CVE-2026-44104 in CHARX SEC-3150
Summary
by MITRE • 07/30/2026
The firmware update process for the basemodule of the charging controller only validates the CRC32 checksum without cryptographic signature verification. This allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to install a modified firmware, resulting in full system compromise.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2026
The vulnerability described represents a critical security flaw in the firmware update mechanism of a charging controller's basemodule component. This weakness stems from an insufficient validation approach that relies solely on CRC32 checksum verification rather than implementing proper cryptographic signature authentication. The absence of cryptographic verification creates a fundamental security gap that directly violates established security principles for firmware integrity protection. According to the common weakness enumeration framework, this issue maps to CWE-1037 which describes inadequate software integrity checks and CWE-693 which covers protection mechanism failures. The vulnerability exists within the update process itself where the basemodule fails to authenticate the source of firmware updates before installation.
The technical implementation flaw lies in the deliberate omission of cryptographic signature verification during the firmware update procedure. CRC32 checksums provide only error detection capabilities and do not ensure authenticity or integrity against malicious modifications. An attacker can craft a modified firmware image with a valid CRC32 checksum while altering the actual code content, bypassing all security controls designed to prevent unauthorized firmware installation. This represents a classic case of insufficient authentication mechanism where the system trusts any update that passes the basic checksum validation without confirming the update's legitimate source. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it enables remote exploitation, meaning an unauthenticated attacker can perform this compromise from outside the physical network perimeter.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple firmware modification. Once an attacker successfully installs modified firmware, they gain complete control over the charging controller system, potentially enabling them to manipulate charging parameters, disable safety mechanisms, or create backdoor access points. This level of compromise can result in unauthorized energy consumption, physical damage to charging infrastructure, and potential safety hazards. The vulnerability's severity is compounded by its remote accessibility, making it particularly attractive for attackers targeting industrial control systems or IoT devices. Organizations deploying such charging controllers face significant risk of system takeover, data exfiltration, and operational disruption that could affect large-scale charging networks.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust cryptographic signature verification mechanisms during firmware updates. The system must validate digital signatures using established public key infrastructure before accepting any firmware modifications. This includes deploying certificate-based authentication for update sources and implementing proper key management practices. Organizations should also consider network segmentation to limit access to update endpoints and deploy monitoring systems to detect unauthorized firmware installation attempts. According to the mitre att&ck framework, this vulnerability aligns with techniques such as T1547.001 for process injection and T1078 for valid accounts, as attackers may leverage compromised firmware to establish persistence within charging infrastructure. The remediation approach must include comprehensive testing of update mechanisms and regular security assessments to ensure cryptographic controls remain effective against evolving attack vectors.