DeFi exchange Ambient Finance recovers domain after DNS attack

DeFi platform Ambient Finance regained control of its website after hackers seized the domain.

Ambient Finance has become the latest decentralized finance protocol to face a series of front-end attacks launched by unknown cybercriminals. On October 17, Ambient notified users of the decentralized exchange about the Domain Name System issue on its website.

DNS exploits occur when hackers compromise a platform’s domain registrar credentials and often aim to steal assets and funds by placing malicious links on the website.

Ambient Finance reassured users that their smart contracts and on-chain infrastructure remain safe from attackers. However, in order to protect user assets, DEX warned users not to visit the website or sign any transactions until further notice.

Two hours after the issue was first reported, Ambient Finance announced that the issue had been resolved on X and that its DNS was in the process of being repaired.

We recovered the domain and DNS is currently updating. Because DNS propagation takes time, users must wait for everything to clear before interacting with the front-end site. Contracts and funds are safe and unaffected.

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Increasing cyber attacks have plagued DeFi and crypto protocols in recent months, indicating that security concerns remain despite the growth in the on-chain sector.

In September, Ethereum-based automated market maker Balancer confirmed a front-end incident caused by a social engineering attack. Due to the DNS blockade in July, many DeFi platforms lost control over their domains and websites. Ethena Labs had to temporarily shut down its website last month after noticing issues with the website.

While cybercriminals were on the prowl, on-chain users continued to flock to blockchain services and cryptocurrency protocols. According to the report published by Andreessen Horowitz on October 16, DeFi continues to be popular as crypto usage explodes in 2024.