Over 38,000 FreeDrain Subdomains Compromised: A Wake-Up Call for Businesses

Imagine owning a building and forgetting to lock one of the back doors. You’d likely worry that someone might sneak in, right? That’s pretty much what just happened to thousands of companies online. Over 38,000 subdomains linked to FreeDrain were found vulnerable—and many were actively exploited.

What Exactly Happened?

Researchers recently uncovered a major security flaw affecting thousands of websites. How bad is it? A massive subdomain takeover involving a service called FreeDrain, affecting more than 38,000 subdomains. These included some pretty high-profile names like Warner Bros. and Marvel, along with universities and government websites.

Let’s break that down. Every website has a main domain (like example.com), but big companies often create subdomains for special projects (like blog.example.com). If those subdomains aren’t properly managed or taken offline when they’re no longer needed, they become easy targets for hackers.

What Is a Subdomain Takeover?

Subdomain takeover happens when a web address points to a service that’s no longer active—but the domain still exists. Imagine giving someone your house key (the subdomain) but then moving out while leaving the key under the doormat. Someone could come along, grab it, and move in. That’s exactly what hackers did with FreeDrain subdomains.

Why FreeDrain?

FreeDrain provided a platform for collecting and testing webhooks. In simpler terms, it helped developers receive test messages from other platforms. But the service quietly shut down in 2020. The problem? Many companies never changed their DNS settings—so their systems still pointed to a service that no longer existed.

That oversight allowed attackers to swoop in, claim ownership of those unused subdomains, and use them for shady purposes like phishing and malware attacks.

So, What’s the Risk?

When cybercriminals take over subdomains, they’re not just playing digital pranks. These takeovers can be dangerous and deceptive. Here’s why:

• Phishing: Hackers can create fake login pages using real company subdomains, tricking users into handing over sensitive information.
• Malware: Users who visit these hijacked subdomains could unknowingly download malicious programs.
• Brand Trust: When users fall victim to scams using a company’s subdomain, they stop trusting that brand.
• Data Breaches: Once attackers gain a foothold, they could potentially access internal systems.

One small mistake—like forgetting to clean up an old subdomain—can snowball into a costly disaster.

What Companies Were Affected?

The list is long and includes some major names:

• Warner Bros.: Known for blockbuster films and gaming content.
• Marvel Entertainment: One of the world’s biggest superhero media giants.
• University of Texas: A leading educational institution.
• U.S. Government Agencies: Websites ending in .gov were also in the mix.

This isn’t just about Hollywood or universities—it’s about a much bigger problem in how organizations manage digital assets.

How Did Researchers Find Out?

This discovery came from an in-depth analysis done by Detectify, a security firm that specializes in automated scans for online vulnerabilities. Their researchers used tools to find live CNAME records (basically digital directions) that still pointed to FreeDrain’s now-nonexistent servers. In doing so, they identified the vulnerable subdomains—an overwhelming 38,000+ of them.

Why This Matters to You

You might be wondering, “I’m not Marvel. Why should I care?” Great question!

No matter the size of your business, if you have a website and use third-party services, you could be at risk of a subdomain takeover. Even small blogs and online shops can fall victim to this kind of attack.

Let’s say you ran a marketing campaign on a subdomain like promo.yoursite.com two years ago. The campaign ended, but the subdomain still points to a service that’s no longer active. That’s an open door for cybercriminals.

Signs You Might Have Forgotten Subdomains

Ask yourself these questions:

• Do you use third-party tools or platforms that no longer exist?
• Have you ever built microsites or short-term web apps on subdomains?
• Did you ever set up webhooks or analytics tracking through external services?

If you said yes to any of these, now’s a good time to review your DNS settings.

How to Protect Your Own Website

Luckily, preventing a subdomain takeover isn’t rocket science. Here’s what you can do:

1. Clean Up Old DNS Records

Just like you’d clean up your garage every few months, go through your DNS settings and remove any records that are no longer in use.

2. Use Monitoring Tools

Services like Detectify or SecurityTrails can alert you to risky configurations before someone exploits them.

3. Create an Offboarding Checklist

Any time your business stops using a service, make it a rule to check for attached subdomains or DNS records. Removing them should be part of your standard operating procedure.

4. Educate Your Team

Make sure your developers, IT staff, and even marketers understand the risks. Secure websites should be everyone’s responsibility—not just your “tech guy.”

Final Thoughts

This massive FreeDrain incident reminds us of one crucial thing: cybersecurity isn’t just about firewalls and passwords. Sometimes, the biggest dangers come from the things we forget—like an old subdomain pointing to a dead service.

Whether you’re a solo blogger or managing an enterprise-level website, taking small security steps can prevent big headaches later. Don’t let your forgotten digital doors stay open. Take time today to shut them before someone else walks in.

After all, in the world of cybersecurity, it’s always better to be a little paranoid than a lot sorry.

Stay Safe Out There

Need help monitoring your site for risks like subdomain takeover? There are plenty of tools—both free and paid—that can make your digital housekeeping easier. A little effort now could save you a lot of trouble down the road.

And who knows—by tightening up your security, you might even sleep a little better at night.

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Ready to shut the door on subdomain vulnerabilities? Start by checking your DNS settings today.