Woofun AI reports that the Verus Ethereum bridge suffered a second major exploit in 2024, with Onchain Lens confirming the drainage of over $7.5 million in digital assets through manipulated verification systems.

The attacker executed a proof forgery attack by exploiting a critical vulnerability in the cross-chain proof mechanism. By forging cryptographic proofs, the hacker withdrew reserve assets from the Ethereum network without corresponding unlocks on the Verus chain. This method bypasses the trust assumptions relied upon by validators, effectively decoupling asset locking from minting processes.

This incident follows a larger breach in May 2024, where the Verus team faced an $11.58 million loss. The recurrence of such exploits within a single year raises serious questions about the effectiveness of post-incident remediation measures. No official statement has been released regarding the root cause or user compensation plans for the latest event.

Structurally, cross-chain bridges remain primary targets in decentralized finance, accounting for billions of dollars in losses over the past three years. Bridges relying on trusted validators or complex cryptographic schemes often present single points of failure. Per Woofun AI, these systemic risks persist even after significant security upgrades are implemented.

The DeFi ecosystem must prioritize robust security audits and transparent incident response to mitigate such threats. Users are advised to diversify exposure across different bridging solutions to reduce risk. This marks the second time Verus has failed to secure its bridge infrastructure this year.