# CVE-2026-8988: Autel MaxiCharger Single bootloader access via UART interface

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-8988-autel-maxicharger-single-bootloader-access-via-uart-interface  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-07-21. Updated: 2026-07-22  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-8988 · Severity: info · CVSS 8.6 · Published 2026-07-21

The Autel MaxiCharger Single, an electric vehicle charging station, contains a vulnerability where internal hardware components are left accessible. An attacker with physical access to the device's internal circuit board can interrupt the startup process to gain full control over the operating system. This could allow an unauthorized person to modify the charger's software, disable the device, or compromise the integrity of the charging infrastructure.

Technologies: [Autel MaxiCharger Single](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/maxicharger-single). Vendors: [Autel](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/autel).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-8988 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-8988 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-8988?** Informational severity, with a CVSS score of 8.6, published 21 July 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Autel MaxiCharger Single through V1.03.51.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-8988?** 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-2026-8988 attacked?** It is attacked with physical access, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-8988?** Check whether you run Autel MaxiCharger Single 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

The Autel MaxiCharger Single firmware (up to V1.03.51) fails to secure the hardware debugging interface. A UART console is exposed on the Printed Circuit Board (PCB), which allows an attacker with physical access to interact with the device during its boot sequence. By sending a break signal or specific key sequence, an attacker can interrupt the normal boot process to enter the U-Boot bootloader environment. From this environment, the attacker can modify boot arguments, manipulate the Linux filesystem, and ultimately obtain root-level access to the underlying operating system.

## Affected products

- Autel MaxiCharger Single through V1.03.51

## Timeline

- 2026-07-21: disclosed: CVE published by CyberDanube
- 2026-07-21: advisory

## References

- [https://cyberdanube.com/security-research/multiple-vulnerabilities-in-autel-maxi-charger/](https://cyberdanube.com/security-research/multiple-vulnerabilities-in-autel-maxi-charger/)

## Related threats

- [Autel MaxiCharger Single unrestricted recovery mode access via hardware pins](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-8989-autel-maxicharger-single-unrestricted-recovery-mode-access-via)
- [Autel MaxiCharger Single heap overflow in set_ap_param command](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-8987-autel-maxicharger-single-heap-overflow-in-set-ap-param-command)
- [Autel MaxiCharger Single OS command injection in OCPP GetDiagnostics](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-8986-autel-maxicharger-single-os-command-injection-in-ocpp)
- [Autel MaxiCharger Single OS command injection in /test endpoint](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-8985-autel-maxicharger-single-os-command-injection-in-test-endpoint)
- [Autel MaxiCharger Single unauthenticated RCE in port 9002 service](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-8984-autel-maxicharger-single-unauthenticated-rce-in-port-9002-service)