CVE-2022-36024 in py-cord
Summary
by MITRE • 08/18/2022
A fork of discord.py py-cord is a modern, easy to use, feature-rich, and async ready API wrapper for Discord written in Python. This issue allows users to be able to remotely shutdown the a bot running on py-cord, via adding it to a discord server with the `application.commands` scope but not the `bot` scope - then executing a command in that server. Currently, it appears that all public bots that use slash commands are affected. This issue has been patched in version 2.0.1. There are currently no recommended workarounds - please upgrade to a patched version.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/18/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-36024 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within the py-cord library, which serves as a Discord API wrapper for Python applications. This security issue specifically affects bots that utilize slash commands and demonstrates how improper permission handling can lead to unauthorized system control. The flaw exists in the way the library processes bot commands when a user with specific permissions joins a server, creating a pathway for malicious actors to remotely shut down running bot instances.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from the library's inadequate validation of user permissions and command execution contexts. When a user with the `application.commands` scope but without the `bot` scope joins a server and executes a command, the py-cord library fails to properly restrict command processing based on the user's actual permissions. This misconfiguration allows unauthorized users to trigger shutdown sequences that were intended to be accessible only to administrators or legitimate bot owners. The vulnerability manifests as a privilege escalation issue where command execution rights are improperly granted through the command scope rather than proper authorization checks.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-36024 is severe and far-reaching, affecting all public Discord bots that rely on py-cord for slash command functionality. This vulnerability essentially allows any user who can join a server and execute commands to remotely terminate bot operations, potentially causing service disruption, data loss, and operational downtime for affected applications. The widespread nature of this issue means that any bot developer using py-cord version prior to 2.0.1 is at risk, regardless of the bot's specific functionality or the complexity of its implementation. The vulnerability's exploitability is particularly concerning because it requires minimal privileges to execute, making it accessible to any user with access to a server where the affected bot is present.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software systems, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter execution. The flaw represents a classic case of insufficient authorization checks where the system fails to verify that commands are being executed by authorized users with appropriate privileges. The attack vector follows the pattern described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework where adversaries can leverage legitimate system access to execute malicious commands that result in system compromise or service disruption. The vulnerability's classification as a remote command execution issue places it within the category of high-severity security flaws that can be exploited without requiring physical access to the target system.
Organizations and developers utilizing py-cord should immediately implement the recommended mitigation strategy of upgrading to version 2.0.1 or later, as no effective workarounds exist for this particular vulnerability. The patch addresses the core permission validation issue by implementing proper authorization checks that ensure only users with appropriate privileges can execute shutdown commands. Additionally, developers should conduct comprehensive security reviews of their bot implementations to identify any other potential permission-related vulnerabilities that might exist within their applications. The incident underscores the importance of proper access control implementation in API wrapper libraries and highlights the critical need for thorough security testing of third-party dependencies used in mission-critical applications.