NEAR Co-founder Warns of Internet Infrastructure Risks
Illia Polosukhin highlights systemic software vulnerabilities amid recent sector-wide security disclosures.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Cybersecurity
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NEAR Protocol co-founder Illia Polosukhin warned that pervasive software vulnerabilities in internet infrastructure create significant systemic risks. The alert follows a string of security disclosures affecting major platforms and projects.
Why it matters
Polosukhin identifies a widespread, dangerous dependence on outdated software and flawed authentication systems. These architectural weaknesses currently leave critical infrastructure exposed to exploitation.
Security maintainers recently documented memory-handling and certificate-validation flaws in PHP, Undici for Node.js, and LiteLLM. NEAR developers addressed their own Intents exploit, which cost $3.8 million, within one hour of detection.
The players
Illia Polosukhin
He is a co-founder of NEAR Protocol and a vocal advocate for advanced blockchain security measures.
NEAR Protocol
This is a layer-one blockchain platform focused on developer usability and scalable infrastructure.
The details
NEAR Protocol is turning toward formal verification, using mathematical methods to ensure software meets specific transaction and authorization requirements. The system relies on AI to translate complex code behaviors into provable mathematical models to prevent future failures.
Timeline
September 24, 2026: PHP maintainers published a security advisory.
October 1, 2026: NEAR Intents resumed operations following an exploit.
October 15, 2026: Undici maintainers disclosed vulnerabilities in Node.js.
October 19, 2026: NEAR completed research into formal verification.
October 22, 2026: Illia Polosukhin issued a warning regarding infrastructure risks.
The Tech Race
The transition toward formal verification represents a move away from reactive patching toward proactive, mathematically sound software development. This shift positions projects like NEAR to defend against the systemic vulnerabilities that have long plagued legacy internet components.
The NEAR token traded at $5.02 on October 22, following a 3.61% decline and significant net outflows. Investors should monitor ongoing security updates as vulnerabilities in foundational internet software can trigger sudden volatility in digital asset markets.
The takeaway
Proactive security measures like formal verification are increasingly vital for maintaining digital infrastructure. Users and developers should prioritize platforms that invest in rigorous, automated testing to mitigate the risks of legacy software dependencies.
Further reading
For more information on digital safety, visit our Cybersecurity section.
Live Poll
Do you trust that your online accounts and assets are currently secure from widespread internet infrastructure vulnerabilities?
