Authentication Bypass

Security Advisory

FBI Warns  End-of-Life Routers Exploited in Active Botnet and Proxy Campaigns 

Summary 

The FBI issued an alert warning of ongoing exploitation of 13 EOL Linksys/Cisco routers by cybercriminal groups operating the 5Socks and Anyproxy services.

The threat actors are using known vulnerabilities in outdated firmware to install malware, hijack routers, and leverage them as part of a botnet or proxy service used to mask malicious activities. 

The malware establishes persistent access via regular communication with a command & control (C2) server, and affected devices are being rented out to other criminals.

The FBI strongly recommends replacing EOL devices with with newer and actively supported model or at least disabling remote management features immediately. 

Technical Details 

Attack Overview 

  • Entry Point: Remote administration services exposed to the Internet. 
  • Authentication Bypass: Attackers bypass password protection to gain shell/root access. 
  • Malware Capabilities: 
  • Maintains persistent presence through C2 check-ins every 60 seconds to 5 minutes. 
  • Opens ports to act as proxy relays. 
  • Enables the sale of infected routers as “proxy-as-a-service” infrastructure. 

Confirmed Vulnerable Devices 

The FBI has identified the following end-of-life (EOL) routers from Cisco and Linksys as actively targeted in these campaigns: 

  • E1200 
  • E2500 
  • E1000 
  • E4200 
  • E1500 
  • E300 
  • E3200 
  • WRT320N 
  • E1550 
  • WRT610N 
  • E100 
  • M10 
  • WRT310N 

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs) 

Since the malware is router-based, it is difficult for an end user to know if their device is compromised due to the inability of antivirus tools to scan these devices.

Below is a list of files associated with the malware’s router exploitation campaign: 

Name Hash 
0_forumdisplay-php_sh_gn-37-sh 661880986a026eb74397c334596a2762 
1_banana.gif_to_elf_t 62204e3d5de02e40e9f2c51eb991f4e8 
2_multiquote_off.gif_to_elf_gn-p_forward- 
hw-data-to-exploit-server 		9f0f0632b8c37746e739fe61f373f795 
3_collapse_tcat_gif_sh_s3-sh 22f1f4c46ac53366582e8c023dab4771 
4_message_gif_to_elf_k cffe06b0adcc58e730e74ddf7d0b4bb8 
5_viewpost_gif_to_elf_s 084802b4b893c482c94d20b55bfea47d 
6_vk_gif_to_elf_b e9eba0b62506645ebfd64becdd4f16fc 
7_slack_gif_DATA 41e8ece38086156959804becaaee8985 
8_share_gif_DATA 1f7b16992651632750e7e04edd00a45e 
banana.gif-upx 2667a50869c816fa61d432781c731ed2 
message.gif-upx 0bc534365fa55ac055365d3c31843de7 

Recommended Mitigations: 

  • Replace Vulnerable Devices: Immediately replace EOL routers with models still supported by vendors and receiving firmware/security updates. 
  • Disable Remote Administration: Turn off any form of remote management via web, SSH, or Telnet. 
  • Reboot Compromised Devices: This can temporarily disrupt malware persistence, though not permanently remove it. 
  • Network Segmentation: Isolate critical devices from consumer routers or IoT networks. 
  • Implement Monitoring Tools: Use firewalls or network sensors that detect unusual traffic or device behavior. 

“End of life routers were breached by cyber actors using variants of TheMoon malware botnet,” reads the FBI bulletin.

“Recently, some routers at end of life, with remote administration turned on, were identified as compromised by a new variant of TheMoon malware. This malware allows cyber actors to install proxies on unsuspecting victim routers and conduct cyber crimes anonymously.”

References: 


Security Advisory

Palo Alto Firewall Vulnerabilities Under Active Exploitation 

An authentication bypass vulnerability (CVE-2025-0108) in Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS allows unauthenticated attackers with network access to bypass authentication on the management web interface.

Summary 

OEM Palo Alto 
Severity High 
Date of Announcement 2025-02-19 
CVEs CVE-2025-0108 
CVSS Score 8.8 
Exploited in Wild Yes 
Patch/Remediation Available Yes 
Advisory Version 1.0 

Overview 

‘Palo Alto Networks says threat actors used a publicly available PoC exploit in attack attempts against firewall customers with PAN-OS management interfaces exposed to the internet’.

This poses a significant risk, particularly when the interface is exposed to the internet or untrusted networks. CISA has added it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog due to active exploitation. 

Vulnerability Name CVE ID Product Affected Severity Affected Version 
 Authentication Bypass Vulnerability  CVE-2025-0108  Pan OS         High PAN-OS 10.1: 10.1.0 through 10.1.14 PAN-OS 10.2: 10.2.0 through 10.2.13 PAN-OS 11.1: 11.1.0* through 11.1.6 PAN-OS 11.2: 11.2.0 through 11.2.4 

Technical Summary 

This authentication bypass flaw enables attackers to invoke specific PHP scripts without proper authorization, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of the system. Attackers are chaining it with CVE-2024-9474 and CVE-2025-0111 to target unpatched instances. The risk is highest when the management interface is exposed directly to the internet, potentially enabling unauthorized access and manipulation of system configurations. 

Vulnerability Name Details Severity Impact 
 Authentication Bypass Vulnerability  This is an authentication bypass in PAN-OS allowing unauthenticated attackers to invoke PHP scripts on the management interface, compromising system integrity. The vulnerability is critical when exposed to the internet and can be exploited by chaining CVE-2024-9474 and CVE-2025-0111.         High Root access of the affected system, unauthorized file exfiltration. 

Recommendations 

  • Apply the security updates released on February 12, 2025, for PAN-OS versions 10.1, 10.2, 11.1, and 11.2 immediately. 

Here are the details of the required upgrades: 

Version Updated Version 
PAN-OS 11.2 Upgrade to 11.2.4-h4 or later 
PAN-OS 11.1 Upgrade to 11.1.6-h1 or later 
PAN-OS 10.2 Upgrade to 10.2.13-h3 or later 
PAN-OS 10.1 Upgrade to 10.1.14-h9 or later 

General Recommendations 

  • Restrict access to PAN-OS management interfaces to trusted IPs only. 
  • Continuously monitor for suspicious activity, including unauthorized file access and PHP script executions. 
  • Follow best practices for firewall security, including network segmentation and regular vulnerability assessments. 
  • Block IP addresses reported by GreyNoise that are actively targeting CVE-2025-0108, as well as any additional threat intelligence sources identifying malicious activity. 

Conclusion 

The active exploitation of these vulnerabilities highlights the critical need for timely patch management and robust access controls. Given the increasing attack surface and publicly available proof-of-concept exploits, organizations should prioritize remediation to prevent potential breaches. Palo Alto Networks urges customers to secure their firewalls immediately to mitigate this growing threat. 

The vulnerability is therefore of high severity on the CVSS and users were warned that while the PHP scripts that can be invoked, do not themselves enable remote code execution.

References: 

  • https://www.securityweek.com/palo-alto-networks-confirms-exploitation-of-firewall-vulnerability/ 
  • https://www.greynoise.io/blog/greynoise-observes-active-exploitation-of-pan-os-authentication-bypass-vulnerability-cve-2025-0108#GreyNoise   

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