What Exactly Happened in the Trust Wallet Hack
Step 1: A New Browser Extension Update Was Released
A new update for the Trust Wallet browser extension was released on December 24.
- The update seemed routine.
- No major security warnings came with it.
- Users installed it through the usual update process.
At this point, nothing seemed suspicious.
Step 2: New Code Was Added to the Extension
After the update, researchers looking into the extension’s files noticed changes in a JavaScript file known as 4482.js.
Key observation:
- The new code was not in earlier versions.
- It introduced network requests linked to user actions.
This matters because browser wallets are very sensitive environments; any new outgoing logic poses a high risk.
Step 3: Code Masqueraded as “Analytics”
The added logic appeared as analytics or telemetry code.
Specifically:
- It looked like tracking logic used by common analytics SDKs.
- It did not trigger all the time.
- It activated only under certain conditions.
This design made it harder to detect during casual testing.
Step 4: Trigger Condition Importing a Seed Phrase
Community reverse-engineering suggests the logic was triggered when a user imported a seed phrase into the extension.
Why this is critical:
- Importing a seed phrase gives the wallet full control.
- This is a one-time, high-value moment.
- Any malicious code only needs to act once.
Users who only used existing wallets may not have triggered this path.
Step 5: Wallet Data Was Sent Externally
When the trigger condition occurred, the code allegedly sent data to an external endpoint:
metrics-trustwallet[.]com
What raised alarms:
- The domain looked a lot like a legitimate Trust Wallet subdomain.
- It was registered only days earlier.
- It was not publicly documented.
- It later went offline.
At least, this confirms unexpected outgoing communication from the wallet extension.
Step 6: Attackers Acted Immediately
Shortly after seed phrase imports, users reported:
- Wallets drained within minutes.
- Multiple assets moved quickly.
- No further user interaction was needed.
On-chain behavior showed:
- Automated transaction patterns.
- Multiple destination addresses.
- No obvious phishing approval flow.
This suggests attackers already had enough access to sign transactions.
Step 7: Funds Were Consolidated Across Addresses
Stolen assets were routed through several attacker-controlled wallets.
Why this matters:
- It suggests coordination or scripting.
- It reduces reliance on a single address.
- It matches behavior seen in organized exploits.
Estimates based on tracked addresses suggest millions of dollars moved, although totals vary.
Step 8: The Domain Went Dark
After attention increased:
- The suspicious domain stopped responding.
- No public explanation followed immediately.
- Screenshots and cached evidence became crucial.
This is consistent with attackers destroying infrastructure once exposed.
Step 9: Official Acknowledgment Came Later
Trust Wallet later confirmed:
- A security incident affected a specific version of the browser extension.
- Mobile users were not affected.
- Users should upgrade or disable the extension.
However, no full technical breakdown was given right away to explain:
- Why the domain existed.
- Whether seed phrases were exposed.
- Whether this was an internal, third-party, or external issue.
This gap fueled ongoing speculation.
What Is Confirmed
- A browser extension update introduced new outgoing behavior.
- Users lost funds shortly after importing seed phrases.
- The incident was limited to a specific version.
- Trust Wallet acknowledged a security issue.
What Is Strongly Suspected
- A supply-chain issue or malicious code injection.
- Seed phrases or signing ability being exposed.
- The analytics logic being misused or weaponized.
What Is Still Unknown
- Whether the code was intentionally malicious or compromised upstream.
- How many users were affected.
- Whether any other data was taken.
- Exact attribution of the attackers.
Why This Incident Matters
This was not typical phishing.
It highlights:
- The danger of browser extensions.
- The risk of blindly trusting updates.
- How analytics code can be misused.
- Why handling seed phrases is the most critical moment in wallet security.
Even a short-lived vulnerability can have serious consequences.
