Last week, we reported on a hack that occurred at CD Projekt Red’s expense. Cybercriminals targeted the company for its source code and other sensitive materials. The act is highly illegal and also very disruptive. If you’re CDPR, then this is the last thing you need right now. The disastrous launch of Cyberpunk 2077 led to a lot of angry fans. There’s even a class-action lawsuit underway about the game’s misleading marketing. Overall, the company is having a rough run as of late and this doesn’t help. The very game that caused the headaches for them at the end of 2020 appears to be the focus of the cyber attack. Cyberpunk 2077 code appears to be the featured item for sale by the hackers. From what we know, it appears someone made a purchase of some significant source code for the game.
CDPR Hackers Might Have Made a Sale
Image Credit: CD Projekt Red
Last week, I detailed a CD Projekt Red hack that led to a huge mess for the company. Now, cyber intelligence experts KELA are reporting some Cyberpunk 2077 code traded hands with a buyer. The group of hackers, known as “HelloKitty” attempted to secure a ransom, but CDPR denied to even entertain the idea. Over the weekend, it appears the source code for CDPR’s newest game sold on the dark web. The sale appears to be around $7 million after an opening bid of just over one million.
The sale shows that the hackers are serious. If the sale did go through, then key CDPR assets could be compromised. This reality only adds to the ridiculous run of struggles for the company. As critical as we all are of CDPR’s treatment of Cyberpunk 2077, this is just a huge mess everyone wishes never occurred. The act of stealing this info could end up delaying further work on the game’s patches and fixes. Furthermore, the stolen assets could prove problematic for future content in the game. Here’s why the theft is such a big deal outside of the simple fact that intellectual property is on the line.
Why Someone Would Steal Code for Cyberpunk 2077
Image Credit: CD Projekt Red
The attack from HelloKitty led to CDPR experiencing a system lock and erasure of data. The backups they hold are luckily able to return the IP stolen from the hackers. It appears that the Cyberpunk code isn’t all stolen from the game developer. Source code for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Gwent is also in the hands of hackers. The stolen data could essentially mean that buyers of the source code for these games could learn some insider secrets for the company. What does that actually mean?
Well, for one, they could begin to release this info which in turn could get used by other developers. That’s not highly ethical, but if it’s a matter of code, it could prove useful. The data can also help to show major flaws in their games which people could exploit. Things like mods already exist, but this could go beyond that. Hackers who know how to infiltrate the source code for games like Cyberpunk 2077 could learn weaknesses in the game’s fabric. If manipulated carefully, then that could mean that further hacks could occur against players and the company itself. Overall, it’s unclear what the endgame is for HelloKitty, but the trouble seems far from over for CDPR.
Featured Image Credit: CD Projekt Red