Looking At The New Linux Trojan

Da Schmiz writes: "Security firm Qualys discovered a new Linux trojan on Saturday ... details can be found on their website.. Vnunet picked up the story earlier today, and then followed up with more details. They're comparing the potential impact to Code Red or worse, since more servers run Linux / Apache than NT / IIS. I don't think it's that bad, since the infection can be easily detected, but it certainly isn't good." Update: 09/08 11:58 AM GMT by H : Of course, as Kurt Siefried pointed out in e-mail: "The trojan has nothing to do with Apache. The virus attaches itself to an executable, which you must run to infect other binaries (i.e. you must run this as root). This means that infection vectors include, but are not limited to email attachments, but you must of course save the binary, then set it executable, and then run it, as root, to do any real damage. Alternatively you must download binary software and run it (again as root to do any real damage). In other words someone must run binaries of unknown origin as root, and if this is common practice then you have larger policy and education problems to deal with." So - comparing it to Code Red is a bit dubious.

Comments

What file did they find did this trojan infect?

[BrookHarty]

It says initially surfacing in the /bin directory, ok what file? What distro? What rpm? What .tgz do I have to watch out for? Little more info please. I don't know that any unix admin who would run /bin utilities that they get off the Internet, maybe source, but not binaries.

This is no way as bad as Code Red, Code red self replicated on unpatched servers. This trojan will not replicate without a user doing it. Sheesh, bad journalism.