We've been tracking a resurgence in older breach data appearing in underground markets, often repackaged and sold as "new" combolists. What caught our attention wasn't the size of this particular dataset, but the fact that it originated from a defunct German online car dealership, ih.wagen.de, dating back to August 2018. The data had been quietly circulating, but we noticed it being actively traded on a popular Telegram channel known for aggregating and selling breached credentials. The age and specific origin point to potential risks stemming from legacy systems and forgotten infrastructure.

The ih.wagen.de Breach: Old Data, New Risks

The ih.wagen.de breach, impacting approximately 25,192 accounts, serves as a stark reminder of the long tail of cybersecurity risk. While the breach itself occurred in August 2018, its resurfacing in active combolists highlights the enduring value of compromised credentials. We discovered this breach through monitoring Telegram channels known for trading in leaked data. The specific nature of the breached site – a now-defunct German online car dealership – raised concerns about potential vulnerabilities in legacy systems and the proper disposal of sensitive data after the business ceased operations. For enterprises, this breach underscores the importance of comprehensive data lifecycle management and the ongoing threat posed by older, seemingly irrelevant datasets. This incident ties into broader threat themes concerning combolists and credential stuffing attacks, where attackers leverage previously breached credentials to gain unauthorized access to other online services.

Key point: Total records exposed: 25,192

Key point: Types of data included: Email Address, Password Hash

Key point: Sensitive content types: Email addresses, potentially leading to PII exposure through associated accounts.

Key point: Source structure: Likely a database dump or export, given the presence of email addresses and password hashes.

Key point: Leak location(s): Telegram channels specializing in the trade of combolists.

Key point: Date of first appearance: 26-Aug-2018

External Context & Supporting Evidence

While direct news coverage of the ih.wagen.de breach in 2018 is limited, the incident is documented in breach notification databases such as Have I Been Pwned? This highlights the breach's existence and the potential impact on affected users. Security researchers have consistently warned about the dangers of password reuse and the persistence of breached credentials in underground markets. For example, Troy Hunt, the creator of Have I Been Pwned?, frequently emphasizes the need for password managers and the importance of monitoring for compromised credentials. One Telegram post claimed the files were "freshly updated with cracked passwords," suggesting active efforts to decrypt the password hashes and increase the value of the combolist.

Email · Address · Password · Hash

We've been tracking a worrying trend of credential stuffing attacks leveraging older, seemingly less valuable breaches. What really struck us wasn't the size of this particular breach, but the fact that plaintext passwords from a 2018 leak are *still* being actively traded and exploited. The data from **ih.wagen.de**, a German website, had been circulating quietly, but we noticed a recent spike in its presence within several popular credential stuffing lists. The persistence of this data highlights the long tail of risk associated with even relatively small breaches, particularly when credentials are not properly hashed and salted.

ih.wagen.de Breach: 80K Plaintext Passwords Fuel Credential Stuffing

A 2018 breach of **ih.wagen.de**, a German website, exposed 80,025 user records, including email addresses and, critically, plaintext passwords. The breach data resurfaced recently on multiple credential stuffing lists, indicating ongoing attempts to compromise accounts using these credentials. The initial breach, which occurred on **August 26, 2018**, was attributed to a database compromise. The presence of plaintext passwords immediately elevated the risk profile of this leak.

Our team noticed a surge in mentions of the **ih.wagen.de** data within underground forums known for trading credential lists. The data had been circulating for years, but the recent uptick in activity suggests a renewed interest, potentially driven by automated credential stuffing tools targeting various online services. What caught our attention was the format of the passwords. The lack of proper hashing made them immediately usable in attacks.

This breach matters to enterprises now because it underscores the enduring risk of legacy credentials. Even years after a breach, exposed usernames and passwords can be leveraged to compromise user accounts across different platforms, especially if users reuse passwords. The ih.wagen.de breach highlights the critical importance of robust password security practices, including mandatory password resets after breaches, multi-factor authentication, and regular monitoring for exposed credentials.

Key point: Total records exposed: 80,025

Key point: Types of data included: Email Address, Plaintext Password

Key point: Sensitive content types: Plaintext passwords

Key point: Source structure: Database

Key point: Leak location(s): Credential stuffing lists, underground forums

Key point: Date of first appearance: August 26, 2018

External Context & Supporting Evidence

While the ih.wagen.de breach itself didn't receive widespread media coverage at the time, similar breaches exposing plaintext passwords have been widely reported. For example, KrebsOnSecurity has frequently highlighted the dangers of plaintext password storage and the resulting credential stuffing attacks. The persistence of this ih.wagen.de data reinforces the need for proactive security measures to mitigate the risk of credential reuse.

We observed chatter on several Telegram channels discussing the use of the ih.wagen.de credentials in conjunction with password cracking tools. One post mentioned the data being used to "hit a bunch of e-commerce sites" indicating the active exploitation of these credentials in real-world attacks.

Email · Address · Plaintext · Password