CVE-2022-21669 is a vulnerability identified in the PuddingBot group management bot, specifically in versions up to and including 0.0.6-b933652. The core issue is the use of hard-coded credentials, where the bot token—a sensitive authentication token used to control the bot—is embedded directly in the source code file main.py and publicly exposed. This exposure allows any individual with access to the source code to obtain the token, potentially enabling unauthorized control over the bot. The vulnerability falls under CWE-798, which concerns the use of hard-coded credentials that can be extracted and misused by attackers. Although the bot token has been revoked and a newer version without this exposure is running on the server, the maintainers have yet to update the publicly available code to reflect this fix. There are no known exploits in the wild, and no patch links are currently provided, but the issue is acknowledged and mitigated on the server side. The vulnerability primarily affects the confidentiality and integrity of the bot’s operations, as unauthorized actors could impersonate the bot or manipulate group management functions if they obtain the token. The ease of exploitation is relatively high since the token is publicly accessible in the code, requiring no authentication or user interaction. However, the scope is limited to deployments of the affected versions of PuddingBot, which is a niche product used for group management, likely in specific organizational or community contexts.

For European organizations using PuddingBot, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access and control over group management functions, potentially disrupting communication channels or administrative controls within teams or communities. The exposure of the bot token compromises the confidentiality of the bot’s credentials and the integrity of its operations, allowing attackers to impersonate the bot, send unauthorized messages, or manipulate group settings. While availability impact is limited unless the attacker actively disrupts services, the reputational damage and operational disruption could be significant for organizations relying on PuddingBot for critical communication or coordination. Given that the token has been revoked and newer versions are running on servers, the immediate risk is mitigated; however, organizations using outdated versions or relying on publicly available code may still be vulnerable. The impact is more pronounced in sectors where group management bots are integral to workflow, such as tech communities, collaborative projects, or customer support groups.

Organizations should immediately verify that they are not using affected versions (<= 0.0.6-b933652) of PuddingBot. If they are, they must upgrade to the latest version where the bot token is no longer hard-coded or publicly exposed. Additionally, any bot tokens that were embedded in code should be considered compromised and revoked promptly, with new tokens generated and securely stored using environment variables or secure vaults rather than hard-coding. Code repositories should be audited to ensure no sensitive credentials are exposed publicly. Implementing automated secret scanning tools in the CI/CD pipeline can prevent future exposures. For organizations that fork or customize PuddingBot, secure coding practices must be enforced to avoid embedding credentials in source code. Monitoring bot activity for unusual behavior can help detect potential misuse. Finally, maintainers should update the public codebase to remove the exposed token to prevent accidental reuse or exploitation by others.