IronSudoku

We've been tracking an uptick in credential stuffing attacks targeting gaming and hobbyist communities, often fueled by older, smaller breaches that are "recycled" across the web. What really struck us about the **IronSudoku** data wasn't the size of the breach – just over **37,000** records – but the persistence of MD5 hashing for password storage, even in **2018**. This highlights a concerning lag in security practices within certain online communities, making them prime targets for automated attacks.

IronSudoku Breach: A Small Site with Lingering Risks

The **IronSudoku** breach, dating back to **August 2018**, exposed the data of **37,308** users of the online Sudoku platform. The breach first surfaced on a popular hacking forum, where a database dump was offered for free. While relatively small in scale compared to more recent mega-breaches, the use of outdated MD5 password hashes makes this leak significant. The simplicity of cracking MD5 hashes means that many of these passwords are now easily recoverable, potentially exposing users who reused those credentials across other, more sensitive services. This incident underscores the long tail of risk associated with older breaches and the continued value they hold for attackers.

Key point: Total records exposed: 37,308

Key point: Types of data included: Email Addresses, Password Hashes (MD5)

Key point: Sensitive content types: None directly, but the MD5 hashes compromise user accounts.

Key point: Source structure: Database Dump

Key point: Leak location(s): Hacking Forum

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

The fact that **IronSudoku** was still using MD5 hashing in **2018** is a critical point. By that time, MD5 had been deprecated for years due to its known vulnerabilities. Security experts like Troy Hunt, creator of Have I Been Pwned, have long advocated against the use of MD5, citing its susceptibility to rainbow table attacks and collision attacks. This suggests a lack of security awareness or resources within the **IronSudoku** development team. While no direct reporting from major outlets like KrebsOnSecurity has specifically covered this breach, it fits within a broader pattern of smaller websites failing to implement basic security measures, as frequently highlighted in security blogs and forums. The re-emergence of older breaches like this on hacking forums reinforces the need for continuous monitoring and proactive password resets, even for seemingly low-risk online accounts.

Email · Address · Password · Hash