Analysis by: Francis Xavier Antazo

ALIASES:

DoS:Linux/Xorddos.A (Microsoft); HEUR:Trojan-DDoS.Linux.Agent.g (Kaspersky); Linux.Xorddos!gen1 (Symantec); Linux/DDoS.XOR (AVG); ELF:Xorddos-M [Trj] (Avast);

 PLATFORM:

Unix, Linux

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:
 INFORMATION EXPOSURE:

  • Threat Type: Backdoor

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

Infection Channel: Downloaded from the Internet

This malware launched distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks to a number of gaming- and education-related websites. Its communication with its servers are encrypted via XOR, hence the name.

To get a one-glance comprehensive view of the behavior of this Backdoor, refer to the Threat Diagram shown below.

This backdoor arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

It executes commands from a remote malicious user, effectively compromising the affected system. It connects to a website to send and receive information.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 617,715 bytes
File Type: ELF
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 26 Sep 2015
Payload: Downloads files, Hides files and processes, Launches DoS/DDoS attacks, Compromises network security

Arrival Details

This backdoor arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.

Installation

This backdoor drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • /var/run/udev.pid
  • /lib/libgcc4.so

Autostart Technique

This backdoor drops the following files:

  • /etc/cron.hourly/udev.sh (Cron is a time-based job scheduler in Unix-like computer operating systems)

Backdoor Routine

This backdoor executes the following commands from a remote malicious user:

  • Start Denial of Service
  • Stop Denial of Service
  • Update malware
  • Download and execute file
  • Terminate Process
  • Request MD5 Hash of running malware

It connects to the following websites to send and receive information:

  • gh.{BLOCKED}a1.org:2833
  • www.{BLOCKED}ngfacai.com:2833
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.31.154:2833
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.9.229
  • {BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.9.228

Download Routine

This backdoor connects to the following URL(s) to download its configuration file:

  • http://info1.{BLOCKED}c.com/b/u.php?id=01

NOTES:

This backdoor drops a shell script in /etc/init.d folder which setups the autostart mechanism of the malware.

This backdoor creates five shortcut links which points to the script in /etc/init.d:

  • /etc/rc1.d/S90{random value}
  • /etc/rc2.d/S90{random value}
  • /etc/rc3.d/S90{random value}
  • /etc/rc4.d/S90{random value}
  • /etc/rc5.d/S90{random value}

This malware is capable of doing the following flooding attack:

  • TCP Flood
  • UDP Flood
  • SYN Flood
  • DNS Flood

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 9.700
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 11.952.04
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 01 Oct 2015
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 11.953.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 02 Oct 2015

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as ELF_XORDDOS.AP. If the detected files have already been cleaned, deleted, or quarantined by your Trend Micro product, no further step is required. You may opt to simply delete the quarantined files. Please check this Knowledge Base page for more information.


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