Base’s Leading DEX Halts Frontend Over Suspected Phishing Attack
The top decentralized exchange on the Base network has taken its frontend offline after detecting malicious code indicative of a phishing attempt targeting users through the web interface. The attacker injected unauthorized transaction calls via a malicious contract address, prompting the DEX team to pause the UI while initiating a full security audit. Underlying smart contracts remain secure, with no protocol-level exploit detected and TVL unaffected. Preliminary reports indicate minor losses of USDC and USDT from a small number of wallets. The team is investigating a compromised CDN as the likely entry point and advises users to reset DNS caches, verify contract addresses, and use hardware wallets for added security. Ongoing collaboration with external auditors aims to restore the interface and strengthen defenses.
Neutral
The temporary frontend compromise on Base’s top DEX is likely to have a neutral impact on the broader market. Though it raises security concerns, the incident did not affect the underlying smart contracts or TVL, limiting damage to minor token losses. Historically, UI-based phishing attempts spark short-term caution but don’t trigger major sell-offs unless protocol-level exploits occur, as seen in past UI hacks on major exchanges where swift remediation contained impact. Traders may exercise temporary caution with Base DEX but the reliability of the network’s core infrastructure should preserve longer-term confidence.