🍀4chan Hacked: How Outdated Code and CVE Drama Led to a Massive Breach | Stay ahead in cybersecurity with real-time updates on the latest hacks| CVE advisories, and patch management practices

Introduction

In April 2025, the notorious imageboard 4chan suffered a massive security breach that exposed the private emails and IP logs of its janitors (site moderators), sending shockwaves through the internet. This breach reignited urgent discussions about software security, highlighting how outdated code, neglected software updates, and a chain of vulnerabilities led to the incident. It wasn't just another attack—it was a wake-up call for anyone involved in tech about the perils of ignoring basic cybersecurity hygiene.
In this detailed breakdown, we’ll explore exactly how 4chan was hacked, who was behind the attack, the role of the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) database, and the lessons that every developer and sysadmin can learn from this high-profile incident.
📚 Table of Contents

1. 💻 The 4chan Hack: What Happened?
2. 🕵️‍♂️ Who Are the Attackers?
3. 🔧 Anatomy of the Hack: Outdated Software and Unpatched Vulnerabilities
4. 🔒 The Exploit: PDF Uploads and Ghostscript
5. 📊 What Was Exposed?
6. 📝 The Role of the CVE Database: A Cybersecurity Lifeline
7. 📅 CVE Funding Drama
8. ⚠️ Why Outdated Code Is a Hacker’s Playground
9. 📚 The Human Cost: Doxxing and Privacy Violations
10. 🧑‍💻 What Developers and Sysadmins Can Learn
11. 🌐 The Bigger Picture: The State of Cybersecurity in 2025
12. 🔐 The Importance of Open Source Security
13. 🛡️ The Ongoing Role of CVE
14. ⚠️ Conclusion: Don’t Be the Next 4chan

---

1. 💻 The 4chan Hack: What Happened?

On April 15, 2025, 4chan users suddenly found themselves locked out of their accounts. What initially seemed like a routine outage quickly escalated into chaos as it became clear that the site had been compromised. The attackers, a group from a rival forum called Soyjack.party (or “Shardy”), managed to vandalize 4chan by resurrecting a defunct forum and posting “you got hacked” messages. But the real damage was far more serious: they leaked the private emails and IP logs of 4chan’s janitors.

---

2. 🕵️‍♂️ Who Are the Attackers?

The Soyjack.party group is largely made up of exiles from 4chan’s old QA (Questions & Answers) board, which was removed in 2021 after devolving into a chaotic battleground of moderation disputes and cross-board feuds. Their return to 4chan was both a technical and symbolic coup, exposing not just data but also deep flaws in 4chan’s security practices.

---

3. 🔧 Anatomy of the Hack: Outdated Software and Unpatched Vulnerabilities

4chan’s Tech Stack: A Recipe for Disaster

The breach was not the result of phishing, password theft, or social engineering. Instead, it was a direct attack on 4chan’s backend, which was running on a dangerously outdated stack:

• PHP: The site’s codebase was written in PHP, with the last update dating back to 2016.
• FreeBSD 10.1: The operating system version was released in 2014 and stopped receiving security patches years ago.
• MySQL (NODB Engine): Hosting over 10 million banned users, the database engine was similarly out of date.
• Ghostscript (2012 version): Used for generating thumbnails from uploaded files—a critical vulnerability point.

---

4. 🔒 The Exploit: PDF Uploads and Ghostscript

4chan allows users to upload PDF files to certain boards. However, the site failed to properly verify that uploaded files were genuine PDFs. This oversight allowed attackers to upload PostScript files disguised as PDFs. When these files were processed by the ancient Ghostscript version, the attackers could execute arbitrary code on the server.
Key Vulnerabilities:

• File Validation Failure: The backend did not check if uploads were actually PDFs.
• Ghostscript Exploit: The 2012 version of Ghostscript contained known security holes that were documented in the CVE database.
• Privilege Escalation: The exploit enabled the attacker to elevate their privileges to a global admin level.

---

5. 📊 What Was Exposed?

While the attackers had access to all user data, they chose not to leak everything. Instead, they focused on doxxing 4chan’s janitors, exposing their private emails and IP logs. They also accessed staff-only boards and moderation tools, revealing that the reasons given to banned users often differ from those shown to staff—a common practice in large social media platforms.

---

6. 📝 The Role of the CVE Database: A Cybersecurity Lifeline

What Is CVE?

The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) database is a critical resource for cybersecurity. It catalogs known software vulnerabilities, providing details and severity ratings that help developers and sysadmins patch their systems and avoid disasters.

---

7. 📅 CVE Funding Drama

Ironically, on the same day as the 4chan hack, the U.S. government announced it was defunding the CVE program, only to reverse the decision hours later. This brief funding scare highlighted just how essential CVE is to global cybersecurity. Without it, tracking and mitigating vulnerabilities would become exponentially harder.

---

8. ⚠️ Why Outdated Code Is a Hacker’s Playground

Running outdated software is like leaving your front door unlocked in a bad neighborhood. The older your codebase and dependencies, the more likely it is that known exploits exist—and that hackers are actively searching for them.
4chan’s Mistakes:

• No Regular Updates: PHP last updated in 2016, Ghostscript from 2012, FreeBSD from 2014.
• Lack of Input Validation: Failure to check file types before processing.
• No Patch Management: Ignoring CVE advisories and failing to upgrade critical software.

---

9. 📚 The Human Cost: Doxxing and Privacy Violations

The most immediate impact of the hack was the exposure of janitor emails and IP logs. Doxxing—publishing private information about individuals online—can have severe consequences, from harassment to real-world harm. This breach serves as a stark reminder that weak security doesn’t just endanger data; it puts real people at risk.

---

10. 🧑‍💻 What Developers and Sysadmins Can Learn

1. Always Patch and Update

The single biggest takeaway from the 4chan hack is the importance of keeping your software up to date. Subscribe to CVE alerts for your tech stack and make patch management a top priority.

2. Validate All User Input

Never trust user-uploaded files. Always verify file types before processing, especially when handling formats like PDFs that can embed executable code.

3. Audit Your Dependencies

Regularly review all third-party libraries and system components. Outdated dependencies are a common attack vector.

4. Monitor for Unusual Activity

Implement logging and monitoring to detect suspicious behavior early. The faster you spot an intrusion, the less damage attackers can do.

5. Prioritize Staff Security

Remember that your moderators, admins, and staff are high-value targets. Protect their data with extra care and minimize what is logged and stored.

---

11. 🌐 The Bigger Picture: The State of Cybersecurity in 2025

The 4chan hack is just the latest in a series of high-profile breaches driven by outdated code and ignored warnings. As the internet’s infrastructure ages, more sites and services are at risk unless organizations take proactive steps to secure their systems.

---

12. 🔐 The Importance of Open Source Security

Many critical systems rely on open-source software like PHP, MySQL, and Ghostscript. While open source enables rapid innovation, it also means vulnerabilities are public knowledge. The responsibility to patch and secure these systems falls squarely on site operators.

---

13. 🛡️ The Ongoing Role of CVE

The brief defunding of the CVE program was a wake-up call. Without centralized, well-maintained vulnerability databases, the entire tech ecosystem becomes more fragile. Developers, sysadmins, and policymakers must continue to support and rely on resources like CVE to keep the internet safe.

---

14. ⚠️ Conclusion: Don’t Be the Next 4chan

The 4chan hack is a cautionary tale for everyone in tech. Outdated code, ignored security advisories, and poor operational hygiene are a recipe for disaster. Whether you run a massive imageboard or a small startup, the principles are the same:

• Keep your systems updated
• Validate all user input
• Monitor for vulnerabilities
• Protect your users and staff

By learning from 4chan’s mistakes, you can avoid becoming the next headline in the ongoing cybersecurity saga.