Group-IB revealed its report on Jan. 15 and stated the strategy may make disruption more durable for defenders.
The malware reads on-chain knowledge, so victims don’t pay fuel charges.
Researchers stated Polygon isn’t susceptible, however the tactic may unfold.
Ransomware teams often depend on command-and-control servers to handle communications after breaking right into a system.
However safety researchers now say a low-profile pressure is utilizing blockchain infrastructure in a method that may very well be more durable to dam.
In a report revealed on Jan. 15, cybersecurity agency Group-IB stated a ransomware operation often called DeadLock is abusing Polygon (POL) good contracts to retailer and rotate proxy server addresses.
These proxy servers are used to relay communication between attackers and victims after techniques are contaminated.
As a result of the data sits on-chain and may be up to date anytime, researchers warned that this method may make the group’s backend extra resilient and harder to disrupt.
Good contracts used to retailer proxy info
Group-IB stated DeadLock doesn’t depend upon the standard setup of mounted command-and-control servers.
As a substitute, as soon as a machine is compromised and encrypted, the ransomware queries a selected good contract deployed on the Polygon community.
That contract shops the newest proxy deal with that DeadLock makes use of to speak. The proxy acts as a center layer, serving to attackers keep contact with out exposing their major infrastructure instantly.
For the reason that good contract knowledge is publicly readable, the malware can retrieve the small print with out sending any blockchain transactions.
This additionally means victims don’t must pay fuel charges or work together with wallets.
DeadLock solely reads the data, treating the blockchain as a persistent supply of configuration knowledge.
Rotating infrastructure with out malware updates
One motive this methodology stands out is how rapidly attackers can change their communication routes.
Group-IB stated the actors behind DeadLock can replace the proxy deal with saved contained in the contract every time vital.
That offers them the flexibility to rotate infrastructure with out modifying the ransomware itself or pushing new variations into the wild.
In conventional ransomware circumstances, defenders can generally block visitors by figuring out recognized command-and-control servers.
However with an on-chain proxy listing, any proxy that will get flagged may be changed just by updating the contract’s saved worth.
As soon as contact is established via the up to date proxy, victims obtain ransom calls for together with threats that stolen info might be offered if fee isn’t made.
Why takedowns grow to be tougher
Group-IB warned that utilizing blockchain knowledge this fashion makes disruption considerably more durable.
There isn’t any single central server that may be seized, eliminated, or shut down.
Even when a selected proxy deal with is blocked, the attackers can swap to a different one with out having to redeploy the malware.
For the reason that good contract stays accessible via Polygon’s distributed nodes worldwide, the configuration knowledge can live on even when the infrastructure on the attackers’ facet adjustments.
Researchers stated this offers ransomware operators a extra resilient command-and-control mechanism in contrast with standard internet hosting setups.
A small marketing campaign with an creative methodology
DeadLock was first noticed in July 2025 and has stayed comparatively low profile to date.
Group-IB stated the operation has solely a restricted variety of confirmed victims.
The report additionally famous that DeadLock isn’t linked to recognized ransomware affiliate programmes and doesn’t seem to function a public knowledge leak website.
Whereas which will clarify why the group has acquired much less consideration than main ransomware manufacturers, researchers stated its technical method deserves shut monitoring.
Group-IB warned that even when DeadLock stays small, its approach may very well be copied by extra established cybercriminal teams.
No Polygon vulnerability concerned
The researchers careworn that DeadLock isn’t exploiting any vulnerability in Polygon itself.
It is usually not attacking third-party good contracts resembling decentralised finance protocols, wallets, or bridges.
As a substitute, the attackers are abusing the general public and immutable nature of blockchain knowledge to cover configuration info.
Group-IB in contrast the approach to earlier “EtherHiding” approaches, the place criminals used blockchain networks to distribute malicious configuration knowledge.
A number of good contracts related to the marketing campaign had been deployed or up to date between August and Nov. 2025, in response to the agency’s evaluation.
Researchers stated the exercise stays restricted for now, however the idea may very well be reused in many alternative kinds by different risk actors.
Whereas Polygon customers and builders aren’t going through direct threat from this particular marketing campaign, Group-IB stated the case is one other reminder that public blockchains may be misused to help off-chain legal exercise in methods which might be troublesome to detect and dismantle.
