CVE-2026-25113: Swtchenergy WebSocket API DoS Vulnerability

CVE-2026-25113 Overview

CVE-2026-25113 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting the Swtch Energy electric vehicle charging platform. The WebSocket Application Programming Interface lacks restrictions on the number of authentication requests, creating a missing rate limiting condition (CWE-307: Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts). This absence of rate limiting may allow an attacker to conduct denial-of-service attacks by suppressing or mis-routing legitimate charger telemetry, or conduct brute-force attacks to gain unauthorized access to the charging infrastructure.

Critical Impact

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to disrupt EV charging operations through DoS attacks or potentially gain unauthorized access through brute-force authentication attempts against the WebSocket API.

Affected Products

• Swtch Energy swtchenergy.com platform
• WebSocket API authentication endpoints
• EV charger telemetry systems connected to the platform

Discovery Timeline

• February 27, 2026 - CVE-2026-25113 published to NVD
• March 5, 2026 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-25113

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability stems from improper restriction of excessive authentication attempts in the WebSocket API used by the Swtch Energy EV charging platform. The WebSocket interface, which handles real-time communication between chargers and the management platform, does not implement rate limiting on authentication requests. This design flaw allows attackers to submit unlimited authentication attempts without being blocked or throttled.

The impact is twofold: first, attackers can flood the WebSocket endpoint with authentication requests, overwhelming the service and causing denial of service that disrupts legitimate charger telemetry data. This could prevent operators from monitoring charging stations and affect billing accuracy. Second, the lack of rate limiting enables brute-force attacks where attackers can systematically attempt credential combinations to gain unauthorized access to the charging infrastructure.

Root Cause

The root cause is a missing security control in the WebSocket API implementation. The authentication handler does not track or limit the number of authentication attempts from a single source within a given time window. This represents a CWE-307 weakness where the software does not implement sufficient measures to prevent multiple failed authentication attempts, leaving the system vulnerable to automated attack tools.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, requiring no authentication and no user interaction. An attacker with network access to the WebSocket API endpoint can exploit this vulnerability remotely. The attack can be executed using standard WebSocket client libraries or tools designed for authentication testing.

The exploitation process involves connecting to the WebSocket API and sending rapid, repeated authentication requests. For denial of service, the attacker floods the endpoint with requests to exhaust server resources and disrupt legitimate communications. For brute-force attacks, the attacker systematically attempts credential combinations until valid credentials are discovered.

Since this is an ICS/OT (Industrial Control Systems/Operational Technology) vulnerability affecting EV charging infrastructure, successful exploitation could have physical-world consequences including disrupted charging services and potential safety implications.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-25113

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusually high volume of WebSocket connection attempts from single IP addresses or ranges
• Rapid succession of authentication failures in WebSocket API logs
• Anomalous network traffic patterns targeting WebSocket endpoints
• Server resource exhaustion symptoms correlating with WebSocket traffic spikes

Detection Strategies

• Implement network monitoring to detect excessive connection rates to WebSocket endpoints
• Configure log analysis rules to alert on authentication failure thresholds
• Deploy intrusion detection signatures for WebSocket brute-force patterns
• Monitor for unusual patterns in charger telemetry data that may indicate disruption

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging on WebSocket API authentication events
• Set up real-time alerts for authentication failure rate anomalies
• Monitor server performance metrics for signs of resource exhaustion
• Track geographic and IP-based patterns in API access attempts

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-25113

Immediate Actions Required

• Implement network-level rate limiting on WebSocket API endpoints
• Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to throttle authentication requests
• Enable account lockout policies after a threshold of failed attempts
• Consider IP-based blocking for sources exhibiting attack patterns
• Review and restrict network access to WebSocket API endpoints where possible

Patch Information

Organizations should consult the CISA ICS Advisory #ICSA-26-057-06 for official remediation guidance. Contact Swtch Energy through their contact page for vendor-specific patch availability and deployment instructions. Additional technical details are available in the GitHub CSAF Document.

Workarounds

• Deploy a reverse proxy with rate limiting capabilities in front of the WebSocket API
• Implement IP allowlisting to restrict API access to known trusted sources
• Use VPN or private network connectivity for charger-to-platform communications
• Enable CAPTCHA or proof-of-work challenges for authentication endpoints if supported
• Segment the charging infrastructure network to limit attack surface

# Example nginx rate limiting configuration for WebSocket endpoints
# Add to nginx.conf or site configuration

limit_req_zone $binary_remote_addr zone=ws_auth:10m rate=5r/s;

location /ws/auth {
    limit_req zone=ws_auth burst=10 nodelay;
    limit_req_status 429;
    proxy_pass http://websocket_backend;
    proxy_http_version 1.1;
    proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
    proxy_set_header Connection "upgrade";
}