In a world where your thermostat might just betray you, the threat landscape keeps evolving, often leaving us staring at our smart home devices with a hint of paranoia. Recently, Sekoia’s Threat Detection & Research (TDR) team has shed light on a peculiar cyber espionage infrastructure that’s been at it since mid-2023. The culprits? None other than our unwitting edge devices turned into Operational Relay Boxes (ORBs). Yep, your home router might not be as innocent as it looks.
What Happens When Your Router Leads a Double Life
Let’s dive into this cybersecurity thriller that’s got more twists than a mystery novel. The GobRAT and Bulbature malware duo is out there, converting ordinary edge devices into tactical machines used in cyber offensives. While the Internet of Things (IoT) may promise us convenience, these cyber adversaries see it as an army in waiting, just itching to become part of a botnet. Here’s how the attack unfolds—brace yourself, it’s a doozy.
- Staging Servers Deploy Scripts: Cyber actors deploy servers equipped with installation scripts, malware binaries like GobRAT and Bulbature, and some oddly creative naming conventions.
- Edge Device Compromise: Your router’s day job is to provide connectivity, but these attackers see its potential for moonlighting as an Operational Relay Box (ORB). Once compromised, edge devices like routers and smart cameras play host to these malware packages.
- Malware Deployment: Once infected, these poor edge devices download the dreaded GobRAT and Bulbature malware from the attackers’ staging servers.
- ORBs Are Born: At this point, your edge device has transformed into a bona fide ORB, relaying attacks against unsuspecting victims.
The scariest part? This whole infrastructure isn’t just theoretical—it’s alive and well, with dozens of hosts active as recently as September 2024. And here we thought edge devices were meant to make our lives easier. Joke’s on us.
The Faces of GobRAT and Bulbature: Cybercriminal Celebrities You’ve Never Met
Now, let’s talk about the protagonists—or rather, antagonists—of this drama. GobRAT and Bulbature are not your run-of-the-mill malware. They’ve got personalities, capabilities, and frankly, they’re a bit overqualified for their roles in cybercrime. Here’s what makes these bad actors tick:
GobRAT: The Swiss Army Knife of Malware
This little gem is what you’d call a multi-tasker. GobRAT, written in Go, is packed with all the Remote Access Trojan (RAT) functionalities you’d expect from something with a “RAT” suffix. It reads files, executes shell commands, runs reverse shells—you name it. It even has the nerve to attempt brute-force logins on popular services like SSH and Redis, just to add a bit of chaos to its reign of terror.
GobRAT’s arsenal includes the ability to gather system information, relay attacks, and even launch DDoS campaigns. Because why stop at infecting one device when you can wreak havoc across multiple networks? But GobRAT doesn’t just settle for mediocrity; it’s been known to deploy vulnerability exploitation campaigns. If you’ve been hearing about random SYN flood attacks (CVE-2004-0397, anyone?) or an HTTP DDoS campaign (CVE-2021-44228 aka Log4Shell), you might want to look into whether your trusty router has fallen victim to this over-ambitious RAT.
Bulbature: The Stealthy Newcomer
Bulbature is the new kid on the block, and it’s a bit of an enigma. While GobRAT enjoys the limelight with its documented antics, Bulbature prefers to stay hidden. What we do know is that Bulbature’s main goal is to convert edge devices into ORBs that relay attacks, just like GobRAT. However, it’s packed with a high level of obfuscation (as if we needed another reason to hate it) and anti-analysis techniques, making it a tougher nut to crack.
In fact, Bulbature’s penchant for hiding its intentions is so advanced that it took some serious sleuthing by the Sekoia TDR team to get a partial understanding of its behavior. Even now, the full scope of what Bulbature does is still murky. But one thing is clear: it’s not playing nice, and it’s likely using different networks than GobRAT, signaling a level of complexity that’s giving analysts headaches.
When Smart Devices Go Rogue: A Lesson in Vigilance
While it’s fun to picture our routers secretly donning black hats and plotting cyber takeovers, the reality is much scarier. Cybercriminals have found a way to exploit the very devices we trust to manage our internet traffic, turning them into puppets in massive botnets. For those who think they’re safe because they use the latest firmware, think again. The attacks observed by Sekoia TDR often targeted edge devices that hadn’t been secured with the latest patches or weren’t configured correctly.
To make matters worse, these compromised ORBs serve multiple purposes. They can launch DDoS attacks, participate in botnet campaigns, and even act as proxies for other malicious traffic. And with the growing popularity of edge devices in homes and businesses alike, the attack surface has never been broader. It’s a buffet for cybercriminals, and they’re indulging.
Cracking the Case: What Can We Do?
So what’s a concerned citizen to do? Do we unplug every device in our homes and revert to the stone age? Probably not. But there are some practical steps we can take to make sure our devices aren’t drafted into the next cyber war.
- Patch Early, Patch Often: The most common advice in cybersecurity is often the most effective. Keeping your devices updated with the latest security patches can prevent vulnerabilities from being exploited by malware like GobRAT and Bulbature.
- Monitor Network Traffic: Be vigilant. Keep an eye on your network traffic for any unusual activity. Devices that suddenly start transmitting large amounts of data could be a sign of infection.
- Segment Your Network: Don’t let all your devices communicate with each other freely. Create separate networks for your IoT devices, keeping them away from more sensitive systems like your computers and servers.
- Use Strong Passwords: This is another no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many people still use “admin” as their router password. Don’t be that person.
- Disable Unnecessary Services: If your device doesn’t need to be accessible via SSH, disable it. Less exposure equals fewer opportunities for attackers to break in.
FAQs
What is GobRAT?
GobRAT is a Remote Access Trojan written in Go, designed to infect edge devices like routers. Once installed, it can execute commands, steal data, and participate in Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks.
What is Bulbature?
Bulbature is a lesser-known malware that works alongside GobRAT to convert edge devices into Operational Relay Boxes (ORBs). Its full capabilities remain unclear due to heavy obfuscation, but it primarily relays malicious traffic and facilitates network attacks.
How do these attacks happen?
Attackers compromise edge devices by exploiting vulnerabilities or misconfigurations. They then deploy malware like GobRAT and Bulbature, which download from staging servers and transform the device into an ORB for launching cyber attacks.
How can I protect my devices?
Ensure that all your devices are regularly updated with the latest security patches. Segment your network, monitor traffic for anomalies, and disable any unnecessary services to minimize your risk.
Why are edge devices targeted?
Edge devices are often left under-protected, making them easier targets for attackers. Once compromised, they provide valuable access to broader networks and can be used to launch attacks without drawing attention to the original attackers.
The Curtain Call
As GobRAT and Bulbature continue their antics beneath the waves, one thing is clear: the battle for cyber control is increasingly being fought on the edges of our networks. The once simple devices that connected us to the internet are now potential players in global cybercrime campaigns. While we may not be able to stop every attack, staying vigilant and adopting best practices can help keep the threat at bay. So, keep an eye on your edge devices and remember—your router might be more devious than you think.
