CVE-2026-1442Public exploit

Firmware forgery via hard-coded key derivation

Published Feb 27, 2026 · Updated Feb 27, 2026

Hard-coded cryptographic keys in Unitree Robotics UPK 0 through 20260226v1 allow local users to create firmware packages trusted by robots. The UPK generator derives each TEA key from a seed stored in the package and constants hard-coded in the robot's OTA binary, allowing payloads to be decrypted, modified, re-encrypted, and furnished with a matching MD5 value. Exploitation requires an equipment owner to install the crafted update because no public method currently delivers attacker-made UPK files through Unitree's MQTT update path.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.15%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Hard-coded cryptographic keys in Unitree Robotics UPK 0 through 20260226v1 allow local users to create firmware packages trusted by robots. The UPK generator derives each TEA key from a seed stored in the package and constants hard-coded in the robot's OTA binary, allowing payloads to be decrypted, modified, re-encrypted, and furnished with a matching MD5 value. Exploitation requires an equipment owner to install the crafted update because no public method currently delivers attacker-made UPK files through Unitree's MQTT update path.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-1442
Published
Feb 27, 2026
Updated
Feb 27, 2026
Vendor
Unitree Robotics
Product
UPK
Classifications
CWE-321, T1601.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 27, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 27, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <=20260226v1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Unitree Robotics · UPKversion=0 <=20260226v1

Published CVSS scores

7.8Austin Hackers AnonymousCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A: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.

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No observations available

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-321Use of Hard-coded Cryptographic Key
T1601.001Modify System Image: System Firmware

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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