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ShadyPanda Turned Browser Extensions Into Spyware, Leaving 4.3 Million at Risk as Edge Listings Remain Live

Koi Security says attackers exploited store trust plus silent auto-updates to push backdoored code across large install bases.

Overview

  • Koi Security disclosed a seven-year operation that amassed 4.3 million installs across Chrome and Edge through seemingly legitimate add-ons.
  • Google says the identified Chrome extensions are no longer available, but several high-install Edge entries, including WeTab with about 3 million users, remain listed.
  • Mid-2024 updates added an hourly remote-code-execution backdoor that checks api.extensionplay[.]com to fetch and run arbitrary JavaScript with full browser API access.
  • A set of five Edge add-ons harvests URLs visited, search queries, keystrokes, mouse clicks, cookies and browser fingerprints, transmitting data to 17 domains in China.
  • Researchers warn infected browsers still host attacker infrastructure that could be re-weaponized via updates and advise immediate removal and credential rotation.