We've been tracking an uptick in older database breaches resurfacing in dark web marketplaces, often repackaged and sold as "new" leads. What initially seemed like routine scraping activity took a sharper turn when we identified a database dump from a site called Maza Online, dating back to August 12, 2008. The age of the breach is significant; it highlights the persistent risk of legacy data and the long tail of vulnerability that organizations face. While the record count isn't massive – 9,351 entries – the re-emergence of this data after 15 years underscores the need for continuous monitoring, even for seemingly ancient incidents.
A database breach impacting 9,351 users of the now-defunct Maza Online platform has resurfaced in underground forums. The breach, which originally occurred on August 12, 2008, exposed a range of sensitive user data including email addresses, usernames, IP addresses, and hashed passwords. While the site itself is no longer active, the re-emergence of this data presents a risk to individuals who may have reused their credentials across other platforms.
Our team discovered the database while monitoring a popular Telegram channel known for aggregating and selling older breach datasets. What caught our attention was the relatively clean structure of the data, suggesting a direct database dump rather than scraped information. The data was presented as a SQL export, indicating a compromise at the database level. This matters to enterprises because it demonstrates the enduring value of even old data to threat actors, who can use it for credential stuffing attacks and other malicious purposes.
The breach highlights the broader threat theme of legacy data exposure and the importance of proper data retention policies. Even if a service is defunct, the compromised data can still be valuable to attackers years later, especially if users reused passwords across multiple sites.
Key point: Total records exposed: 9,351
Key point: Types of data included: Email addresses, usernames, IP addresses, hashed passwords
Key point: Sensitive content types: User credentials
Key point: Source structure: SQL export
Key point: Leak location(s): Telegram channel
Key point: Date of first appearance: August 12, 2008 (original breach), recent re-emergence in 2023
While the Maza Online breach itself did not receive widespread media coverage in 2008, the concept of old breaches resurfacing is a well-documented phenomenon. Security researcher Troy Hunt, creator of Have I Been Pwned?, has frequently discussed the long tail of data breaches and the persistent risk they pose. As Hunt notes, "Data breaches don't just disappear. They can continue to cause harm for years to come."
Discussions on various security forums, including BreachForums (now under new management after the takedown of the original), often highlight the value of "vintage" data breaches. Some threat actors specialize in compiling and selling these older datasets, understanding that many users have become complacent and may not have updated their passwords since the original breach occurred.
Ip · Address · Hash · Type · Email · Username · Passwords
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