Zero-Day Exploit Targeting OpenSea NFTs Listed for $100,000 on Dark Web

A bad actor surfaced, claiming to sell zero-day vulnerabilities that could affect OpenSea users. They are asking for $100,000 in Bitcoin or Monero. The bad actor posted their offer on underground hacking forums.

They promise a complete exploit chain that targets OpenSea’s Seaport protocol. This system handles NFT transactions across multiple blockchain networks. The seller claims their zero-day remains unpatched and unknown to OpenSea’s security team.

A Zero-Day That Targets Your Digital Assets

The exploit allegedly attacks weaknesses in Seaport’s order validation logic. It works across Ethereum Mainnet, Polygon, and Blast networks. According to the listing, attackers can force-transfer valuable NFTs straight out of victims’ wallets for absolutely nothing—zero ETH.

The vulnerability bypasses all normal listing approvals. Even worse, it supposedly works on both active and inactive listings. The attacker exploits signature malleability and launches cross-collection attacks. This means your “Bored Ape” “Yacht Club NFT” or “CryptoPunk” could vanish without your consent.

If legitimate, this zero-day would join a growing list of devastating exploits, including the Cl0p ransomware’s breach of security giant Entrust via an Oracle zero-day, that prove even major players with robust defenses can be brought down by a single unpatched flaw.

The seller sweetens their pitch with proof-of-concept code. Buyers also get a live demonstration after payment clears. They position this as a complete attack chain capable of instant asset drainage. No user interaction required. No warning signs. Just gone.

Dark Web Informer first spotted the listing circulating on underground forums. The actor markets it as a fresh zero-day with zero public exploits observed so far. That claim raises a major red flag for security researchers.

Skeptics Aren’t Buying It – Why?

OpenSea has been silent about any emergency statement or has not published a security update to address the recent threat posed to users by an exposed NFT (non-fungible token) listing since February 14, 2026.

Multiple cybersecurity experts have expressed doubts about the legitimacy of the NFT listing since the listing contains many inconsistencies with the description. If the NFT listing is valid and accurate, why would the exploiter sell it for $100,000 instead of using it themselves to exploit OpenSea?

Many high-end NFT collections, such as Bored Ape Yacht Club, have sold for hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars; if a hacker knew how to exploit this NFT collection, then the hacker would be able to steal from many wallets for a much greater return on their investment than $100,000.

This logic leads to two possible explanations for the listing. The first explanation is that there is no such exploitation, and the listing is nothing more than a scam attempting to extract money from unsuspecting criminals; the second is that there is an exploitation that exists that does not perform as the seller described.

In general, there is a trend of false advertising with regard to the capabilities of products on dark web marketplaces. Therefore, sellers will exaggerate the capabilities of their wares to make more money.

This isn’t limited to exploit code; it’s a common tactic across all dark web listings, including recent offers where hackers claimed to sell access to thousands of Italian websites on the dark web, only for buyers to discover the access was either expired, exaggerated, or completely fabricated.

OpenSea has experienced problems with exploits before. In 2022, attackers successfully exploited a listing vulnerability on OpenSea to steal over $1 million worth of NFTs. After investigating the incident, OpenSea was able to resolve those vulnerabilities fairly quickly; however, OpenSea and other NFT platforms using DeFi are very appealing targets for sophisticated hackers because of the opportunity to exploit them.

How NFT Holders Can Protect Themselves

Security researchers recommend revoking all OpenSea approvals right now. Tools like Revoke.cash let you block unauthorized transfers with a few clicks.

Monitor your NFT listings closely for any unusual activity. Watch for anomalies in pricing, unexpected transfers, or strange contract interactions. Avoid interacting with suspicious smart contracts on Ethereum Mainnet, Polygon, and Blast networks until this situation is clarified.

This incident echoes historical exploit sales, though public reports lack specific indicators of compromise. No one has published the actor’s handles or exact forum URLs yet. Cybersecurity firms urge extreme vigilance as NFT-targeted zero-days become increasingly common.

OpenSea users represent an incredibly high-value target pool for threat actors. Seaport’s widespread adoption across the NFT ecosystem amplifies any potential vulnerability’s impact. Even unverified threats deserve serious attention when millions of dollars in digital assets hang in the balance.

The coming days will reveal whether this listing represents a genuine crisis or just another dark web con job. Either way, smart NFT holders are already taking defensive measures.