The Wave Cloud Dump: 25,170 Stolen Login Credentials Hit Telegram in October 2023

On October 16, 2023, a Telegram user uploaded a stealer log file identified as originating from Wave Cloud, containing 25,170 records harvested from compromised endpoints. The data included email addresses, plaintext passwords, and the API host URLs those credentials were associated with. At over 25,000 records, this is a considerably larger dump than most Telegram-distributed stealer logs from the same period. The scale suggests the malware responsible had been running across a significant number of infected devices over an extended period before the operator compiled and released the batch. Every record in this file represents a real person whose email and exact password are now freely accessible to anyone who downloaded it from Telegram.

Why This Is Dangerous

A stealer log of this size, containing plaintext passwords paired with the exact service URLs where they were used, is immediately operational for attackers. There is no decryption required, no password cracking, and no guesswork about which services to target. Credential stuffing tools can systematically test all 25,170 pairs across dozens of platforms within a matter of hours. Because the API endpoint URLs are included, attackers can also target not just consumer accounts but developer and enterprise API access, which often carries elevated permissions. A compromised API key or developer credential can give attackers access to backend systems, customer data, and automated workflows far beyond a single user account. The plaintext nature of the passwords also means that wherever these same passwords were reused on other services, those accounts are equally exposed.

What Was Exposed in the Wave Cloud Breach

• Email addresses
• Plaintext passwords
• API host and service endpoint URLs

Why This Matters

Twenty-five thousand credential pairs circulating on Telegram touches a broad range of potential victims. Credential stuffing attacks fueled by dumps this size have been directly linked to mass account takeovers at financial platforms, cloud services, and enterprise software providers. Once attackers compromise an email account, they can intercept password reset messages for banking and investment apps, access cloud storage containing sensitive personal or business documents, and use the account as a launchpad for phishing attacks against the victim's contacts. The API URLs exposed in this breach add an additional layer of risk for developers and businesses whose service credentials were harvested, as API-level access can bypas standard user-facing security controls entirely. The downstream effects of this breach could unfold over months as attackers work through the list methodically.

How Stealer Logs Work

Infostealer malware is typically installed on a victims machine through a deceptive channel: a cracked software download, a malicious email attachment, a fake browser extension, or a drive-by download from a compromised website. Once installed, it operates silently in the background, collecting saved browser passwords, form autofill data, session cookies, and API tokens from developer tools and desktop applications. The malware packages this harvested data into structured log files and transmits them to the attacker's infrastructure. Large operators like the one behind this Wave Cloud dump often run coordinated campaigns across many devices simultaneously, aggregating the output into batches that are then sold or distributed freely on platforms like Telegram. The "Wave Cloud" label is likely an internal name used by the operator to track which campaign or malware dropper produced this particular batch of logs. Free distribution on Telegram is a common tactic used to signal capability and attract buyers for larger or more recent datasets.

Check If You Are Affected

HEROIC has catalogued over 400 billion compromised records from thousands of breaches, including stealer log drops from Telegram channels. If your email address or password appeared in the Wave Cloud dump or in any other breach tracked by HEROIC, the free scanner at HEROIC.com will find it. Enter your email to run a free check and see exactly what information about you is currently exposed. If your data shows up, change the affected passwords immediately and enable two-factor authentication on every account that supports it.