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Introduction:
A new botnet is prowling the digital wild. Named “PumaBot,” this malware campaign doesn’t behave like your typical brute-force attack. Instead of spraying attacks across the internet, it goes for precision. Darktrace researchers recently uncovered this advanced threat targeting Linux-based IoT devices with a level of stealth and persistence rarely seen in modern botnets. Written in the Go programming language, PumaBot uses custom tools and strategies to infiltrate, spy, and stick around — and it’s more dangerous than it sounds.
PumaBot Campaign Overview:
PumaBot represents a new evolution in targeted cyberattacks against embedded Linux devices. Unlike most botnets that indiscriminately scan wide IP ranges, PumaBot employs a curated strategy. It retrieves a list of specific IPs with exposed SSH ports directly from its command-and-control (C2) server, ensuring only high-value targets are pursued.
The malware then attempts brute-force logins using credentials also provided by its C2 infrastructure. If successful, PumaBot fingerprints the device to check for signs that it’s running on specific systems such as Pumatronix surveillance cameras. This environmental check helps it avoid honeypots and research sandboxes, effectively dodging detection.
Once a victim is validated, PumaBot sends system telemetry to its C2 using JSON payloads and a custom authentication header. It buries itself in the system using deceptive paths like /lib/redis and sets up fake Linux services (redis.service or the typo mysqI.service) to persist across reboots. To ensure access, it installs its own SSH keys directly into the user’s authorized key files.
Its binary arsenal includes looping mechanisms that continuously launch mining or networking processes. Even if admins try to clean the infection, PumaBot has backup methods: it deploys malicious binaries such as ddaemon, networkxm, and even manipulates core Linux files like pam_unix.so. The altered PAM module acts as a rootkit, silently collecting user credentials from every login and sending them to remote servers.
To hide its presence, PumaBot frequently deletes log files and self-destructs its installation scripts once the system is compromised. A separate binary named “1” serves as a watchdog to monitor and forward stolen credentials automatically.
All of this points to a highly sophisticated threat actor, one that leverages automation, camouflage, and advanced persistence to maintain long-term control over infected machines. Their backend infrastructure spreads across domains like 17kp.xyz and lusyn.xyz, reinforcing the botnet’s stealth and resiliency.
Security teams are urged to scan for unusual SSH activity, unknown systemd services, unauthorized SSH keys, and strange outbound HTTP requests — especially those carrying headers like X-API-KEY: jieruidashabi.
What Undercode Say:
The PumaBot operation signals a turning point in the world of IoT-targeted malware. Unlike Mirai and its clones, which favored broad-scale exploitation, PumaBot follows a surgical approach. By focusing on known targets and blending into the system architecture, this botnet demonstrates a deeper understanding of both Linux environments and human oversight limitations.
The use of Go as its core language brings platform flexibility and cross-compilation simplicity, allowing attackers to deploy the malware on various Linux-based IoT devices without much alteration. Furthermore, Go binaries are harder to reverse engineer compared to traditional compiled languages like C, adding another layer of defense for the attackers.
The fingerprinting tactic — such as detecting the term “Pumatronix” — shows clear intent to avoid research environments. This is a clever tactic, as it prevents researchers from analyzing its payloads in sandboxed environments or automated analysis platforms.
Its persistence mechanisms, including the clever use of systemd service typos (e.g., mysqI.service instead of mysql.service), are designed to avoid suspicion by overworked or under-resourced administrators. Combined with root-level execution and backdoored SSH access, this ensures that PumaBot can survive most remediation efforts unless the system is thoroughly rebuilt.
The alteration of pam_unix.so is especially concerning. PAM is a cornerstone of Linux authentication, and tampering with this module grants attackers near-total control over login credentials across all services. PumaBot not only installs this malicious module but also cycles out logs and installation traces — behavior usually seen in advanced persistent threats (APTs) rather than conventional botnets.
Additionally, hosting its infrastructure across different domains and embedding redundancy with binaries like “1” for log monitoring showcases how PumaBot aims to automate the entire credential theft lifecycle. This turns each infected machine into a reliable credential harvesting node for future campaigns.
Given the increasing integration of IoT devices into critical infrastructure — from traffic cameras to manufacturing sensors — PumaBot could pose serious operational risks beyond simple data theft. If attackers ever decide to weaponize these devices for more than credential stealing, they could interrupt services, manipulate feeds, or launch broader DDoS campaigns using secured access.
PumaBot has essentially elevated the game by combining targeted reconnaissance, embedded persistence, and credential exfiltration in one tightly coordinated operation. It’s a wake-up call for enterprises that still consider embedded systems as secondary in their cybersecurity posture.
Fact Checker Results:
✅ Verified use of Go language for malware payload
✅ Confirmed manipulation of systemd and PAM modules
✅ Active C2 domains and hashes match Darktrace threat reports 📡🔍🛡
Prediction:
PumaBot is just the beginning. The success of this campaign is likely to inspire more tailored and persistent botnets targeting overlooked IoT systems. Future variants may expand to exploit zero-day vulnerabilities, shift toward lateral movement within corporate networks, or adopt machine learning to refine targeting. If defenders don’t act fast, we may soon face a new generation of stealthy, persistent botnets hiding in plain sight.
References:
Reported By: cyberpress.org
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