SlowMist Alert: Clawdbot Gateway Security Vulnerability, Hundreds of API Keys and Private Chat Records May Have Been Exposed

Recently, well-known blockchain security organization SlowMist’s Chief Information Security Officer 23pds issued a warning, pointing out that the Clawdbot gateway poses serious security risks that could lead to hundreds of API keys and private chat records being compromised.

Unauthenticated instances exposed on the internet contain multiple code vulnerabilities, which may result in credential theft and remote code execution. This incident once again sounds the alarm for data security in the cryptocurrency field.

01 Event Core: Exposure Risks of Clawdbot Gateway

The SlowMist security team recently issued an important security warning, revealing serious security vulnerabilities in the Clawdbot gateway.

The gateway is at risk of exposure, leading to a threat of attack on numerous API keys and private chat records. Security experts point out that unauthenticated instances are exposed on the internet, making it easy for attackers to access these sensitive data.

The problem is not limited to information leakage, but also includes multiple code-level vulnerabilities that could trigger credential theft and remote code execution, among other more severe attacks.

The security defense system within the blockchain ecosystem is not infallible. Such gateway-level security vulnerabilities could trigger chain reactions, affecting the safety of assets for many users.

02 Technical Analysis: How Attackers Abuse API Keys

Cybercriminals can obtain API keys and, even without permission to extract data, still steal user funds through various methods.

Common abuse techniques include “sell wall” manipulation and price pump-and-dump. Attackers use stolen API keys to set up numerous small sell orders below market value.

Meanwhile, trading bots controlled by attackers automatically buy these “sold” assets at extremely low prices, quickly depleting victims’ account balances.

Another method is price pump-and-dump: attackers first buy tiny amounts of cheap tokens using their controlled accounts, then initiate large buy orders from victims’ accounts to artificially inflate the token’s price.

Subsequently, attackers sell the tokens at the inflated price to victims, completing the fund transfer. These operations are executed within milliseconds, leaving victims little time to react.

03 Protective Measures: How to Safeguard Your Digital Assets

In the face of increasingly sophisticated API key attacks, cryptocurrency traders should adopt multi-layered protection measures. The most basic is enabling IP address whitelisting.

Major cryptocurrency exchanges typically offer this feature, restricting API key usage to specific IP addresses, greatly increasing the difficulty for attackers to misuse keys.

Regularly changing API keys and passwords is also an effective safeguard. Security experts recommend rotating API keys quarterly to prevent attackers from exploiting historical data leaks for long-term access to your accounts.

At the same time, treat API keys as equally important as private keys for cryptocurrency wallets, and never store them in vulnerable locations or share them with others.

For the specific issue of Clawdbot gateway exposure, SlowMist suggests that the public can implement whitelist strategies on ports. This means only authorized IP addresses can access related services, effectively reducing the risk of unauthorized access.

04 Market Impact: Updates on Mainstream Token Prices

Security incidents often have short-term impacts on the cryptocurrency market. According to data from Gate as of January 27, 2026, the total global cryptocurrency market cap is currently $3.08 trillion, with a 24-hour change of 1.8%.

Here are the latest prices of some major tokens:

• Bitcoin at $88,629.89, up 1.7% in 24 hours;
• Ethereum at $2,937.04, up 3.2% in 24 hours;
• BNB at $883.82, up 2.0% in 24 hours;
• Solana at $124.39, up 2.6% in 24 hours.

XRP is priced at $1.91, up 2.3%; Cardano at $0.3524, up 2.4% in 24 hours. The overall market shows a positive trend, but the full impact of the security incident may take longer to manifest.

Future Outlook

As of January 27, Bitcoin has broken through the $88,000 mark, and Ethereum is approaching the key psychological level of $3,000. The market’s optimistic sentiment contrasts sharply with the security warning.

SlowMist’s security alert reminds us that behind technological progress and asset growth, security risks are never far away. The exposure of the Clawdbot gateway is just the tip of the iceberg; cybercriminals are constantly seeking new attack vectors.

Gate reminds all users to immediately check your API key settings and enable all available security features. In the world of digital assets, security is not a one-time setup but an ongoing practice of vigilance and updates.