Yesterday I took the Jump Starter out to use for charging some electronics, and I noticed a funny smell on my hands. Didn't think much of it. I put the Jump Starter back after use.

This morning, driving to work, I opened the glove box while stopped, and saw something shocking: My thick HDMI cable was stripped to the wire, almost severed in two, with bits of plastic and wire strewn in the there. What to make of it, was it some animal that got there and chewed it up? It seemed more like acid damage to me. And then I remembered the jump starter and the smell on my hands, and wondered if it leaked. But when I inspect it, there are no obvious signs of damage or leakage.

So my questions are: Under what circumstances do lithium batteries get damaged and leak? Could it be the heat in the glove box, or the knocking around as I drive? And how do they leak? As far as I know, they don't contain acid, so how come I see signs of acid damage?

I have also read about the danger of Hydrofluoric acid et al in such situations. How concerned should I be?

[1] https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B6VZZ68R