CVE-2022-23604 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management) found in the x26-Cogs repository developed by Twentysix26 for the Red Discord bot platform. The affected component is the Defender cog, a moderation tool used within Discord servers. Prior to version 1.10.0, this cog contains a flaw that allows users with administrative privileges on a Discord server to impersonate other users on the same server when issuing commands. More critically, if a bot owner shares the same server as an attacker with admin privileges, the attacker can exploit this vulnerability to execute commands that are normally restricted to the bot owner, effectively escalating their privileges beyond intended limits. This can lead to unauthorized command execution, potentially compromising the bot’s control and the server’s moderation integrity. The vulnerability arises from improper checks on user privileges within the Defender cog, allowing privilege escalation through command impersonation. The issue was addressed and patched in version 1.10.0 of the Defender cog. As an interim mitigation, unloading the Defender cog disables the vulnerable functionality. There are no known exploits in the wild reported to date, and the vulnerability requires that the attacker already has administrative privileges on the target Discord server, which limits the attack surface to some extent. However, the ability to impersonate the bot owner and execute restricted commands poses a significant risk to server security and bot integrity.

For European organizations using the Red Discord bot with the vulnerable Defender cog, this vulnerability can lead to unauthorized command execution and privilege escalation within their Discord servers. This could result in unauthorized moderation actions, disruption of server operations, or misuse of bot functionalities, potentially damaging organizational communication channels and trust. Organizations relying on Discord for internal communication, community engagement, or customer support may face operational disruptions or reputational damage if attackers exploit this flaw. Since the vulnerability requires administrative privileges on the server, the impact is primarily on organizations where internal users or collaborators have elevated permissions. The impersonation of bot owners could also lead to unauthorized data access or manipulation if the bot controls sensitive information or integrations. Although no exploits are currently known in the wild, the risk remains significant for organizations with active Discord communities and administrative users who may be targeted by insiders or malicious actors with access to the server.

1. Upgrade the Defender cog to version 1.10.0 or later immediately to apply the official patch that fixes the privilege escalation vulnerability. 2. If upgrading is not immediately feasible, unload or disable the Defender cog to prevent exploitation of the vulnerability. 3. Review and restrict administrative privileges on Discord servers to the minimum necessary number of trusted users to reduce the risk of insider threats. 4. Implement monitoring and alerting for unusual command executions or privilege escalations within the Discord server and bot logs. 5. Educate server administrators and bot owners about the risks of privilege misuse and encourage regular audits of bot permissions and configurations. 6. Consider isolating bot owners and high-privilege users in separate servers or channels where possible to limit exposure. 7. Regularly update all Discord bots and cogs to their latest versions to benefit from security patches and improvements.