CVE-2026-8983 Overview
CVE-2026-8983 affects the Autel Maxi Charger Single firmware through version V1.03.51. The firmware contains a hard-coded authentication token that bypasses authorization checks on multiple management endpoints. An attacker who supplies the special token value can invoke privileged functionality without valid authentication. The flaw is classified under CWE-798: Use of Hard-coded Credentials and is remotely exploitable across the network with no user interaction required.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated attackers can invoke privileged management functions on affected Autel Maxi Charger Single units, compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the EV charging device.
Affected Products
- Autel Maxi Charger Single firmware through V1.03.51
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-07-21 - CVE-2026-8983 published to NVD
- 2026-07-22 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-8983
Vulnerability Analysis
The Autel Maxi Charger Single firmware ships with a hard-coded authentication token embedded in the device's management interface. When the token is presented in an incoming request, the firmware treats the caller as pre-authenticated and skips the normal authorization checks. This design flaw exposes privileged endpoints intended for administrators or vendor tooling to any network-reachable attacker.
Because the token is baked into the firmware image, it is identical across every deployed unit running the affected version. Any party that recovers the value once — through firmware extraction, reverse engineering, or leakage — retains persistent access to every charger of the same build.
Root Cause
The root cause is CWE-798: Use of Hard-coded Credentials. The firmware relies on a static secret compiled into the binary rather than per-device credentials or a cryptographic authentication scheme. This defeats access control on the management endpoints that reference the token.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is the network. An attacker sends crafted requests to the charger's management endpoints and includes the hard-coded token as the authentication artifact. No prior credentials, user interaction, or privileged position are required. Successful requests can invoke privileged functionality on the device, which impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of both the charger and any connected subsystems.
Technical details are documented in the CyberDanube Vulnerability Research advisory.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-8983
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected inbound HTTP or API requests to Autel Maxi Charger management endpoints from unrecognized source addresses.
- Requests to privileged management URIs that succeed without a prior interactive login or session establishment.
- Configuration changes, firmware operations, or session activity on the charger with no corresponding administrator action in change records.
Detection Strategies
- Inspect network traffic to and from the charger for authentication headers or parameters that match the token value published by CyberDanube.
- Alert on any access to management endpoints originating from networks outside the designated operations VLAN.
- Correlate device audit logs with identity system events to flag privileged actions that have no corresponding authenticated session.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward charger logs and network telemetry to a centralized platform such as Singularity Data Lake for retention and query.
- Baseline normal management traffic volume and source addresses, then alert on deviations.
- Monitor for outbound connections from the charger to unfamiliar destinations that may indicate post-exploitation command-and-control.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-8983
Immediate Actions Required
- Isolate affected Autel Maxi Charger Single units on a segmented network that blocks inbound access from untrusted sources.
- Restrict management endpoint reachability to a small allow-list of administrative hosts using firewall rules or ACLs.
- Contact Autel support to confirm patched firmware availability and obtain remediation guidance.
Patch Information
At the time of publication, no vendor patch reference is listed in the NVD entry for CVE-2026-8983. Operators should track updates from Autel and review the CyberDanube advisory for remediation status.
Workarounds
- Place the charger behind a network firewall that blocks all inbound traffic to management ports except from authorized administrative addresses.
- Disable remote management interfaces if they are not required for operations.
- Continuously monitor charger network activity for requests carrying the token value or targeting privileged endpoints.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
