4chan Hacked Due to Outdated Software, Source Code Leaked

Well, it finally happened.

After almost two weeks offline, 4chan has come clean: the site was hacked, and it was a disaster. In a pretty raw blog post, the team admitted that the breach happened because they didn’t bother to install security patches on time. Apparently, a hacker slipped through an old, vulnerable software package using a fake PDF upload, and from there, things spiraled fast.

"With this entry point, they were eventually able to gain access to one of 4chan’s servers, including database access and access to our own administrative dashboard."

Once inside, the hacker had a field day. They spent hours digging through 4chan’s database and copying large parts of the site's source code. The site emphasized that not all servers were compromised, but the most important one definitely was. It’s honestly kind of brutal how easily it could’ve been prevented. All it took was updating the operating systems and keeping the codebase current, but no, they let it rot.

The hack actually happened on April 14th. Most users just saw 4chan go down in flames, not knowing someone was inside tearing the place apart. To make matters worse, the hacker started leaking screenshots and code online that showed 4chan was still running ancient versions of PHP and FreeBSD. Not a great look for a site that’s always hyped its chaotic freedom — turns out that chaos extended to the IT department too.

"While not all of our servers were breached, the most important one was, and it was due to simply not updating old operating systems and code in a timely fashion."

4chan hasn’t said exactly how many users were impacted, or whether passwords and personal info were scooped up. The lack of detail there is kind of worrying, but it tracks — transparency has never exactly been their brand. That said, a lot of the focus seems to be on the fact that the source code and some admin tools got pulled, which could cause way more headaches down the road if bad actors start poking at the site's inner workings.

If you’ve been around 4chan’s gaming boards,/v/ especially, you know discussions about hacking, leaks, and security are pretty much everyday conversation. Ironically, while users have spent years analyzing security failures at game companies, their own home base fell to one of the most basic screw-ups in cybersecurity./v/ has already exploded with memes about it, with threads titled stuff like “4chan hacked by a literal PDF” and "update your servers you clowns" hitting bump limits fast.

Image: "This is the final post on 4chan before the site got hacked and all databases got dumped."

It fits the culture. 4chan’s appeal has always been about refusing to evolve, clinging to that 2000s Wild West feel. But that stubbornness finally bit them hard. In a world where even small-time hackers can ruin you with one clever exploit, staying stuck in the past is not an aesthetic — it’s a liability.

At this point, 4chan says they’ve patched the holes and are "reviewing security practices" across the board. We'll see how long that lasts. Most users are just happy the boards are back, even if the lurking threat of another breach now hangs over the site like a storm cloud.

For now, if you’ve got an account or have ever uploaded anything sensitive (which, come on, you shouldn’t have), it's not a bad idea to change your stuff and assume the worst. History shows that once hackers have a taste for blood, they usually come back for seconds.