Hackers get $1,047,000 for 76 zero-days at Pwn2Own Automotive 2026

BleepingComputer

January 23, 2026 at 12:50 PM

Overview

During the Pwn2Own Automotive 2026 event, security researchers successfully exploited 76 zero-day vulnerabilities, earning a total of $1,047,000 over three days from January 21 to January 23. This event showcases the ongoing challenges in automotive cybersecurity, where researchers target vulnerabilities in vehicle software and systems. The financial rewards for discovering these exploits underscore the critical need for automakers to prioritize security in their products. These vulnerabilities could potentially be exploited by malicious actors, posing risks to vehicle safety and user privacy. As vehicles become increasingly reliant on software and connectivity, addressing these weaknesses is essential for protecting consumers and maintaining trust in automotive technology.

Key Takeaways

Affected Systems: Automotive software and systems
Action Required: Automakers should conduct thorough security assessments and apply necessary patches to their systems.
Timeline: Newly disclosed

Original Article Summary

Pwn2Own Automotive 2026 has ended with security researchers earning $1,047,000 after exploiting 76 zero-day vulnerabilities between January 21 and January 23. [...]

Impact

Automotive software and systems

Exploitation Status

No active exploitation has been reported at this time. However, organizations should still apply patches promptly as proof-of-concept code may exist.

Timeline

Newly disclosed

Remediation

Automakers should conduct thorough security assessments and apply necessary patches to their systems.

Additional Information

This threat intelligence is aggregated from trusted cybersecurity sources. For the most up-to-date information, technical details, and official vendor guidance, please refer to the original article linked below.

Related Topics: This incident relates to Zero-day, Critical.

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