“BotenaGo” new Golang malware is in the wild and focusses on attacking IoT devices. The threat actors have loaded the botnet with more than 30 exploits.
BotenaGo Malware Actively Targeting IoT Devices
AT&T recently shared details about a newly-identified powerful botnet “BotenaGo”. According to its post, BotenaGo is a Golang-based malware that typically aims at IoT devices.
Currently, BotenaGo has a low detection rate. Therefore, users must stay vigilant to prevent its attack.
Nonetheless, some anti-malware programs still detect it, flagging it as “Mirai”. AT&T Alien Labs explained that the two are different, despite the apparent similarities.
Specifically, the researchers found the new malware exhibiting different functionalities from Mirai. Also, it only targets vulnerable devices, unlike Mirai. Likewise, Mirai uses the “XOR table” to hold and decrypt data, which BotenaGo doesn’t.
What makes BotenaGo an even worse problem is that it has over 30 exploits to deploy malware. Thus, it has a huge target list that includes IoT devices and WiFi routers from popular brands. These include NETGEAR, TOTOLINK Realtek SDK-based routers, Tenda, D-Link, Zyxel, and more.
It presently remains unclear how BotenaGo operates since the researchers observed it did not call back to a C&C server. The researchers have shared three possible reasons. First, BotenaGo may be a “module of infection” from a large malware suite. As stated,
The malware is part of a “malware suite” and BotenaGo is only one module of infection in an attack. In this case, there should be another module either operating BotenaGo (by sending targets) or just updating the C&C with a new victim’s IP.
Second, it may be a new tool used by Mirai operators. Or, the malware may have accidentally been released into the wild after being leaked and is still in beta.
To prevent BotenaGo attacks, the researchers advise keeping the software up-to-date, keeping the sensitive systems secured behind a firewall, and monitoring network traffic and bandwidth usage for anomalies.
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