Kimwolf botnet rebuilds with Chrome-like floods and blockchain command system, researchers say

AI digestMimile.ai EditorialAugust 12, 2026 at 05:13 AM

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Kimwolf botnet rebuilds with Chrome-like floods and blockchain command system, researchers say

The Kimwolf botnet, powered by hijacked Android TV boxes, has released a new version that blends attack traffic with normal web browsing using Chrome browser fingerprints and moves command channels to the Ethereum Name Service, Palo Alto Networks’ Unit 42 reported Tuesday. The update, active since February, aims to evade detection and resist law enforcement takedowns. The bots now look up command addresses on the blockchain, falling back to Tor if those fail.

The Chrome-Mimicking Flood

The latest Kimwolf version uses an HTTP/2-based flood attack that replicates full browser fingerprints of Google Chrome. By copying header order and behavior, the malicious traffic blends with legitimate requests, defeating common defenses that filter out abnormal patterns. According to Unit 42, this forces targeted sites to either serve all traffic and risk overload, or block legitimate users alongside bots. The botnet primarily infects Android TV boxes and other internet-connected devices. Attack traffic now looks identical to ordinary Chrome browsing sessions.

Ethereum-Based Command System

Kimwolf now retrieves command server addresses via the Ethereum Name Service (ENS), a blockchain-based directory beyond the reach of traditional domain seizures. The malware queries five public Ethereum services in random order, making it harder for defenders to block. If all ENS lookups fail, the botnet falls back to a hardcoded Tor hidden service address, which obscures the server's location and hinders law enforcement. Infrastructure analysis traced the command servers to a network in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The shift to blockchain and Tor eliminates registrars and hosting providers as choke points.

What's Next

The discovery is expected to prompt security firms to develop new detection methods for browser-mimicking DDoS traffic. Whether law enforcement can adapt to blockchain-based command channels and the botnet’s resilience will shape future takedown strategies, experts say.

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Kimwolf botnet rebuilds with Chrome-like floods and blockchain command system, researchers say

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Kimwolf botnet rebuilds with Chrome-like floods and blockchain command system, researchers say

The Chrome-Mimicking Flood

Ethereum-Based Command System

What's Next

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