Tsundere Botnet: How Blockchain-Powered Node.js Malware Threatened Global Supply Chains in 2025
In mid-2025, the Tsundere botnet, attributed to a Russian-speaking threat actor known as "koneko," emerged as a new and flexible malware campaign. It primarily targeted Windows users by disguising itself as installers for popular games or using Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) tools to deliver its payload. The malware leveraged MSI and PowerShell-based installers to deploy malicious Node.js scripts, establishing persistence and communicating with its command-and-control (C2) infrastructure by dynamically retrieving C2 addresses from Ethereum blockchain smart contracts. This adaptive technique, along with a marketplace-enabled control panel, facilitated operational resilience and monetization among cybercriminals. This incident is significant due to the combination of modern supply chain manipulation, blockchain-based C2 address obfuscation, and pay-per-build business models. Tsundere highlights a trend toward malware leveraging decentralized platforms for better survivability against take-downs and rapid evolution, posing ongoing challenges for traditional defenses and compliance frameworks.
Kill Chain