Aeternum Botnet Uses Polygon Blockchain Smart Contracts for Command-and-Control Infrastructure

Researchers at Qrator Labs identified the Aeternum botnet, which leverages smart contracts on the Polygon blockchain to host its command-and-control (C2) infrastructure. This technique decentralizes the botnet's operations, making detection and disruption significantly more difficult compared to traditional server-based C2 methods. The malware avoids conventional takedown efforts by embedding commands within blockchain transactions, eliminating reliance on centralized servers. No specific dates, victim counts, or technical indicators (e.g., hashes, IPs) were disclosed in the report. The primary impact is the increased resilience of the botnet against shutdown attempts due to its decentralized architecture.