CVE-2025-34251Public exploit

Physical root code execution via unlocked ADB

Published Oct 6, 2025 · Updated Oct 6, 2025

Authentication bypass in Tesla Telematics Control Unit firmware before 2025.14 allows physically proximate attackers to execute code as root. The /etc/launch_adbd lockdown blocks adb shell but leaves root-privileged adb push, pull, and port forwarding available over the exposed Micro USB port. Physical access to the unit is required; a planted executable path written to uevent_helper or hotplug runs when a kernel event is triggered.

CVSS severity8.6
High
EPSS probability0.45%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Authentication bypass in Tesla Telematics Control Unit firmware before 2025.14 allows physically proximate attackers to execute code as root. The /etc/launch_adbd lockdown blocks adb shell but leaves root-privileged adb push, pull, and port forwarding available over the exposed Micro USB port. Physical access to the unit is required; a planted executable path written to uevent_helper or hotplug runs when a kernel event is triggered.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-34251
Published
Oct 6, 2025
Updated
Oct 6, 2025
Vendor
Tesla
Product
Telematics Control Unit (TCU)
Classifications
CWE-288, CWE-269, CAPEC-115, T1068
Attack vector
physical
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 6, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 6, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=* <2025.14

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorphysical
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Tesla · Telematics Control Unit (TCU)version=* <2025.14

Published CVSS scores

8.6VulnCheckCVSS:4.0/AV:P/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorphysical
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-288Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel
CWE-269Improper Privilege Management
CAPEC-115Authentication Bypass
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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