Censys Exposes DarkSword iOS Exploit Platform and Coruna Crypto Wallet Stealer
Censys has revealed the operations of DarkSword, a platform selling remote access to iOS devices, and Coruna, the malware responsible for stealing cryptocurrency wallet recovery keys following successful compromise.
The infrastructure was exposed between September 15 and 17. Entry occurs through the browser, where DarkSword targets WebKit and JavaScriptCore, escapes the Safari sandbox, and reaches the system kernel. From there it installs three layers: a flag, a controller, and the main implant.
Coruna specifically searches for wallet recovery keys—the BIP39 word sequences that can restore access to funds on any device. It scans photos and notes in Apple Notes, transmitting only sequences that pass BIP39 validation. The malware includes 19 modules targeting specific wallets including MetaMask, Phantom, Trust Wallet, Coinbase, Exodus, imToken, Bitpie, and BitKeep. It also collects contacts and photos containing visible seed phrases.
An exposed server copy contained 11 victim recovery keys, 179 directories of extracted device data, and 75 operator accounts. Censys noted these figures do not confirm 179 victims or quantify stolen funds. The control panel shows a commercial setup with agent accounts, commission rates, and device quotas per operator, pointing to a reseller model rather than a single group.
Confirmed active infections affect devices running iOS 16.1 and iOS 16.3.1. Apple has extended patches against DarkSword to additional iOS 18 devices. Keeping systems updated closes the exploited vector.
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