Smart Contract C2

Definition ∞ Smart Contract C2 refers to the use of a smart contract on a blockchain as a command and control infrastructure for malicious operations. In this advanced attack vector, the smart contract receives instructions from attackers and issues commands to compromised systems or other malicious contracts. This method leverages the decentralized and immutable nature of blockchains to establish resilient and difficult-to-trace communication channels for cybercriminals.
Context ∞ The emergence of Smart Contract C2 represents a significant challenge for cybersecurity defense, as traditional methods of disrupting command and control infrastructure are less effective against blockchain-based systems. Security researchers are actively studying these novel attack patterns to develop new detection and mitigation strategies. The immutability of smart contracts means that once deployed, these C2 channels are exceptionally persistent.