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The Kimwolf “Internet of Things” botnet has been linked to major disruption of the anonymity network I2P (Invisible Internet Project) after botnet operators began using I2P to help evade takedown efforts against their command-and-control (C2) servers. I2P users reported that tens of thousands of new “routers” suddenly flooded the network, many unable to pass traffic, overwhelming I2P to the point that legitimate users could not connect; developers and users described extreme connection counts and a sharp drop in successful connections consistent with a large-scale availability attack.
Separately, a major U.S. ISP reported actively sinkholing/blocking traffic to hundreds of botnet C2 servers associated with Kimwolf (and the related Aisuru botnet), citing more than 550 identified C2 endpoints over several months. Reporting attributes Kimwolf’s growth to at least ~2 million infected devices, with operators leveraging compromised Android TV set-top boxes and scanning for exposed Android Debug Bridge (ADB) services to expand the botnet and monetize access via residential proxy infrastructure that makes malicious traffic appear to originate from consumer networks.
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8 events from the most recent confirmed update back to the earliest known activity.
Over a four-month period ending by February 2026, a major U.S. internet service provider said it blocked incoming traffic to more than 550 command-and-control servers associated with the Kimwolf and Aisuru botnets. The action reflected sustained mitigation against rapidly expanding botnet infrastructure.
By February 2026, observers reported that Kimwolf's bot population had recently fallen by more than 600,000 systems. The decline was attributed to operator mistakes and internal friction among the botnet's developers or operators.
During the weeklong disruption in February 2026, I2P leadership said the network was operating at about half capacity and that a new software release was being deployed to improve stability. The issue was consistent with a Sybil-style overload caused by the influx of Kimwolf-linked nodes.
Beginning on Feb. 3, 2026, tens of thousands of new routers flooded the I2P anonymity network, disrupting legitimate connectivity for about a week. Researchers linked the event to Kimwolf operators attempting to use I2P as a fallback command-and-control channel for roughly 700,000 infected bots.
After the late-October to early-November scanning activity, IP addresses associated with 2 million infected Android devices were made public and then leased by threat actors. The devices had been compromised largely through exposed Android Debug Bridge services and abuse of local DNS settings.
Between Oct. 20 and Nov. 6, 2025, Kimwolf command-and-control infrastructure scanned for PYPROXY and other vulnerable connections. Researchers said this activity preceded the public exposure and leasing of IP addresses tied to 2 million infected Android devices.
Black Lotus Labs observed sharp growth in Kimwolf during October 2025, with the botnet reaching about 800,000 infected devices by mid-month. Many of those bots were reportedly being marketed through a single residential proxy service.
Infoblox reported that about a quarter of its cloud customers queried a known Kimwolf domain starting on Oct. 1, 2025, indicating broad exposure to infrastructure tied to the botnet's residential proxy ecosystem.
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Security researchers reported explosive growth of the **Kimwolf** botnet to **2+ million infected devices** globally, with heavy concentrations including Vietnam, Brazil, India, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and the United States. Synthient assessed that roughly **two-thirds of infections are insecure Android TV boxes**, and described Kimwolf’s primary impact as large-scale abuse traffic (ad fraud, account takeover attempts, scraping) and **high-capacity DDoS** capable of disrupting major websites for extended periods. A key concern is Kimwolf’s propagation method: leveraging **residential proxy networks** to effectively tunnel “back” into home/SMB networks via proxy endpoints and then infect additional devices that users assume are protected behind NAT/firewalls and consumer routers. KrebsOnSecurity further tied operational activity to the botnet controller, a threat actor using the handle **“Dort,”** who allegedly retaliated against a vulnerability discloser and the journalist with **DDoS, doxing, email flooding**, and an apparent **SWATing** incident. Open-source and commercial intelligence cited in the reporting linked “Dort” to historical aliases (e.g., **CPacket**, **M1ce**) and to accounts on cybercrime forums, and noted prior involvement in enabling abuse tooling (e.g., CAPTCHA-bypass code and temporary email services) and presence in communities associated with cybercrime groups (including references to **LAPSUS$** chat activity).
Jun 29, 2026
**Lumen Technologies’ Black Lotus Labs** reported disrupting the **AISURU/Kimwolf** botnet ecosystem by **null-routing/dropping traffic to more than 550 command-and-control (C2) nodes and IPs** linked to the botnets’ backend infrastructure since early October 2025. The operation targeted two closely related, financially motivated botnets—**AISURU** and its Android-focused counterpart **Kimwolf**—that have become major sources of **DDoS activity** and **residential proxy abuse**, with Kimwolf drawing attention after a related domain briefly surged to the top of **Cloudflare’s global domain rankings** before being removed from the list. Researchers assessed Kimwolf as having compromised **over 2 million devices**, largely **unofficial/unsanctioned Android TV streaming boxes**, leveraging exposed **Android Debug Bridge (ADB)** services and tunneling through residential proxy networks to expand access and maintain control. Reporting also described Kimwolf’s use of proxy monetization (including attempts to offload proxy bandwidth for upfront cash) and noted that the operators reacted to disruption efforts with provocative messaging embedded in DDoS payloads; observed DDoS patterns were often **short bursts (1–2 minutes)** but sometimes extended for hours, with gaming services (e.g., *Minecraft*) cited as a common target category.
Jun 29, 2026
The Kimwolf botnet has rapidly infected over 1.8 million Android-based devices worldwide, with security researchers warning that the true number may exceed 2 million. The malware primarily targets Android TV boxes, digital photo frames, and other IoT devices, many of which are distributed through major online retailers and often ship with weak security controls or pre-installed malicious software. Kimwolf leverages advanced techniques such as DNS-over-TLS, blockchain-based command and control via Ethereum Name Service (ENS), and residential proxy networks to evade detection and takedown efforts. The botnet enables attackers to launch high-volume DDoS attacks, monetize proxy bandwidth, and conduct lateral movement within local networks, posing a significant threat to both enterprise and consumer environments. Security experts have identified that two-thirds of Kimwolf infections are Android TV boxes lacking basic authentication, making them especially vulnerable. The operators behind Kimwolf, previously linked to the Aisuru botnet, are known for their technical sophistication and rapid adaptation to takedown attempts. Their monetization strategies include ad fraud, DDoS-for-hire services, and the resale of residential proxy bandwidth. The malware often spreads through bundled mobile apps and games, exploiting the global supply chain of low-cost Android devices. Organizations and individuals are urged to identify, isolate, and remediate infected devices to prevent further exploitation and participation in criminal infrastructure.
Jun 29, 2026