A method of detecting and mitigating an unintended active state of an in-vehicle communication network. The in-vehicle communication network includes a plurality of electronic control units (ECUs) communicating over a controller area network bus system. Each ECU includes both transmitting and receiving capabilities, and is configured with a communication protocol that provides guidelines for exchanging messages with other ECUs within the communication system. Each ECU enters a communication kernel active state for communicating on the bus. Virtual networks within the communication system are identified. Each virtual network includes a collection of signals involving respective ECUs whose transmission and reception are started and stopped collectively as a unit. Each respective virtual network that is active by fault is detected. Each faulty active virtual network is deactivated.