CVE-2026-24696 Overview
CVE-2026-24696 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting a WebSocket Application Programming Interface that lacks restrictions on the number of authentication requests. This absence of rate limiting creates two significant attack vectors: denial-of-service attacks that can suppress or mis-route legitimate charger telemetry, and brute-force attacks that could lead to unauthorized access to the affected system.
Critical Impact
Attackers can exploit the missing rate limiting to overwhelm the WebSocket API with authentication requests, disrupting charger telemetry operations or potentially gaining unauthorized system access through credential brute-forcing.
Affected Products
- WebSocket Application Programming Interface (specific product versions not disclosed)
- EV Charger Management Systems utilizing the affected WebSocket API
- Industrial Control Systems referenced in CISA ICS Advisory ICSA-26-062-08
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-03-06 - CVE-2026-24696 published to NVD
- 2026-03-10 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-24696
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability is classified under CWE-307 (Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts). The WebSocket API implementation fails to implement proper rate limiting mechanisms on authentication endpoints, allowing unlimited authentication requests from any network-accessible attacker without requiring prior authentication or user interaction.
The vulnerability poses a significant risk to availability, as attackers can flood the authentication mechanism with requests, potentially causing service disruption. In the context of EV charger infrastructure, this could result in suppressed or mis-routed telemetry data, impacting operational visibility and control over charging stations.
Additionally, the lack of authentication throttling enables brute-force attacks against user credentials. An attacker with network access could systematically attempt password combinations without triggering lockouts or delays, significantly increasing the probability of successful credential compromise.
Root Cause
The root cause of CVE-2026-24696 is the absence of rate limiting controls within the WebSocket API's authentication handling logic. The implementation does not track authentication attempt frequency, enforce cooldown periods between failed attempts, or implement account lockout mechanisms. This design oversight allows an unlimited number of authentication requests to be processed, regardless of their success or failure status.
Attack Vector
The attack can be executed remotely over the network without requiring any authentication or user interaction. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by:
- Establishing a WebSocket connection to the target API endpoint
- Sending a high volume of authentication requests in rapid succession
- For denial-of-service: Overwhelming the authentication service to degrade or halt legitimate telemetry processing
- For brute-force attacks: Systematically attempting credential combinations until valid credentials are discovered
The network-accessible nature of this vulnerability means any attacker who can reach the WebSocket API endpoint can attempt exploitation. No specialized tools are required beyond basic WebSocket client capabilities.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-24696
Indicators of Compromise
- Abnormally high volume of WebSocket authentication requests from single or multiple IP addresses
- Increased failed authentication attempts in application logs
- Unusual patterns of authentication timing suggesting automated request generation
- Degraded charger telemetry responsiveness or data gaps coinciding with authentication spikes
Detection Strategies
- Implement network traffic analysis to identify WebSocket connections with unusually high message rates
- Configure SIEM rules to alert on authentication failure thresholds per source IP within defined time windows
- Deploy behavioral analytics to detect brute-force patterns against authentication endpoints
- Monitor WebSocket connection duration and message frequency for anomalous patterns
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable detailed logging for all WebSocket authentication events including timestamps, source IPs, and outcomes
- Establish baseline metrics for normal authentication request volumes and alert on significant deviations
- Implement real-time dashboards tracking authentication success/failure ratios and request rates
- Configure alerts for service degradation indicators in charger telemetry systems
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-24696
Immediate Actions Required
- Review the CISA ICS Advisory ICSA-26-062-08 for vendor-specific remediation guidance
- Restrict network access to the affected WebSocket API to trusted IP ranges only
- Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) or reverse proxy rate limiting in front of the vulnerable endpoint
- Enable enhanced logging and monitoring for authentication events
- Consider temporary service isolation if active exploitation is suspected
Patch Information
Consult the CISA ICS Advisory ICSA-26-062-08 and the associated CSAF document for official vendor patch information and remediation timelines. Apply vendor-provided security updates as soon as they become available.
Workarounds
- Deploy an external rate limiting solution such as a reverse proxy or API gateway with configurable request throttling
- Implement network-level access controls (firewall rules, VPN requirements) to restrict WebSocket API exposure
- Configure temporary IP-based blocking for sources exceeding authentication attempt thresholds
- Enable account lockout mechanisms at the application layer if supported by the platform
- Segment the affected system from critical operational networks to limit blast radius
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
