A hacker exploited a known vulnerability in the Dogecoin (DOGE) network, causing a significant portion of its nodes to crash.
The Attack
Blockchain explorer Blockchair reported a dramatic drop in the number of active Dogecoin nodes. The network went from 647 nodes down to a mere 205 – a 69% decrease. While some nodes have since recovered (around 331 at the time of writing), the incident highlights a serious security flaw.
The Hacker’s Confession
Bitcoin sidechain developer Andreas Kohl took responsibility for the attack on X (formerly Twitter). He claimed to have used a publicly known vulnerability to bring down the majority of the Dogecoin network using an old laptop from rural El Salvador.
Limited Impact
Kohl stated that the impact on most Dogecoin users was minimal. Only nodes running older software were affected, and this primarily excluded major exchanges and custodians. The price of DOGE also saw only a minor dip (around 4.7% at the time of writing), remaining around $0.413.
The Takeaway
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of keeping software updated and the potential vulnerabilities within even established cryptocurrencies. While the impact was limited this time, future exploits could have more severe consequences.
