Dexx Hack Investigation Unveils Over 8,600 Solana Wallet Links: SlowMist Report

According to SlowMist’s report on November 28, this incident is linked to over 8,612 Solana addresses, with losses now estimated at $30 million.

Crypto security firm SlowMist played a key role in uncovering the magnitude of the exploit. Initially reported losses stood at $21 million, but the volatile nature of meme token prices drove the final damage higher. “The price fluctuation of meme tokens significantly impacted the overall loss,” said SlowMist founder Cos. At least 900 individual users were affected, with most losing less than $10,000, although one user suffered a staggering $1 million loss.

The hack exploited a private key vulnerability within DEXX’s system. Private keys, essential for accessing crypto wallets, became the primary target of the attacker. Once compromised, these keys enabled the hacker to redirect funds into Solana wallets.

DEXX’s Response and Recovery Efforts

In response to the breach, DEXX issued a statement on social media, assuring users that it was monitoring the hacker’s wallets and attempting to freeze the stolen funds. The platform also offered a bounty for the return of the assets, but no agreement has been reached with the attacker.

DEXX has since been working to upgrade its security protocols while collaborating with SlowMist and law enforcement to trace the funds. However, unlike the $25.5 million Thala Labs hack earlier this month, where stolen funds were fully recovered, DEXX has yet to make significant progress in recovering the stolen assets.

The DEXX incident is not an isolated case for Solana. In previous months, Solana wallets have been implicated in several security lapses. In August, a widespread exploit targeted over 8,000 Solana wallets, resulting in $6 million in stolen funds. These incidents have raised questions about the blockchain’s wallet security architecture.

Source: X

SlowMist’s report indicated that Solana wallets are increasingly targeted due to their rising popularity in crypto markets. Yet, the platform’s vulnerability to private key exploits remains a critical flaw.

A Grim Year for Crypto Security

The DEXX hack is part of a larger trend of crypto-related exploits in 2024. November alone saw hackers stealing $71 million, according to data from Immunefi. While the annual total of $1.5 billion in losses marks a 15% decrease from 2023, the frequency of attacks remains concerning.

Earlier this year, phishing scams and rug pulls plagued the industry, with $20.2 million stolen from 12,000 victims in October. In June, a Chinese trader fell victim to a phishing attack that cost them $1 million. These incidents highlight the persistent risks for crypto investors.

Rachel Conlan, Chief Marketing Officer at Binance, recently noted the importance of community input in crypto security. “We need to focus on building robust use cases and improving security to maintain trust in the ecosystem,” she said.

As Solana and other blockchain networks continue to grow, addressing security vulnerabilities will be critical. Without such improvements, incidents like the DEXX hack risk undermining confidence in decentralized finance and the broader crypto market.