MangaDex

MangaDex operates as an online platform dedicated to manga, providing access to a wide range of manga titles. Its core service revolves around hosting and facilitating the reading of manga content for users globally. The platform serves an international audience interested in manga, functioning primarily as a digital repository and reader. While specific quantitative details regarding its user base or library size are not provided in the available source, it functions as a significant online destination within the manga community.

In March 2021, MangaDex experienced a significant cybersecurity incident. A threat actor exploited a vulnerability related to session tokens originating from an old database leak, successfully compromising an administrator account. This breach enabled the attacker to steal the platform's source code, which was subsequently published publicly on GitHub under the alias 'holo-gfx'. The attacker also claimed possession of additional vulnerabilities and a dumped database, though this database was not released publicly. In response to this attack, MangaDex made the decision to temporarily shut down its services. This action was taken to accelerate a comprehensive rewrite of its infrastructure with a strong focus on enhancing security measures. The organisation explicitly advised its users to assume that all their account data had been compromised during this breach. Consequently, MangaDex strongly recommended that users change their passwords on the platform and, critically, also change any passwords for other online services where they might have reused the same credentials. This incident underscores the platform's exposure to cyber threats and its reactive measures to address a major breach.