---
title: "Critical Flaws in CloudCharge EV Charging Systems Expose Global Energy Infrastructure"
short_title: "CloudCharge EV systems hit by critical vulnerabilities"
description: "Four critical vulnerabilities in CloudCharge EV charging systems allow attackers to hijack sessions, cause denial-of-service, and manipulate data. Patch now to secure energy infrastructure."
author: "Vitus"
date: 2024-10-02
categories: [Cybersecurity, Vulnerabilities]
tags: [cloudcharge, ev-charging, cve-2026-20781, cve-2026-25114, cybersecurity]
score: 0.92
cve_ids: [CVE-2026-20781, CVE-2026-25114, CVE-2026-27652, CVE-2026-20733]
---
TL;DR
Four critical vulnerabilities in CloudCharge EV charging systems (CVE-2026-20781, CVE-2026-25114, CVE-2026-27652, CVE-2026-20733) expose global energy and transportation infrastructure to attacks. Exploitation could lead to session hijacking, denial-of-service (DoS), and data manipulation. CloudCharge has not responded to coordination requests, leaving organizations to mitigate risks independently.
---
Main Content
Introduction
The rapid expansion of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure has introduced new cybersecurity risks, particularly in critical sectors like energy and transportation. A recent discovery of four critical vulnerabilities in CloudCharge’s cloudcharge.se platform highlights the urgent need for robust security measures. These flaws, if exploited, could allow attackers to impersonate charging stations, hijack sessions, and manipulate backend data, posing severe risks to global energy systems.
---
Key Points
- Four critical vulnerabilities affect all versions of CloudCharge’s cloudcharge.se platform.
- Exploitation could lead to unauthorized control of charging infrastructure, data corruption, and large-scale denial-of-service (DoS) attacks.
- No official patch is available, as CloudCharge has not responded to coordination requests.
- Affected sectors include energy and transportation systems, with deployments spanning worldwide.
- CVSS scores range from 6.5 (Medium) to 9.4 (Critical), underscoring the severity of these flaws.
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Technical Details
#### Vulnerability Breakdown
The vulnerabilities in CloudCharge’s platform stem from inadequate authentication, session management, and credential protection. Below is a detailed breakdown:
| CVE ID | CVSS Score | Severity | Vulnerability Type | Impact |
|-----------------------|----------------|--------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| CVE-2026-20781 | 9.4 | Critical | Missing Authentication for Critical Function | Allows attackers to impersonate charging stations and manipulate backend data. |
| CVE-2026-25114 | 7.5 | High | Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts | Enables brute-force attacks and DoS attacks by suppressing legitimate traffic. |
| CVE-2026-27652 | 7.3 | High | Insufficient Session Expiration | Permits session hijacking and shadowing, displacing legitimate connections. |
| CVE-2026-20733 | 6.5 | Medium | Insufficiently Protected Credentials | Exposes charging station identifiers via public mapping platforms, enabling unauthorized access. |
---
#### Attack Vector
1. Missing Authentication (CVE-2026-20781)
- Attackers can connect to OCPP WebSocket endpoints using known or discovered charging station identifiers.
- No authentication is required, allowing unauthorized issuance or reception of OCPP commands as a legitimate charger.
- Result: Privilege escalation, unauthorized control, and data corruption.
2. Brute-Force and DoS Attacks (CVE-2026-25114)
- The absence of rate limiting on authentication requests allows attackers to flood the system.
- Result: Suppression or misrouting of legitimate charger telemetry, leading to large-scale DoS attacks.
3. Session Hijacking (CVE-2026-27652)
- The backend allows multiple endpoints to connect using the same session identifier.
- Result: Predictable session identifiers enable session hijacking or shadowing, displacing legitimate connections.
4. Exposed Credentials (CVE-2026-20733)
- Charging station identifiers are publicly accessible via web-based mapping platforms.
- Result: Unauthorized users can authenticate as legitimate stations, gaining control over charging infrastructure.
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Impact Assessment
The exploitation of these vulnerabilities poses severe risks to critical infrastructure:
1. Energy Sector Disruption
- Attackers could manipulate charging data, leading to billing fraud, energy theft, or grid instability.
- Large-scale DoS attacks could disrupt EV charging networks, affecting transportation and logistics.
2. Transportation Systems
- Session hijacking could allow attackers to disable charging stations, stranding EV users and disrupting fleets.
- Data manipulation could lead to incorrect billing or energy distribution, causing financial and operational losses.
3. Global Reach
- CloudCharge’s deployments span worldwide, amplifying the potential impact of these vulnerabilities.
- No official patch is available, leaving organizations vulnerable until mitigations are implemented.
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Mitigation Steps
Given CloudCharge’s lack of response to coordination requests, organizations must take proactive measures to mitigate risks:
1. Network Segmentation
- Isolate EV charging networks from business and operational networks using firewalls.
- Ensure control system devices are not accessible from the internet.
2. Secure Remote Access
- Use Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) for remote access, ensuring they are updated to the latest version.
- Recognize that VPNs are only as secure as the connected devices.
3. Monitoring and Detection
- Implement intrusion detection systems (IDS) to monitor for unauthorized access or anomalous activity.
- Regularly audit session logs for signs of hijacking or shadowing.
4. Credential Protection
- Restrict access to charging station identifiers and monitor public mapping platforms for exposed credentials.
- Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) where possible to add an extra layer of security.
5. Incident Response
- Develop and test an incident response plan to address potential breaches.
- Report suspected malicious activity to CISA for tracking and correlation.
For additional guidance, refer to CISA’s recommended practices for [control systems security](https://www.cisa.gov/ics) and [ICS-TIP-12-146-01B](https://www.cisa.gov/ics/technical-information-paper/ics-tip-12-146-01b).
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Conclusion
The discovery of four critical vulnerabilities in CloudCharge’s EV charging systems underscores the growing cybersecurity risks in critical infrastructure. With no official patch available, organizations must act swiftly to implement mitigations, secure networks, and monitor for threats. The potential for large-scale disruption highlights the need for proactive defense strategies in the energy and transportation sectors.
As EV adoption continues to rise, securing charging infrastructure must become a top priority for governments, businesses, and cybersecurity professionals. Failure to address these vulnerabilities could have far-reaching consequences for global energy stability and transportation reliability.
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References
[^1]: CISA. "[ICSA-26-057-03 CloudCharge Advisory](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories/icsa-26-057-03)". Retrieved 2024-10-02.
[^2]: NIST. "[CVE-2026-20781 Detail](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-20781)". Retrieved 2024-10-02.
[^3]: MITRE. "[CWE-306: Missing Authentication for Critical Function](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/306.html)". Retrieved 2024-10-02.
[^4]: CloudCharge. "[Support Contact](https://cloudcharge.tech/support/contact/)". Retrieved 2024-10-02.