12,194guides5,442members
8 Octporterneuman.mx: PowerShell and JavaScript files tied to the AveMaria remote access trojan, and what to do8 Octdonutclientsmods.xyz: fake DonutSMP Minecraft mods tagged SilentNet, and what to do if you ran one8 Octsqpengg.com: a server handing out crypted PowerShell scripts, and what to do if one ran on your PC8 Octdonutsmpcheats.org: fake Minecraft cheat mods with the SilentNet stealer, and what to do if you installed one8 Octmaciejbi.hosting24.pl: a hosting subdomain that served Remcos scripts and a stego picture, and what to do if your PC fetched them8 Oct87130921-60-20220830152356.webstarterz.com: an open folder serving Formbook and XWorm PowerShell scripts, and what to do if one ran8 Octficus.in: picture files hiding the Remcos remote access trojan, and what to do if a script fetched them8 OctOpenDrive virus: why web.opendrive.com shows up in malware alerts, and what to do if a file from it installed Remcos

Actively exploited vulnerability

Apache: server-side request forgery flaw under attack

CVE-2021-40438 · Apache HTTP Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF)

Business software9.0 criticalUsed in ransomware attacks

What is affected

Apache is mostly run by companies, schools and public bodies, not on home computers. You are unlikely to have it yourself, but organisations that hold your data may. Breaches that start with flaws like this one are how personal data ends up leaked.

A crafted request uri-path can cause mod_proxy to forward the request to an origin server choosen by the remote user. This issue affects Apache HTTP Server 2.4.48 and earlier.

CISA's description

What an attacker can do

This is a server-side request forgery flaw. It lets an attacker make the server send requests on their behalf and reach internal systems that are not exposed to the internet.

How it is reached
Over the internet or network
Access the attacker needs
No account needed
Does the victim have to do something?
No, works without the victim doing anything

CISA records this vulnerability as known to be used in ransomware campaigns: attackers use it to get in, then encrypt files and demand payment.

What to do

  1. At home: nothing to install. Keep your own devices updated and use a different password for every service, so that a breach at one organisation does not open your other accounts.
  2. If you administer Apache at work: apply the vendor's fix or mitigation now and review logs for signs of compromise, because the flaw was being exploited before it was listed.
  3. If the product is past its support date and no fix exists, take it off the internet or retire it.

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Action required by CISA for US federal agencies

How urgent is it

CISA added this vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on December 1, 2021, which means there is reliable evidence of attacks in the wild. US federal agencies must fix it by December 15, 2021, a deadline that has already passed. That deadline does not bind anyone else, but it shows how seriously the agency rates it.

The EPSS model estimates a 100% probability that this flaw will be exploited somewhere in the next 30 days. That is higher than 100.0% of all scored vulnerabilities.

Its CVSS severity score is 9.0 out of 10 (critical), as recorded in the US National Vulnerability Database.

5,442 members already hereReading, writing, commenting and voting. 0 verified · 167 joined this year
All membersJoin