New Linux Trojan Discovery Unveils Cryptomining and Identity Cloaking Efforts

Russian security firm Dr. Web has discovered two new forms of a Linux Trojan: Linux.MulDrop.14 and Linux.ProxyM.1. The first one targets Raspberry Pi computers to mine cryptocurrency, while the second cloaks threat actors in anonymity.

Dr. Web first detected Linux.MulDrop.14 last month. It is composed of a bash script and a mining program. These scripts are designed to stop several running processes on the Raspberry Pi and install the libraries needed to operate. It also installs ZMap and SSHpass to search for other devices with open SSH ports.

When it finds another vulnerable device, the malware tries to spread itself using the Pi’s default credentials on SSH port 22. If it is able to get access, it unpacks and runs its payload.

An Odd Choice of Pi

The fact that this malware targets Raspberry Pi machines exclusively is somewhat unusual, since Trojans typically aim to infect as many different devices as possible. It’s also not ideal for cryptomining — while it does have some resources available to actually carry out the processes, they are less extensive than those found in most other modern computers.

A November 2016 update for the operating system in question disabled the SSH server by default, SecurityWeek explained. In other words, this ploy will only affect unpatched or older machines. Even so, Dr. Web advised users with SSH enabled to change their passwords as a preventative security measure.

Of course, upcoming versions of the Linux Trojan may cast a wider net.

The Proxy Linux Trojan

The other Trojan Dr. Web uncovered — Linux.Proxy.M — uses the special symbols of a terminal to confirm that it is not running in a honeypot. If it gets the all clear, it starts up a SOCKS proxy server. This proxy may hide the actor’s identity, as well as relay traffic and other network functions.

Dr. Web observed that 29 percent of attacked IP addresses were located in Russia — the largest portion out of any country recorded. The firm also reported that there have been 10,000 attacks since February 2017.

Even though Linux has fewer malware attacks than other systems, it doesn’t mean attacks are any less destructive when they do hit. Proper detection and security practices will aid in prevention and protection.

Larry Loeb

Principal, PBC Enterprises

NIST’s role in the global tech race against AI

4 min read - Last year, the United States Secretary of Commerce announced that the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been put in charge of launching a new public working group on artificial intelligence (AI) that will build on the success of the NIST AI Risk Management Framework to address this rapidly advancing technology.However, recent budget cuts at NIST, along with a lack of strategy implementation, have called into question the agency’s ability to lead this critical effort. Ultimately, the success…

Researchers develop malicious AI ‘worm’ targeting generative AI systems

2 min read - Researchers have created a new, never-seen-before kind of malware they call the "Morris II" worm, which uses popular AI services to spread itself, infect new systems and steal data. The name references the original Morris computer worm that wreaked havoc on the internet in 1988.The worm demonstrates the potential dangers of AI security threats and creates a new urgency around securing AI models.New worm utilizes adversarial self-replicating promptThe researchers from Cornell Tech, the Israel Institute of Technology and Intuit, used what’s…

Passwords, passkeys and familiarity bias

5 min read - As passkey (passwordless authentication) adoption proceeds, misconceptions abound. There appears to be a widespread impression that passkeys may be more convenient and less secure than passwords. The reality is that they are both more secure and more convenient — possibly a first in cybersecurity.Most of us could be forgiven for not realizing passwordless authentication is more secure than passwords. Thinking back to the first couple of use cases I was exposed to — a phone operating system (OS) and a…

Security Intelligence

{{title}}

{{title}}

{{title}}

Topics

An Odd Choice of Pi

The Proxy Linux Trojan

More from

NIST’s role in the global tech race against AI

Researchers develop malicious AI ‘worm’ targeting generative AI systems

Passwords, passkeys and familiarity bias

Topic updates