updated cryptographic hash;

reporting the replacement electronic control unit as unauthenticated to the host in response to the updated run-time cryptographic hash and the updated cryptographic hash being unequal; and

sending a message from the host to a dealer of the vehicle, manufacturer of the vehicle, or someone warrantying the vehicle in response to the electronic control unit or the replacement electronic control unit being unauthenticated.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the method includes receiving the ID number of the electronic control unit from the electronic control unit via a bus.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the method includes displaying a different message in response to the run-time cryptographic hash and the cryptographic hash being unequal.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the different message classifies the electronic control unit as unauthentic.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the different message classifies the electronic control unit as improperly installed.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the method includes sending a different message identifying the vehicle and the electronic control unit in response to the run-time cryptographic hash and the cryptographic hash being unequal.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the different message is sent to the dealer of the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 8 , wherein the method includes powering off the vehicle in response to the run-time cryptographic hash and the cryptographic hash being unequal.

16. The method of claim 8 , wherein the cryptographic hash of the data stored in the portion of the memory comprises a SHA-256 cryptographic hash.

17. The method of claim 8 , wherein the method includes comparing a previous run-time cryptographic hash and a previous cryptographic hash prior to receiving the updated cryptographic hash.

18. The method of claim 8 , wherein the previous run-time cryptographic hash is based on an ID number of a previous electronic control unit.

19. The method of claim 8 , wherein the previous electronic control unit is replaced by the electronic control unit.

20. The method of claim 8 , wherein the method includes removing a message that the electronic control unit is invalid in response to the updated run-time cryptographic hash and the updated cryptographic hash being equal.

21. A system, comprising:

an electronic control unit;

a memory; and

circuitry configured to:

receive a cryptographic hash in response to installing the electronic control unit in the system;

generate a run-time cryptographic hash by reading data stored in a portion of the memory and using a hash function to hash the data;

compare the run-time cryptographic hash with the received cryptographic hash;

validate the electronic control unit in response to the run-time cryptographic hash and the received cryptographic hash being equal;

report the electronic control unit as unauthenticated to a host in response to the run-time cryptographic hash and the received cryptographic hash being unequal;

receive an updated cryptographic hash in response to replacing the electronic control unit;

generate an updated run-time cryptographic hash based on an ID number of the replacement electronic control unit;

compare the updated run-time cryptographic hash with the updated cryptographic hash;

report the replacement electronic control unit as unauthenticated to the host in response to the updated run-time cryptographic hash and the updated cryptographic hash being unequal; and

send a message from the host to a dealer of the system, manufacturer of the system, or someone warrantying the system in response to the electronic control unit or the replacement electronic control unit being unauthenticated.

22. The system of claim 21 , wherein the data stored in the portion of the memory includes an identification (ID) of the electronic control unit.

23. The system of claim 22 , wherein the ID of the electronic control unit is a serial number.

24. The system of claim 21 , further comprising a plurality of electronic control units.

25. The system of claim 21 , wherein the system is a vehicle.