Animu Tank

We noticed a significant influx of credential stuffing attempts originating from a known malicious IP block targeting our authentication endpoints. This surge coincided with the public availability of a dataset on a prominent hacking forum, dated July 1, 2017. What struck us was the persistent use of credentials from this particular breach, even after a considerable amount of time had passed since its initial disclosure. The dataset, attributed to "Animu Tank," a now-defunct U.S.-based content site or forum likely focused on anime and manga, comprises 71,230 user records. The exposed data, unfortunately, includes both email addresses and, critically, plaintext passwords, presenting a clear and present risk to any users who may have reused these credentials across our systems.

The Animu Tank breach, discovered in July 2017, represents a classic case of a database compromise leading to a readily consumable combolist. The leaked data, totaling 71,230 records, contained email addresses and plaintext passwords. This lack of hashing or salting on the password field is a critical vulnerability that significantly amplifies the impact of such a leak. The source structure of the leak suggests a direct database dump, making it highly structured and easy for attackers to parse and utilize. The leak locations were primarily noted on prominent hacking forums, indicating a broad dissemination within the threat actor community. The continued relevance of this data, even years later, underscores the enduring threat posed by plaintext credential exposure and the effectiveness of credential stuffing attacks against reused passwords.

External Context

While specific news coverage directly detailing the Animu Tank breach in 2017 is sparse, its inclusion in broader discussions of data breaches and credential stuffing campaigns is notable. The nature of the leak aligns with numerous other instances where databases containing plaintext passwords have been exfiltrated and subsequently weaponized. Research from organizations like Troy Hunt's "Have I Been Pwned" consistently highlights the prevalence of such vulnerabilities and the long tail of compromise for leaked credentials. The fact that this data is still actively being leveraged suggests it has been incorporated into various combolists used by automated attack tools, a common practice in the cybercriminal ecosystem. The longevity of such breaches in the threat landscape is a testament to the persistent demand for compromised credentials.