A Cosmos EVM vulnerability has led to cross-chain attacks draining funds from multiple blockchain networks including MANTRA, TAC and KiiChain, prompting urgent warnings to Cosmos EVM chains to halt operations.
Cross-Chain Attack Pattern
The vulnerability appears to affect multiple chains built on Cosmos EVM infrastructure, with attackers exploiting a shared component to drain funds across networks. The coordinated nature of the attacks suggests a common vulnerability rather than individual protocol-specific exploits. MANTRA, TAC and KiiChain all reported suspicious activity within a similar timeframe, indicating the attacker targeted the underlying EVM compatibility layer.
Cosmos EVM Chains Told to Halt
Security researchers issued urgent advisories for Cosmos EVM chains to halt operations while the vulnerability is investigated. The recommendation mirrors responses to previous cross-chain exploits where pausing network activity prevents further fund drainage while developers identify and patch the underlying issue. The coordinated halt affects DeFi applications built on the affected chains, including lending protocols, decentralized exchanges and token bridges.
Pattern Resembles Previous Cross-Chain Attacks
The incident follows a series of high-profile exploits targeting cross-chain infrastructure. In late August, the Cronos blockchain halted after a $75 million Tectonic exploit, and More Markets suffered a $9.3 million WFLOW exploit on Flow EVM. The clustering of EVM-based attacks highlights the systemic risks associated with shared virtual machine infrastructure across different blockchain networks.
Investigation and Recovery Efforts
Developers across the affected chains are working to identify the root cause and assess total losses. The cross-chain nature of the attack complicates recovery efforts, as funds may have moved between networks before being sent to centralized exchanges or decentralized protocols. Security firms are tracing onchain transactions to identify attacker addresses and potentially freeze stolen assets before they can be laundered.
