- Androxgh0st integration with Mozi amplifies global risks
- IoT vulnerabilities are the new battlefield for cyberattacks
- Proactive monitoring is essential to combat emerging botnet threats
Researchers have recently identified a major evolution in the Androxgh0st botnet, which has become more dangerous with the integration of the Mozi botnet’s capabilities.
What started as a targeted attack on a web server in early 2024 has now expanded, allowing Androxgh0st to exploit vulnerabilities in IoT devices, the CloudSEK Threat Research team said.
Their latest report claims that the botnet is now equipped with Mozi’s advanced techniques to infect and spread across a wide range of networked devices.
The Resurgence of Mozi: A Unified Botnet Infrastructure
Mozi, previously known for infecting IoT devices such as Netgear and D-Link routers, was believed to be down following the activation of a kill switch in 2023.
However, CloudSEK has revealed that Androxgh0st has integrated Mozi’s propagation capabilities, significantly amplifying its potential for targeting IoT devices.
By deploying Mozi payloads, Androxgh0st now has a unified botnet infrastructure that leverages specialized tactics to infiltrate IoT networks. This merger allows the botnet to spread more efficiently through vulnerable devices, including routers and other connected technologies, making it a more formidable force.
Beyond its integration with Mozi, Androxgh0st has expanded its range of targeted vulnerabilities, exploiting weaknesses in critical systems. CloudSEK analysis shows that Androxgh0st is now actively attacking major technologies, including Cisco ASA, Atlassian JIRA, and various PHP frameworks.
On Cisco ASA systems, the botnet exploits cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities, injecting malicious scripts via unspecified parameters. It also targets Atlassian JIRA with a path traversal vulnerability (CVE-2021-26086), which allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive files. In PHP frameworks, Androxgh0st exploits older vulnerabilities, such as those in Laravel (CVE-2018-15133) and PHPUnit (CVE-2017-9841), facilitating backdoor access to compromised systems.
Androxgh0st’s threat landscape is not limited to older vulnerabilities. It is also capable of exploiting recently discovered vulnerabilities, such as CVE-2023-1389 in the TP-Link Archer AX21 firmware, which allows unauthenticated command execution, and CVE-2024-36401 in GeoServer, a vulnerability that can lead to execution code remote. .
The botnet now also uses credential stuffing, command injection, and brute force file inclusion techniques to compromise systems. By leveraging Mozi’s IoT-focused tactics, it has significantly expanded its geographic impact, spreading its infections across regions in Asia, Europe, and beyond.
CloudSEK recommends that organizations strengthen their security posture to mitigate potential attacks. While immediate patching is essential, proactive monitoring of network traffic is also important. By tracking suspicious outbound connections and detecting anomalous login attempts, particularly from IoT devices, organizations can detect early signs of an Androxgh0st-Mozi collaboration.
