TorrentLeech

We've been tracking a concerning uptick in credential stuffing attacks targeting torrenting communities, likely fueled by readily available password lists circulating on dark web forums. While many of these lists are stale, the sheer volume increases the chances of a successful breach. What caught our attention wasn't the size of the TorrentLeech database itself, but the presence of what they called "PassKeys" alongside standard password hashes, suggesting a potential vulnerability in their authentication process.

TorrentLeech Breach: 555k User Records Exposed

In November 2020, the popular torrenting platform TorrentLeech experienced a significant data breach affecting 555,222 members. The exposed data included usernames, IP addresses, and password hashes, along with the aforementioned "PassKeys." The breach was subsequently added to various breach aggregation sites and databases, making it a readily available target for malicious actors. The presence of both password hashes and "PassKeys" within the leak raises questions about the site's authentication architecture and potential weaknesses that could be exploited even with strong hashing algorithms.

Key point: Total records exposed: 555,222

Key point: Types of data included: Username, IP Address, Password Hash, "PassKeys"

Key point: Sensitive content types: Usernames, IP addresses, potentially weakly protected authentication factors.

Key point: Source structure: Database (likely a SQL export based on similar breaches)

Key point: Leak location(s): Breach aggregation sites, dark web forums.

Key point: Date of first appearance: 01-Nov-2020

TorrentFreak, a news site dedicated to covering the torrenting scene, has often highlighted the security challenges faced by these platforms. While no specific article directly addresses the TorrentLeech breach, their reporting consistently emphasizes the need for robust security measures within the torrenting ecosystem to protect user privacy and anonymity. This incident underscores the ongoing cat-and-mouse game between torrenting sites and those seeking to exploit their users. The risk isn’t solely the compromised credentials themselves, but the potential for de-anonymization of users involved in file sharing activities.

Username · Ip · Address · Password · Hash