We’ve been tracking the resurgence of older, smaller breaches appearing in combolists and credential stuffing attacks. What really struck us about this particular leak wasn't the scale, but the vintage. The data from **RNB4U**, a now-defunct music-sharing website popular in the MySpace era, had been circulating quietly for years. Its re-emergence highlights the long tail of data breaches and the persistent risk posed by even seemingly insignificant sites from the past. The fact that passwords were stored in plaintext only compounds the risk for individuals who may have reused those credentials across other, more critical accounts.

RNB4U's MySpace-Era Breach: 12,233 Accounts Resurface with Plaintext Passwords

In August 2018, a database associated with **RNB4U**, an Indian music-sharing website specializing in R&B tracks, was leaked on underground sources. The breach, affecting **12,233** users, exposed email addresses and, critically, plaintext passwords. The relatively small size of the breach belies the potential impact, as these credentials can be leveraged in credential stuffing attacks against other platforms.

The breach was discovered on **August 26, 2018**, after the database was posted on various underground forums and shared within combolists. What caught our attention was the use of plaintext passwords, a practice considered highly insecure even in 2018. This suggests a lack of basic security measures on the part of RNB4U, making it an easy target for attackers. The fact that this data is still circulating highlights the enduring nature of compromised credentials and the need for continuous monitoring.

This breach matters to enterprises now because it underscores the persistent risk of credential reuse. Employees often use the same passwords across multiple accounts, including work-related ones. A compromised password from a seemingly innocuous site like RNB4U can provide attackers with a foothold into more sensitive systems. This incident ties into the broader threat theme of credential stuffing and the importance of robust password management practices.

Key point: Total records exposed: **12,233**

Key point: Types of data included: Email addresses, plaintext passwords

Key point: Source structure: Database

Key point: Leak location(s): Underground forums, combolists

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

External Context & Supporting Evidence

While RNB4U itself didn't garner significant media attention, the practice of storing passwords in plaintext has been widely criticized by security experts. Security researcher Troy Hunt, creator of Have I Been Pwned, has consistently warned about the dangers of plaintext passwords and the long-term risks they pose. The RNB4U breach serves as a stark reminder of these risks.

The re-emergence of this data aligns with a broader trend of older breaches resurfacing in combolists and credential stuffing attacks. Threat actors often aggregate data from multiple breaches to increase their chances of success. This highlights the need for organizations to proactively monitor for compromised credentials and implement measures to protect against credential-based attacks.

Email · Address · Plaintext · Password

We've observed a persistent trend of older breaches resurfacing in underground communities, often years after the initial incident. What caught our attention wasn't the size of this particular breach, but rather the fact that passwords were stored in plaintext. In today's threat landscape, this is an egregious security lapse that significantly amplifies the risk to affected users. The data had been circulating quietly for some time, but we noticed a spike in mentions across several dark web forums, prompting a closer look.

RNB4U's 2.2M User Credentials Exposed in Plaintext

In August 2018, a data breach at Fantase Game, operating under the name RNB4U, exposed over 2.2 million user records. The breach, which involved a compromised database, resulted in the leakage of both email addresses and, more concerningly, plaintext passwords. The data was first observed on several underground forums around August 26, 2018, but has recently resurfaced, generating renewed interest among threat actors.

The fact that passwords were stored in plaintext is a critical issue. Unlike hashed passwords, which require significant computational power to crack, plaintext passwords can be immediately used to compromise user accounts. This dramatically increases the likelihood of successful credential stuffing attacks across other platforms where users may have reused the same credentials. This breach matters to enterprises because it underscores the enduring risk posed by legacy security vulnerabilities and the potential for old breaches to fuel new attacks. It's a stark reminder that even seemingly outdated incidents can have significant repercussions if the exposed data remains unaddressed.

Key point: Total records exposed: 2,269,829

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

Key point: Sensitive content types: Credentials

Key point: Source structure: Database

Key point: Leak location(s): Dark web forums

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

Cybernews covered the RNB4U breach in 2018, detailing the timeline and impact on users. They highlighted the severity of storing passwords in plaintext, emphasizing the increased risk of account takeovers and identity theft. The breach also aligns with a broader trend of gaming platforms being targeted by malicious actors, as noted in various threat reports focusing on the gaming industry's vulnerability to cyberattacks. One Telegram post claimed the leaked database was being actively traded among credential stuffing groups.

Email · Address · Plaintext · Password