Zerobot Botnet: Get to Know the Growing Online Digital Threat!

Kawya De Silva
Bug Zero
Published in
5 min readDec 30, 2022

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Image Source: blackhatethicalhacking

Introduction

Recently, there has been an alarming increase in the activity of the Zerobot botnet.

This botnet is notable for its new exploits and capabilities, which have made it a major threat to online security. Zerobot is also unique in that it is made up of a large number of different malware strains, making it difficult to track and combat.

This article will provide an overview of Zerobot and its threats, as well as advice on how to protect your computer from being infected.

What Is the Zerobot Botnet?

The Zerobot Botnet is a growing online digital threat that you need to be aware of.

It is a network of hijacked computers that can be used to carry out cyber attacks. The Zerobot Botnet has been used to launch Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, which can shut down websites by overwhelming them with traffic.

The Zerobot Botnet is also capable of stealing data and installing malware on infected computers. It is therefore essential that you protect your computer from this threat by using antivirus software and keeping your software up-to-date.

What Makes the Zerobot Botnet Dangerous?

The Zerobot Botnet is dangerous because of its expansive capabilities.

What makes Zerobot particularly dangerous is its ability to adapt and evolve. Its creators have designed it to be resistant to detection and eradication, so it is constantly changing and growing more powerful.

If you use the internet, you need to be aware of the Zerobot Botnet and take steps to protect your computer and your data.

What Are Some of the New Exploits and Capabilities of This Emerging Threat?

Zerobot has been found to have new exploits and capabilities that make it a growing online digital threat. Significant improvements to the Zerobot DDoS botnet have increased its capacity to attack more web devices and expand its network.

According to Microsoft researchers, the most recent version of Zerobot features new DDoS attack capabilities as well as the ability to exploit vulnerabilities in Apache and Apache Spark (CVE-2021–42013 and CVE-2022–33891, respectively).

The most recent version of Zerobot discovered by Microsoft not only targets unpatched and inadequately secured devices but also tries to propagate to other sites by brute-forcing across SSH and Telnet on ports 23 and 2323.

Image Source: thehackernews
Image Source: thehackernews

The above shows a list of recently added known vulnerabilities that Zerobot exploited. You may find detailed information in the references section below.

Utilizing protocols like UDP, ICMP, and TCP, Zerobot also adds 7 new DDoS attack techniques, demonstrating constant growth and quick addition of new capabilities.

Moreover, it has been found to be using new exploits and capabilities to spread its malware. Its malware can now infect systems through malicious code in websites, emails, and social media platforms.

As a result, Zerobot has emerged as a serious threat and must be taken seriously by businesses and individuals alike.

How to Protect Against Zerobot Botnet?

In order to protect yourself against the Zerobot Botnet, it is important to take certain steps. Firstly, ensure that all of your systems and software are up to date with the latest security patches. Secondly, you should use a reputable antivirus and antimalware solution on all of your devices. Thirdly, you should practice safe browsing by avoiding dubious websites and links sent by email or social media. Finally, it is essential to be vigilant when entering personal information online and to avoid clicking on suspicious links or attachments. By taking these precautions, you can help protect yourself from the Zerobot Botnet and give yourself peace of mind.

How Can Security Teams Detect and Respond to Zerobot Botnet Exploits?

As the capabilities of the Zerobot Botnet grow, security teams need to be vigilant in order to detect and respond to any new exploits. While many antivirus solutions can detect the initial entry of Zerobot into an enterprise network, they may not be able to catch all of its components. Comprehensive enterprise network monitoring and/or endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions are needed to protect against Zerobot’s evolving capabilities.

In order to properly respond to a zerobot attack, security teams must have a good understanding of how the botnet works. Ideally, they should possess knowledge of the underlying protocols, network architectures, and general security best practices used by attackers on the network. Having an understanding of these topics will help teams identify any malicious activity quickly and accurately. Additionally, security teams should keep up-to-date with known exploits that are circulating on social media or through email spam campaigns in order to identify any potential indicators of compromise (IoC).

Conclusion

The Zerobot botnet is a fast-growing and increasingly sophisticated threat to online security that is capable of carrying out a wide range of attacks. It has recently been observed exploiting new vulnerabilities and deploying new capabilities, and poses a serious risk to businesses and consumers alike. In order to protect themselves against Zerobot and other digital threats, users should ensure their systems are up-to-date and properly protected, and should also be vigilant about any suspicious activity.

References:

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