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The Alpitronic HYC50 Hardware Teardown for Pwn2Own Automotive 2026
Trend Micro's ZDI provides a preliminary hardware reconnaissance report for the Alpitronic HYC50 charger, a target for Pwn2Own Automotive 2026. Researchers will receive a modified enclosure isolating digital and communication components for safer analysis. The main control board manages charging, communication, and user authentication, using an i.MX6 processor and eMMC storage. The report details the board's PLC controllers for vehicle communication and Ethernet interfaces. A custom System on a Module (SOM) based on Variscite's design houses the main processing components. The COMM board handles communication via LTE, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, and NFC interfaces. The HYC50 has mature documentation available online, which can prove useful. ZDI urges participants to check the development units before use. The report emphasizes the HYC50's hardware potential for the competition. Happy hunting to those participating in Pwn2Own, looking to exploit the charging station.