Hackers create novel way to hide malicious code in blockchains

Cybercriminals have discovered a new way to spread malware to unsuspecting users, this time by manipulating BNB Smart Chain (BSC) smart contracts to hide malware and disseminate malicious code.

A breakdown of the technique known as “EtherHiding” was shared by security researchers at Guardio Labs in an Oct. 15 report, explaining that the attack involves compromising WordPress websites by injecting code that retrieves partial payloads from the blockchain contracts.

The attackers hide the payloads in BSC smart contracts, essentially serving as anonymous free hosting platforms for them.

Guardio Labs exposes “EtherHiding” – a new threat hiding in Binance’s Smart Chain, a technique that evades detection, targeting compromised WordPress sites. Read about this game-changing method! @BNBCHAIN #BNBChain #CyberSecurity https://t.co/alNI5KqKUO

— Guardio (@GuardioSecurity) October 15, 2023

The hackers can update the code and change the attack methods at will. The most recent attacks have come in the form of fake browser updates, where victims are prompted to update their browsers using a fake landing page and link.

The payload contains JavaScript that fetches additional code from the attacker’s domains. This eventually leads to full site defacement with fake browser update notices that distribute malware.

This approach allows the threat actors to modify the attack chain by simply swapping out malicious code with each new blockchain transaction. This makes it challenging to mitigate, according to Nati Tal, head of cybersecurity at Guardio Labs, and fellow security researcher Oleg Zaytsev.

Once the infected smart contracts are deployed, they operate autonomously. All Binance can do is rely on its developer community to flag malicious code in contracts upon discovery.

Guardio stated that website owners using WordPress, which runs roughly 43% of all websites, need to be extra vigilant with their own security practices before adding:

“WordPress sites are so vulnerable and frequently compromised, as they serve as primary gateways for these threats to reach a vast pool of victims.”

Related: Crypto investors under attack by new malware, reveals Cisco Talos

The firm concluded that Web3 and blockchain bring new possibilities for malicious campaigns to operate unchecked. “Adaptive defenses are needed to counter these emerging threats,” it said.

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