In the bustling world of service robotics, where machines like Pudu’s BellaBot scurry through restaurants delivering trays of food, a startling revelation has emerged: these seemingly innocuous helpers are wide open to cyber hijacking. A security researcher, known online as BobDaHacker, uncovered critical vulnerabilities in Pudu Robotics’ systems that could allow attackers to remotely control fleets of robots, disrupt operations, and even launch denial-of-service attacks. According to a detailed report in The Register, the flaws stem from exposed administrative controls and inadequate authentication, leaving robots vulnerable to anyone with basic hacking skills.

BobDaHacker, who previously gained fame for exploiting McDonald’s ice cream machines, turned her attention to Pudu’s ecosystem after noticing suspicious network traffic. She demonstrated how attackers could intercept orders, reroute robots, or overwhelm servers with bogus commands. Pudu, a Shenzhen-based company dominating the global market for service robots, initially ignored her disclosures, prompting her to alert major clients like Japan’s Skylark Holdings and Zensho. Within 48 hours, the vulnerabilities were patched, but the incident highlights a broader crisis in robotic security.

The Hidden Dangers Lurking in Robotic Code: How Default Settings and Backdoors Expose Entire Fleets to Exploitation

Posts on X (formerly Twitter) from users like Ethical Hacking News amplified the story, describing Pudu’s issues as an “open-source nightmare” where admin panels were left unsecured. One post detailed how cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities allowed token theft, enabling unauthorized access. This echoes findings in a 2021 study published in the International Journal of Information Security, which warned that robots in industrial and service sectors are increasingly targeted for hijacking, potentially causing physical harm or economic disruption.

The risks aren’t theoretical. In Pudu’s case, attackers could manipulate robot navigation, leading to collisions or service halts in high-traffic venues. A similar vulnerability in Ecovacs robot vacuums, reported by Vacuum Wars in 2024, allowed hackers to access cameras and microphones, raising privacy alarms. For Pudu, with robots deployed in thousands of restaurants worldwide, the stakes are enormous—imagine a coordinated attack shutting down chains during peak hours.

Industry Responses and the Push for Robust Cybersecurity in Robotics: Lessons from Pudu’s Wake-Up Call

Pudu Robotics has since downplayed the incident, but their partnership with Deloitte on a white paper, as covered in ANTARA News, emphasizes building an “open full-stack intelligent service robot ecosystem.” Ironically, this openness may have contributed to the flaws, as the paper promotes modular designs that, without proper safeguards, invite exploitation. Industry experts, citing a ScienceDirect survey from 2023, argue that robotics cybersecurity lags behind other IoT sectors, with vulnerabilities like default passwords persisting.

Companies are now scrambling. Zensho, for instance, confirmed enhanced monitoring post-disclosure. Broader recommendations from the PMC article include mandatory encryption and regular audits. Yet, as robots integrate deeper into daily operations—from cleaning with Pudu’s new MT1 Max, launched per The Tribune—the need for proactive defenses grows urgent.

Looking Ahead: Regulatory Gaps and the Future of Secure Automation in a Connected World

The Pudu breach underscores regulatory shortcomings. While the EU pushes for stricter IoT standards, the U.S. and China lag, leaving manufacturers like Pudu to self-regulate. A 2025 hack report in SecurityBrief revealed that 90% of severe vulnerabilities tie to application security, a pattern evident here. Insiders predict more incidents unless firms adopt zero-trust models.

For businesses relying on these robots, the lesson is clear: vet suppliers rigorously. As one X post from cybersecurity analyst Antonio Ciolino noted, “major security flaws in Pudu’s restaurant robots” could let attackers “reroute these delivery bots at will.” With Pudu’s innovations like the award-winning PUDU SH1, per Engineering.com, continuing to roll out, balancing innovation with security will define the sector’s future. Failure to do so risks not just data breaches, but real-world chaos in automated environments.