[MSFN]Attack Against Linux Apache Servers Intensifying - Overclock.net

noobdown · 01-24-08

A mass attack ongoing for the past month against Linux Apache Web servers has become increasingly successful because its break-in method makes use of an automated password and installation process, according to a security researcher monitoring its progress.

Don Jackson, senior security sesearcher at SecureWorks, says the attack, which was first thought to have compromised several hundred Web sites, has hit at least 10,000. He says the attack relies on making use of stolen passwords to Linux Apache servers by automating the installation process to force it to serve up attacks against vulnerabilities on Windows clients.

"The Web server ends up serving up vulnerabilities from 2006 related to Windows malware," Jackson says. "The whole attack is very mysterious. It's based on a botnet but it doesn't match the Russian and Chinese groups and may be Western Europe or North American."

The attack, which makes use of the well-known Rbot and Sdbot malware, targets at least nine software vulnerabilities associated with QuickTime exploits, AOL SuperBuddy and Yahoo! Messenger to try and compromise Windows-based desktops. SecureWorks says most antivirus vendors can detect the malware.

The ingenuity is that the attacker has managed to install code that modifies Apache memory to monitor requests and inject the script tag, script contents or the Rbot executable, according to SecureWorks. Some Linux Apache network managers are finding it hard to clean their servers of the attack code, he notes.

Source

Licht · 01-24-08

Windows-Linux war coming to this thread, guarantee it.

Looks bad though, any word on a defense?

RickJS · 01-24-08

WOW, that is not good. People will think badly of it because its open-source.

Licht · 01-24-08

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickJS

WOW, that is not good. People will think badly of it because its open-source.

This probably would have never happened if it was closed-source.

Of course then the lack of access would have made Linux suck. Its a ying/yang deal.

003 · 01-24-08

Where was that article about some huge bot net that someone found, that was massive and was still growing, and really hasn't done anything bad yet. Sounds ominous.

stumped · 01-24-08

wow! who ever is doing that is a genius! (not in a good way) It takes real patience to make that work. Wow, i can see windows fan boys flaming now cause they some ammo. it's just a spark though.

savagebunny · 01-24-08

nope I use Windows and Have used Linux before...Linux is a great OS but lack of compatibility but the attackers I guess got bored with Windows and went to linux.