In a striking follow-up to her high-profile exploit of McDonald’s security systems, independent cybersecurity expert “BobDaHacker” has uncovered significant vulnerabilities in the protective framework of Pudu Robotics, a leading player in the commercial service robot market.
This latest discovery allowed the researcher to gain control over the company’s fleet of service robots, exposing a critical flaw that could redirect the machines to arbitrary locations and force them to execute unsolicited commands.
Pudu Robotics commands a substantial 23% share of the global market for such devices, making the breach a matter of wide concern. The primary issue stemmed from unsecured access to the company’s controlling software, which could be exploited through cross-site scripting (XSS). This vulnerability left the robots open to manipulation by anyone with basic technical know-how, posing a significant risk to the restaurants and businesses relying on these automated assistants.
Initially, BobDaHacker’s attempts to alert Pudu Robotics to the problem were met with silence. After sending initial notifications, the researcher waited over two weeks without a response. Undeterred, she escalated her efforts, dispatching a new round of emails to over 50 company employees in a bid to capture someone’s attention.
Still facing a wall of silence, BobDaHacker took the unconventional step of contacting Pudu Robotics’ clients directly. Japanese restaurant chains Skylark Holdings and Zensho took the warnings seriously, prompting swift action.
Approximately 48 hours after reaching out to these clients, Pudu Robotics finally responded. However, the reply was an AI-generated message that raised more eyebrows than it quelled concerns. The email read, “Thank you for your valuable contribution to ensuring our security. If you wish to share additional details or have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me directly at [Your email address].” The placeholder text “[Your email address]” remained unedited, highlighting a lack of human oversight.
Despite this initial misstep, Pudu Robotics ultimately addressed the vulnerabilities identified by BobDaHacker, securing their systems against further exploitation. On September 3, the researcher updated her public post, clarifying that the company had not entirely ignored her efforts.
It emerged that the initial emails had failed to reach their intended recipients, but a subsequent report submitted through alternative channels was received. Developers then worked on a fix, though communication with BobDaHacker only resumed after the patch was ready for deployment.
Also read:
- Perplexity Raises $200M at $20B Valuation: A Stunning Growth Spurt
- Breakthrough in Nanobot Development: A Leap Toward the Future
- Unexpected AI Assistant Statistics: What the Numbers Really Mean
Pudu Robotics also issued an apology for the email blunder and announced the creation of a dedicated vulnerability reporting address to streamline future interactions. This incident underscores the growing importance of robust security measures in the rapidly expanding robotics industry, while BobDaHacker’s persistence highlights the critical role of white hat hackers in safeguarding technology. As the market for service robots continues to grow, such interventions may prove invaluable in preventing potentially disastrous breaches.
