A Group of R1 Jailbreakers Found a Massive Security Flaw in Rabbit’s Code

Rabbit and its R1 AI gadget are under fire again, and it’s much more serious than the time we found out its launcher really could just be installed as an Android app. A group of developers and researchers called Rabbitude says it discovered API keys hardcoded in the company’s codebase, putting sensitive information at risk of falling into the wrong hands.

These keys essentially provided access to Rabbit’s accounts with third-party services like its text-to-speech provider ElevenLabs and — as confirmed by 404 Media — the company’s SendGrid account, which is how it sends emails from its rabbit.tech domain. According to Rabbitude, its access to these API keys — particularly the ElevenLabs API — meant it could access every response ever given by R1 devices. That is Bad with a capital B.

API keys hardcoded in Rabbit's codebase pose a significant security threat. Image: 404 Media

Security Breach and Rabbitude’s Discovery

Rabbitude published an article yesterday saying that it gained access to the keys over a month ago but that despite knowing about the breach, Rabbit did nothing to secure the information. Since then, the group says its access to most of the keys has been revoked, suggesting that the company rotated them, but as of earlier today, it still had access to the SendGrid key.

Rabbit responded to our request for comment by pointing us to a page on its site, published midday on Wednesday. Company spokesperson Ryan Fenwick says that the company will be updating the page to “provide updates as they become available.” The statement on its site echoes a post Rabbit made to its Discord channel yesterday, saying that it is in the midst of investigating the incident but hasn’t yet found “any compromise of our critical systems or of the safety of customer data.”

A Troubled History

Following its much-hyped launch this spring, the Rabbit R1 proved itself to be a disappointment. Battery life was bad, its feature set was bare-bones, and its AI-generated responses often contained errors. The company issued a software update on short order fixing bugs like the battery drain and has continued to release updates since then, but the R1’s core problem of overpromising and massively underdelivering remains unchanged. And a serious security breach like this makes it much harder to win back public trust.

The Implications

This security flaw raises significant concerns about Rabbit’s ability to safeguard user data and maintain the integrity of its systems. Hardcoded API keys are a basic security oversight, and their exposure could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information, misuse of services, and potentially, severe legal repercussions.

The Rabbit R1 AI gadget is under scrutiny for security flaws. Image: Rabbit Tech

Moving Forward

Rabbit’s handling of this breach will be critical in determining its future. Immediate steps should include a comprehensive security audit, better encryption practices, and a transparent communication strategy to reassure users and stakeholders.

For now, users of the Rabbit R1 should remain cautious and stay updated on the company’s investigation and subsequent actions. Trust, once broken, is hard to rebuild, and Rabbit has a long road ahead to restore its reputation.

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