• Home
  • Cyber Crime
  • Cyber warfare
  • APT
  • Data Breach
  • Deep Web
  • Digital ID
  • Hacking
  • Hacktivism
  • Intelligence
  • Internet of Things
  • Laws and regulations
  • Malware
  • Mobile
  • Reports
  • Security
  • Social Networks
  • Terrorism
  • ICS-SCADA
  • POLICIES
  • Contact me
MUST READ

Cisco confirms active exploitation of ISE and ISE-PIC flaws

 | 

SharePoint under fire: new ToolShell attacks target enterprises

 | 

CrushFTP zero-day actively exploited at least since July 18

 | 

Hardcoded credentials found in HPE Aruba Instant On Wi-Fi devices

 | 

MuddyWater deploys new DCHSpy variants amid Iran-Israel conflict

 | 

U.S. CISA urges to immediately patch Microsoft SharePoint flaw adding it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

 | 

Microsoft issues emergency patches for SharePoint zero-days exploited in "ToolShell" attacks

 | 

SharePoint zero-day CVE-2025-53770 actively exploited in the wild

 | 

Singapore warns China-linked group UNC3886 targets its critical infrastructure

 | 

U.S. CISA adds Fortinet FortiWeb flaw to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

 | 

SECURITY AFFAIRS MALWARE NEWSLETTER ROUND 54

 | 

Security Affairs newsletter Round 533 by Pierluigi Paganini – INTERNATIONAL EDITION

 | 

Radiology Associates of Richmond data breach impacts 1.4 million people

 | 

Fortinet FortiWeb flaw CVE-2025-25257 exploited hours after PoC release

 | 

Authorities released free decryptor for Phobos and 8base ransomware

 | 

Anne Arundel Dermatology data breach impacts 1.9 million people

 | 

LameHug: first AI-Powered malware linked to Russia’s APT28

 | 

5 Features Every AI-Powered SOC Platform Needs in 2025

 | 

Broadcom patches critical VMware flaws exploited at Pwn2Own Berlin 2025

 | 

Stormous Ransomware gang targets North Country HealthCare, claims 600K patient data stolen

 | 
  • Home
  • Cyber Crime
  • Cyber warfare
  • APT
  • Data Breach
  • Deep Web
  • Digital ID
  • Hacking
  • Hacktivism
  • Intelligence
  • Internet of Things
  • Laws and regulations
  • Malware
  • Mobile
  • Reports
  • Security
  • Social Networks
  • Terrorism
  • ICS-SCADA
  • POLICIES
  • Contact me
  • Home
  • Breaking News
  • Cyber Crime
  • Hacking
  • Malware
  • Threat actors exploit Apache ActiveMQ flaw to deliver the Godzilla Web Shell

Threat actors exploit Apache ActiveMQ flaw to deliver the Godzilla Web Shell

Pierluigi Paganini January 22, 2024

Researchers warn of a spike in attacks exploiting a now-patched flaw in Apache ActiveMQ to deliver the Godzilla web shell.

Trustwave researchers observed a surge in attacks exploiting a now-patched flaw in Apache ActiveMQ, in many cases aimed at delivering a malicious code that borrows the code from the open-source web shell Godzilla.

Threat actors conceal the web shell within an unknown binary format evading security and signature-based scanners. Once deployed, the ActiveMQ’s JSP engine compiles and executes the web shell.

In November 2023, researchers at Rapid7 reported the suspected exploitation of the recently disclosed critical vulnerability CVE-2023-46604 in the Apache ActiveMQ.

Apache ActiveMQ is an open-source message broker software that serves as a message-oriented middleware (MOM) platform. It is developed by the Apache Software Foundation and written in Java. ActiveMQ provides messaging and communication capabilities to various applications, making it easier for them to exchange data and communicate asynchronously.

Rapid7 identified exploitation attempts of the CVE-2023-46604 flaw to deploy HelloKitty ransomware in two different customer environments.

CVE-2023-46604 (CVSS score: 10.0) is a remote code execution vulnerability that impacts Apache ActiveMQ. A remote attacker with network access to a broker can exploit this flaw to run “arbitrary shell commands by manipulating serialized class types in the OpenWire protocol to cause the broker to instantiate any class on the classpath.”

Apache addressed the flaw with the release of new versions of ActiveMQ on October 25, 2023. The researchers pointed out that the proof-of-concept exploit code and vulnerability details are both publicly available.

The vulnerability affects the following versions –

  • ActiveMQ 5.18.0 before 5.18.3
  • ActiveMQ 5.17.0 before 5.17.6
  • ActiveMQ 5.16.0 before 5.16.7
  • ActiveMQ before 5.15.16
  • ActiveMQ Legacy OpenWire Module 5.18.0 before 5.18.3
  • ActiveMQ Legacy OpenWire Module 5.17.0 before 5.17.6
  • ActiveMQ Legacy OpenWire Module 5.16.0 before 5.16.7
  • ActiveMQ Legacy OpenWire Module 5.8.0 before 5.15.16

In the attacks observed by Trustwave SpiderLabs, the malicious file was planted in the “admin” folder within the ActiveMQ installation directory. The folder contains the server scripts for the ActiveMQ administrative and web management console.

“Interestingly, the Jetty JSP engine which is the integrated web server in ActiveMQ, actually parsed, compiled and executed the embedded Java code that was encapsulated in the unknown binary.” reads the analysis published by Trustwave. “Further examination of the Java code generated by Jetty showed that the web shell code was converted into Java code and therefore was executed.”

Apache ActiveMQ Godzilla web shell

Once the web shell has been deployed, the threat actor can connect to it through the Godzilla management user interface and achieve complete control over the target system.

The Godzilla Web Shell supports multiple functionalities including:

  • Viewing network details
  • Conducting port scans
  • Executing Mimikatz commands
  • Running Meterpreter commands
  • Executing shell commands
  • Remotely managing SQL databases
  • Injecting shellcode into processes
  • Handling file management tasks

The report includes Indicators of Compromise (IoCs).

Follow me on Twitter: @securityaffairs and Facebook and Mastodon

Pierluigi Paganini

(SecurityAffairs – hacking, ActiveMQ) 


facebook linkedin twitter

Apache ActiveMQ Cybercrime Godzilla web shell Hacking hacking news information security news IT Information Security Pierluigi Paganini Security Affairs Security News

you might also like

Pierluigi Paganini July 22, 2025
Cisco confirms active exploitation of ISE and ISE-PIC flaws
Read more
Pierluigi Paganini July 22, 2025
SharePoint under fire: new ToolShell attacks target enterprises
Read more

leave a comment

newsletter

Subscribe to my email list and stay
up-to-date!

    recent articles

    Cisco confirms active exploitation of ISE and ISE-PIC flaws

    Hacking / July 22, 2025

    SharePoint under fire: new ToolShell attacks target enterprises

    Hacking / July 22, 2025

    CrushFTP zero-day actively exploited at least since July 18

    Hacking / July 22, 2025

    Hardcoded credentials found in HPE Aruba Instant On Wi-Fi devices

    Security / July 22, 2025

    MuddyWater deploys new DCHSpy variants amid Iran-Israel conflict

    APT / July 21, 2025

    To contact me write an email to:

    Pierluigi Paganini :
    pierluigi.paganini@securityaffairs.co

    LEARN MORE

    QUICK LINKS

    • Home
    • Cyber Crime
    • Cyber warfare
    • APT
    • Data Breach
    • Deep Web
    • Digital ID
    • Hacking
    • Hacktivism
    • Intelligence
    • Internet of Things
    • Laws and regulations
    • Malware
    • Mobile
    • Reports
    • Security
    • Social Networks
    • Terrorism
    • ICS-SCADA
    • POLICIES
    • Contact me

    Copyright@securityaffairs 2024

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
    Cookie SettingsAccept All
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities...
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT