Physical code execution via exposed recovery pins
Published Jul 21, 2026 · Updated Jul 21, 2026
Improper recovery-mode access in Autel MaxiCharger AC Single firmware 1.03.51 and earlier allows physically proximate attackers to execute code. Shorting the two exposed J19 pins forces the NXP processor into recovery mode, which accepts and boots an attacker-supplied image in RAM. Physical access to the charger PCB is required, after which firmware and operating-system data can be modified or extracted.
Summary
What happened
Improper recovery-mode access in Autel MaxiCharger AC Single firmware 1.03.51 and earlier allows physically proximate attackers to execute code. Shorting the two exposed J19 pins forces the NXP processor into recovery mode, which accepts and boots an attacker-supplied image in RAM. Physical access to the charger PCB is required, after which firmware and operating-system data can be modified or extracted.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-8989
- Published
- Jul 21, 2026
- Updated
- Jul 21, 2026
- Vendor
- Autel
- Product
- MaxiCharger AC Single
- Classifications
- CWE-1244, CWE-1191, CAPEC-180, T1542.001
- Attack vector
- physical
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jul 21, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jul 21, 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.
- Affected versionversion=0 <=V1.03.51
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- CyberDanube MaxiCharger open-recovery-mode demonstrationproof of concept · demonstrated
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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