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Home > Cybersecurity > Microsoft SQL and MySQL servers are under attack by Gh0stCringe malware

Microsoft SQL and MySQL servers are under attack by Gh0stCringe malware

Hackers are aiming at the unsecured Microsoft SQL and MySQL database servers to inject a remote access trojan.


Rusen Gobel Rusen Gobel
March 17, 2022
3 min read
Microsoft SQL and MySQL servers are under attack by Gh0stCringe malware

The researchers at AhnLab have published a whitepaper regarding the ongoing attacks targeting poorly secured Microsoft SQL and MySQL database servers. By utilizing the flaws in the SQL server security, threat actors are abusing mysqld.exe, mysqld-nt.exe, and sqlservr.exe executables to deploy the mcsql.exe, the malware, to the storage.

Gh0st RAT codes are found

Gh0stCringe malware, which is also known as CirenegRAT, is based on the code of Gh0st RAT; the malware first discovered in December 2018. Part of the Gh0st RAT codes is being used in the Gh0stCringe malware, which can be seen below. Currently, threat actors distribute the malware to the SQL servers that have vulnerable account credentials.

Gh0stCringe connects to a C2 server and performs various malicious behaviors by its orders. The settings data shows that the malware can handle a couple of commands; including a very dangerous feature: keylogging:

Performing Commands

  • Downloader: Downloads additional payload from the C&C server and executes it. Can send specific arguments.
  • Connecting to a specific URL: Connects to a specific website via Internet Explorer There is an option to hide the window so that the user does not notice it.
  • Destroying MBR

Stealing Information

  • Keylogging: Regardless of whether there is settings data or not, keylogging can be performed by the C&C server’s command.
  • Stealing clipboard: Steals the saved data to the current clipboard.
  • Collecting Tencent-related file information: Collects the list of files in the path ‘%APPDATA%\Tencent\Users\’, and it is assumed that it would normally include user data related to QQ Messenger.

Self-Control

  • Update: Updates the malware
  • Uninstall: Deletes the registered service and self-deletes using a batch file. Also deletes the keylogging data Default.key file.
  • Service control: Changes the ‘Host’ or ‘ConnectGroup’ item for the malware service (‘Rsuyke mkgcgkuc’).
  • Event Cleanup
  • Registering Run Key: Registers Run Key for the path ‘C:\Program Files\Common Files\scvh0st.exe’.

System Control

  • Terminating system
  • Rebooting NIC

Additional Module Control

Downloads an additional module from the C&C server to memory and loads it to call the following export function. Judging by the export function, the first module appears to be a proxy-related module, and the second module appears to be a Plugin module with additional features.

  • Module #1: Export function OpenProxy(), CloseProxy()
  • Module #2: Export function PluginMe()

Others

  • Scanning whether a certain process is running
  • Scanning for the existence of certain Windows
  • Writing for a certain registry: ‘HKLM\SYSTEM\Clore / Clore’
  • Message pop-up

Since the hackers aim the poorly-managed SQL database servers, there is no actual security flaw in the software; that means there won’t be a security patch for software to fix those issues. Taking the necessary measures such as keeping the software up-to-date, using complicated admin passwords, setting database server behind a firewall, and constantly monitoring the events for identifying suspicious activities will do the trick.

See more Cybersecurity News


Tags: AhnLab Security Emergency
Rusen Gobel

Rusen Gobel

Rusen Gobel is a news editor at Cloud7 News. With more than 10 years of experience, Rusen worked as a hardware and software news editor for technology sites such as Shiftdelete, Teknokolis, Hardware Plus, BT Haber. In addition, Rusen publishes consumer product reviews on his YouTube channel. While consumer electronics has been his main focus for years, now Rusen is more interested in WordPress and software development. He had contributed different web application projects in his professional career. Rusen had graduated from Istanbul University, department of Computer Engineering. Rusen has a very high passion for learning and writing for every kind of technology. That's why he has been working as a tech editor for more than ten years on several different technology magazines and online news portals.

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