According to one general aspect, a device may include a host interface circuit configured to communicate with a host device via a data protocol that employs data messages. The device may include a storage element configured to store data in response to a data message. The host interface circuit may be configured to detect when a tunneling command is embedded within the data message; extract a tunneled message address information from the data message; retrieve, via the tunneled message address information, a tunneled message stored in a memory of the host device; and route the tunneled message to an on-board processor and/or data processing logic. The on-board processor and/or data processing logic may be configured to execute one or more instructions in response to the tunneled message.