The official website of the Pepe memecoin (PEPE) has suffered a front-end attack that redirects visitors to malicious links, according to cybersecurity firm Blockaid.

The breach was identified on Thursd:ay, with the threat traced to a known suite of malware tools called Inferno Drainer, which targets cryptocurrency wallets.

“Blockaid detected Inferno Drainer code on the Pepe front end, matching a known drainer family we regularly identify. This front-end compromise redirects users to a fake site that injects malicious code to drain wallets,” the team said.

Inferno Drainer is widely recognized in the crypto security community for its use in phishing campaigns, wallet-draining attacks, and social engineering scams. Once a user interacts with the malicious site, the malware can prompt wallet connections and siphon cryptocurrency, leaving victims with little recourse.

Despite the hack, the price of PEPE has shown only minor short-term movement, rising about 4% over the past 24 hours. Over the past year, however, the memecoin has declined sharply, losing more than 77% of its value, according to CoinGecko.

Blockaid and other security observers are cautioning users to avoid visiting the Pepe site until the vulnerability is fully resolved.

Rapid growth of Inferno Drainer threats

Despite claims from the Inferno Drainer group that the service would shut down in 2023, activity has accelerated significantly. According to Blockaid, the number of new malicious Inferno Drainer decentralized applications (DApps) surged from roughly 800 per week at the start of 2024 to around 2,400 per week later in the year.

Oz Tamir, a former Blockaid engineer, noted in August 2024 that the malware family continues to evolve, targeting not just token websites but also social media accounts and other platforms linked to cryptocurrency ecosystems.

In past attacks, Inferno Drainer has been associated with high-profile incidents such as the October compromise of the BNB X page, where attackers posted malicious links prompting users to connect their wallets. Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao publicly warned users not to interact with those links.

Ongoing monitoring and security measures

Blockaid continues to monitor Pepe’s site and other platforms for signs of Inferno Drainer activity. The company regularly updates detection systems to identify new variations of the malware family, as attackers continually adapt their tactics to bypass existing defenses.

Security experts stress that vigilance is critical for cryptocurrency users. Avoiding suspicious websites, verifying URLs, and using hardware wallets or secure key management solutions remain essential precautions. Users are also encouraged to stay informed about emerging malware trends, as threats like Inferno Drainer demonstrate how quickly attackers can target even popular, seemingly trusted platforms.

This episode serves as a reminder that while the crypto market attracts attention for its innovation and high-profile projects, it also faces persistent cybersecurity challenges.

Platforms and users alike must remain proactive in safeguarding digital assets against increasingly sophisticated threats.

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