Chinese hackers have unleashed a never-before-seen Linux backdoor

ZeroCool@feddit.ch to Technology@lemmy.world – 240 points –
Chinese hackers have unleashed a never-before-seen Linux backdoor
arstechnica.com
28

Here's a link to the actual Trendmicro article: https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/23/i/earth-lusca-employs-new-linux-backdoor.html.

Not sure why OP's article linked the version from 2 years ago.

Also an article with more info: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/new-sprysocks-linux-malware-used-in-cyber-espionage-attacks/.

Edit:

My understanding of these articles is that there is a hacking group that is targeting public facing servers that are exploitable using other methods and utilizing this sprysocks software to create an opening for them to remotely access the server. If that's the case then this shouldn't affect most Linux desktops or isolated systems. Let me know if anyone has more info.

Two years ago? Why is this even news, then?

The originally posted article looks like it linked to the older version of this malware. I just linked the newer version of the report from yesterday that I found through a different article.

On the upside they are helping secure Linux because now the the appropriate action can be taken to prevent this in future.

I'm sure a security patch has already been released. The Linux community normally addresses these things very quickly.

I'm all for looking on the bright side but this is a bit much lol

Linux users online tend to get very high and mighty every time another OS has a sucurity bug. But it's a good thing for Linux hehe

Linux users online tend to get very high and mighty every time another OS has a sucurity bug. But it's a good thing for Linux hehe

That's because illuminating security vulnerabilities is VERY GENERALLY a good thing for an open source community driven software that can be more agile than closed and private code bases that are GENERALLY entrenched in a corporate structure slowed by all of the inertia inherent in those systems.

Don't like all Linux patches have to be emailed directly to chappy for him to personally check?

wtf does this mean?

This process initiates with Linus Torvalds, wherein, he releases a new kernel and then opens a 2-week merge window. During this merge window, he pulls the code for the next release from subsystem maintainers. Subsystem maintainers send signed git pull requests to Linus either during the merge window or before

No, that's just for development discussion and code versioning. Nothing the end-user needs to touch or see.

End users update their system with commands/through interfaces or they receive automatic updates, depending on their system.

There's no actual vuln here is there? It's just a persistent backdoor that hides with some elf and kernel tricks.

You can literally say this about any and all security breaches, so long as the victims resolve, and fix the breach.

Sure. I'm not excusing it, just saying now they we know about it, at least it can get patched. Nothing worse than having a security hole going unpatched for years.

Their search turned up a version of the malware with the release number 1.1. The version Trend Micro found was 1.3.6. The multiple versions suggest that the backdoor is currently under development.

They version better than I do at work.

This is the best summary I could come up with:


Researchers from NHS Digital in the UK have said Trochilus was developed by APT10, an advanced persistent threat group linked to the Chinese government that also goes by the names Stone Panda and MenuPass.

In June, researchers from security firm Trend Micro found an encrypted binary file on a server known to be used by a group they had been tracking since 2021.

The Linux malware ported several functions found in Trochilus and combined them with a new Socket Secure (SOCKS) implementation.

The Trend Micro researchers eventually named their discovery SprySOCKS, with “spry” denoting its swift behavior and the added SOCKS component.

Besides showing interest in espionage activities, Earth Lusca seems financially motivated, with sights set on gambling and cryptocurrency companies.

Monday’s Trend Micro report provides IP addresses, file hashes, and other evidence that people can use to determine if they've been compromised.


The original article contains 537 words, the summary contains 143 words. Saved 73%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!

Thank goodness I'm on windows.

Just kidding, I know that triggers Lemmy, lol. I actually like Linux a lot, even though I only use it in docker right now.

Great.. guess I'll install windows 10 again

Even after blocking the Linux community I still get these random irrelevant Linux articles.

Where do you think you are? You're in a technology community. Just because you aren't interested in linux doesn't mean articles about linux are somehow "irrelevant" to the community.