New shc-based Linux Malware Targeting Systems with Cryptocurrency Miner

A new Linux malware made employing the shell script compiler (shc) has been observed deploying a cryptocurrency miner on compromised devices.

“It is presumed that after successful authentication by means of a dictionary attack on inadequately managed Linux SSH servers, numerous malware were put in on the goal technique,” AhnLab Security Unexpected emergency Response Center (ASEC) explained in a report published right now.

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shc lets shell scripts to be converted directly into binaries, featuring protections in opposition to unauthorized resource code modifications. It is really analogous to the BAT2EXE utility in Windows that is used to convert any batch file to an executable.

In an attack chain specific by the South Korean cybersecurity organization, a successful compromise of the SSH server prospects to the deployment of an shc downloader malware alongside with a Perl-centered DDoS IRC Bot.

The shc downloader subsequently proceeds to fetch the XMRig miner software to mine cryptocurrency, with the IRC bot able of developing connections with a remote server to fetch commands for mounting distributed denial-of-assistance (DDoS) attacks.

“This bot supports not only DDoS attacks these as TCP flood, UDP flood, and HTTP flood, but numerous other functions like command execution, reverse shell, port scanning, and log deletion,” ASEC researchers reported.

The actuality that all the shc downloader artifacts had been uploaded to VirusTotal from South Korea indicates that the campaign is mainly centered on inadequately secured Linux SSH servers in the region.

It’s recommended that users adhere to password hygiene and rotate passwords on a periodic basis to avoid brute-force makes an attempt and dictionary attacks. It truly is also advised to continue to keep the operating devices up-to-day.

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