Mystery Malware Affecting Linux/Apache Web Servers

lisah writes "Reports are beginning to surface that some Web servers running Linux and Apache are unwittingly infecting thousands of computers, exploiting vulnerabilities in QuickTime, Yahoo! Messenger, and Windows. One way to tell if your machine is infected is if you're unable to create a directory name beginning with a numeral. Since details are still sketchy, the best advice right now is to take proactive steps to secure your servers. 'We asked the Apache Software Foundation if it had any advice on how to detect the rootkit or cleanse a server when it's found. According to Mark Cox of the Apache security team, "Whilst details are thin as to how the attackers gained root access to the compromised servers, we currently have no evidence that this is due to an unfixed vulnerability in the Apache HTTP Server." We sent a similar query to Red Hat, the largest vendor of Linux, but all its security team could tell us was that "At this point in time we have not had access to any affected machines and therefore cannot give guidance on which tools would reliably detect the rootkit."'"

Comments

Re:Something's fishy!

[JeepFanatic]

If you run those values through a hex to ascii converter you get SKYNET

The register's older writeup on this ...

[chris.dag]

The Register has been on this for a while and although the story is older it is better written and has more interesting details: http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2008/01/16/mysterious_web_infection_continues/

my $.02 of course

ssh + bad password

[Panaflex]

I see this type of attack all the time, the fact that someone automated it and gave it a zombie machine is not surprising.

* Don't allow root to ssh into your machine.
* Disable ssh1.
* Limit sudoers.
* Have good passwords.
* ???
* PROFIT!!

Seems like a formula everyone should know.