CVE-2026-44096: Phoenix Contact CHARX SEC-3xxx privilege escalation in udhcpc

CVE-2026-44096 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.8 · Published 2026-07-30

A security vulnerability exists in Phoenix Contact CHARX electric vehicle charging controllers. A user with limited access to the device can exploit a flaw in the network configuration component to gain full administrative control. This could allow an attacker to disrupt charging operations, modify device settings, or compromise the entire system.

Technologies: Phoenix Contact CHARX SEC-3000, Phoenix Contact CHARX SEC-3050, Phoenix Contact CHARX SEC-3100, Phoenix Contact CHARX SEC-3150. Vendors: Phoenix Contact.

Quick answers

Is CVE-2026-44096 exploited in the wild?
No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-44096 being exploited in the wild.
How severe is CVE-2026-44096?
High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 30 July 2026.
Which products and versions are affected?
Phoenix Contact CHARX SEC-3000 < 1.9.1; Phoenix Contact CHARX SEC-3050 < 1.9.1; Phoenix Contact CHARX SEC-3100 < 1.9.1; Phoenix Contact CHARX SEC-3150 < 1.9.1.
Is there a fix for CVE-2026-44096?
No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.
How is CVE-2026-44096 attacked?
It is attacked with local access, in device firmware.
Am I affected by CVE-2026-44096?
Check whether you run Phoenix Contact CHARX SEC-3000, Phoenix Contact CHARX SEC-3050, Phoenix Contact CHARX SEC-3100 or one of the others listed at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

Technical details

This vulnerability is classified as an OS Command Injection (CWE-78) within the udhcpc DHCP client component. A local attacker with low-privileged access (specifically the 'charx-web' user) can exploit improper neutralization of special elements to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges. This leads to a full system compromise of the charging controller. The issue affects CHARX SEC-3000, 3050, 3100, and 3150 models running firmware versions prior to 1.9.1. A patch is available in firmware version 1.9.1.

Affected products

  • Phoenix Contact CHARX SEC-3000 < 1.9.1
  • Phoenix Contact CHARX SEC-3050 < 1.9.1
  • Phoenix Contact CHARX SEC-3100 < 1.9.1
  • Phoenix Contact CHARX SEC-3150 < 1.9.1

Timeline

  • 2026-07-30: advisory: VDE-2026-008 published by CERT VDE
  • 2026-07-30: disclosed: CVE-2026-44096 published to NVD

References

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