SMTP is the key: BPFDoor and AVERAT hitting the network edge


Rapid7 tracked a set of Linux samples that blend into the software and device conventions of the telecom environments they target. The set spans a newly observed BPFDoor variant, a BPF Rekoobe build seen against South Korean targets, a dropper, and six builds of a Linux implant Rapid7 researchers track as AVERAT, deployed against Taiwanese appliances. Additionally, researchers provide source code details of the Rapid7 BPFDoor controller introduced in our April 2026 blog, Stealthy BPFDoor Variants are a Needle That Looks Like Hay.

The chain uses two binaries. A dropper writes a shell script to the appliance’s storage mount and executes it. The script stages both payloads into /sbin under the names ntpdate and udevds, launches them, and deletes each file ten seconds later while the processes continue running. One of those payloads is the dropper itself, re-executing as a resident watchdog, leaving both processes running without an on-disk image.

Read more…
Source:  Rapid7 News


Sign up for the Cyber Security Review Newsletter
The latest cyber security news and insights delivered right to your inbox


Related:

  • Active Exploitation Reported for CVE-2025-11001 in 7-Zip

    November 18, 2025

    Active exploitation of CVE-2025-11001 has been observed in the wild. A security researcher has also publicly released a proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit for CVE-2025-11001. The PoC allows attackers to abuse symbolic-link handling to write files outside of the intended extraction folder, which in some scenarios, can enable arbitrary code execution. Read more… Source: NHS Digital Sign up for the Cyber ...

  • Microsoft says Azure was hit with a massive DDoS attack launched from over 500,000 IP addresses

    November 18, 2025

    Microsoft has said it successfully mitigated, “the largest DDoS attack ever observed in the cloud” after cybercriminals running the Aisuru botnet targeted a single endpoint, located in Australia. The attack was a sight to behold: more than 500,000 source IPs, across various regions, descended upon the endpoint, delivering a multi-vector Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack ...

  • Google Releases Security Update for Chrome

    November 18, 2025

    Google has released security updates for Chrome to address two high severity vulnerabilities in the V8 JavaScript engine. CVE-2025-13223 – Type Confusion in V8 – High severity – Google is aware an exploit exists in the wild. CVE-2025-13224 – Type Confusion in V8 – High severity Read more… Source: NHS Digital Sign up for the Cyber Security Review Newsletter The latest ...

  • Digital Doppelgangers: Anatomy of Evolving Impersonation Campaigns Distributing Gh0st RAT

    November 14, 2025

    Palo Alto Unit 42 researchers have identified two interconnected malware campaigns active throughout 2025, using large-scale brand impersonation to deliver Gh0st remote access Trojan (RAT) variants to Chinese-speaking users. From the first campaign to the second, the adversary advanced from simple droppers to complex, multi-stage infection chains that misuse legitimate, signed software to bypass modern defenses. ...

  • Fortinet Releases Security Advisory for Relative Path Traversal Vulnerability Affecting FortiWeb Products

    November 14, 2025

    CISA is aware of exploitation of a newly disclosed vulnerability, CVE-2025-64446, in Fortinet FortiWeb, a web application firewall. This vulnerability affects the following FortiWeb versions:1 8.0.0 through 8.0.1 7.6.0 through 7.6.4 7.4.0 through 7.4.9 7.2.0 through 7.2.11 7.0.0 through 7.0.11 CVE-2025-64446 is a relative path traversal vulnerability CWE-23: Relative Path Traversal that may allow an unauthenticated ...

  • Threat Landscape of the Building and Construction Sector Part Two: Ransomware

    November 14, 2025

    The construction sector is increasingly vulnerable to ransomware attacks in 2025 due to its complex ecosystem and distinctive operational challenges. Construction projects typically involve a web of contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and consultants, collaborating through shared digital platforms and exchanging sensitive documents such as blueprints, contracts, and timelines. While essential for project delivery, this interconnectedness creates numerous ...