Microsoft Identifies Botnet Variant Targeting Windows and Linux Systems

Microsoft has warned it has identified a new variant of the Sysrv botnet, which deploys coin miners on both of those Windows and Linux methods.

In a thread posted on the Microsoft Security Intelligence (@MsftSecIntel) Twitter account, the tech large uncovered the new variant, which it has named Sysrv-K, is exploiting vulnerabilities in the Spring Framework and WordPress to deploy cryptocurrency miners on these units.

Microsoft defined that the botnet “scans the internet to uncover web servers with a variety of vulnerabilities to put in by itself.” These vulnerabilities variety from route traversal and distant file disclosure to arbitrary file download and distant code execution.

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Sysrv-K targets a mixture of old vulnerabilities, these types of as people observed in WordPress plugins and more recent ones like CVE-2022-22947. All of these have patches, according to Microsoft.

Worryingly, this new variation appears to have various new attributes. These consist of scanning for WordPress configuration documents and their backups to retrieve databases qualifications, which it employs to acquire command of the webserver. In addition, “Sysvr-K has current interaction capabilities, including the means to use a Telegram bot.”

As with preceding variations, Sysrv-K scans for SSH keys, IP addresses and hostnames just before seeking to unfold copies of itself through the network. This “could put the relaxation of the network at risk of getting portion of the Sysrv-K botnet.”

Microsoft recommended businesses managing possibly Windows or Linux on internet-going through programs to choose motion to shield on their own from the new botnet, these as installing all available security updates. “We highly propose companies to secure internet-struggling with units, which includes timely software of security updates and creating credential cleanliness,” it tweeted.

Final week, Microsoft declared it had issued fixes for 3 zero-working day vulnerabilities in its regular patch Tuesday roundup. The tech huge also lately released a post outlining how the recent ransomware-as-a-support (RaaS) pandemic is staying fuelled by the resources and products and services presented by ‘gig’ staff.