Hackers Expose Multiple Vulnerabilities in Tesla EV Chargers at Tokyo Contest

Security researchers have successfully hacked Tesla's Wall Connector electric vehicle charger multiple times during the Pwn2Own Automotive 2025 hacking contest in Tokyo, Japan. The event, focused on automotive technologies, saw researchers uncovering critical vulnerabilities in various electric vehicle charging systems.

The PHP Hooligans team was the first to compromise the Tesla Wall Connector by exploiting a zero-day bug involving a numeric range comparison without minimum check. This successful hack earned them significant recognition in the cybersecurity community and a substantial cash reward.

Following the PHP Hooligans, the Synacktiv team demonstrated another innovative approach by hacking the Tesla EV charger through the Charging Connector - a method never publicly showcased before. Their breakthrough highlighted the potential security gaps in electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

During the contest's second day, two additional hacking attempts on the Tesla Wall Connector occurred. Sina Kheirkhah from the Summoning Team and PCAutomotive both targeted the charger using different exploit techniques, further emphasizing the device's vulnerability.

The Pwn2Own Automotive contest, organized by Trend Micro's Zero Day Initiative, awarded a total of $335,500 in cash rewards for 23 zero-day vulnerabilities discovered during the event. Participants targeted not only Tesla's chargers but also other electric vehicle charging systems from manufacturers like WOLFBOX, ChargePoint, and Autel.

After the competition concludes, device vendors will have 90 days to develop and release security fixes before the discovered vulnerabilities are publicly disclosed. This approach ensures manufacturers have adequate time to address the identified security weaknesses and protect users from potential cyber threats.

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