CVE-2026-44106: Phoenix Contact CHARX SEC-3xxx privilege escalation in init-script

CVE-2026-44106 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.8 · Published 2026-07-30

A security flaw exists in the startup scripts of Phoenix Contact CHARX electric vehicle charging controllers. This vulnerability allows a person with low-level access to the device to take complete control of the system as a root user. An attacker could use this to disrupt charging operations, steal data, or permanently disable the controller.

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-2026-44106 exploited in the wild?
No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-44106 being exploited in the wild.
How severe is CVE-2026-44106?
High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 30 July 2026.
Which products and versions are affected?
Phoenix Contact CHARX SEC-3000 1.0.0 to 1.9.1 (exclusive); Phoenix Contact CHARX SEC-3050 1.0.0 to 1.9.1 (exclusive); Phoenix Contact CHARX SEC-3100 1.0.0 to 1.9.1 (exclusive); Phoenix Contact CHARX SEC-3150 1.0.0 to 1.9.1 (exclusive).
Is there a fix for CVE-2026-44106?
A patch was published on 2026-07-30: Firmware version 1.9.1 released to address the issue Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.
How is CVE-2026-44106 attacked?
It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.
Am I affected by CVE-2026-44106?
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 init-script responsible for user-applications in Phoenix Contact CHARX SEC-3xxx firmware. A local attacker with low-privileged access can exploit improper neutralization of special elements within the script to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges. Successful exploitation leads to a total loss of confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The issue affects firmware versions prior to 1.9.1, where a fix has been implemented.

Affected products

  • Phoenix Contact CHARX SEC-3000 1.0.0 to 1.9.1 (exclusive)
  • Phoenix Contact CHARX SEC-3050 1.0.0 to 1.9.1 (exclusive)
  • Phoenix Contact CHARX SEC-3100 1.0.0 to 1.9.1 (exclusive)
  • Phoenix Contact CHARX SEC-3150 1.0.0 to 1.9.1 (exclusive)

Timeline

  • 2026-07-30: advisory: Advisory published by CERT VDE and NVD
  • 2026-07-30: patched: Firmware version 1.9.1 released to address the issue

References

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