Automated Hacking Tool Autosploit Cause Concerns Over Mass Exploitation

The Autosploit hacking tool was developed aiming to automate the compromising of remote hosts both by collecting automatically targets as well as by using Shodan.io API.

Users can define its platform search queries like Apache, IIS and so forth to gather targets to be attacked. After gathering the targets, the tool uses Metasploit modules of its exploit component to compromise the hosts.

The Metasploit modules to be used will depend on the comparison of the name of the module and the query search. The developer also added a type of attack where all modules can be used at once. As the author noticed, Metasploit modules were added with the intent of enabling Remote Code Execution as well as gaining Reverse TCP Shell or Meterpreter Sessions.

There are different opinions about the release of the tool by experts. As noticed by Bob Noel, Director of Strategic Relationships and Marketing at Plixer:

“AutoSploit doesn’t introduce anything new in terms of malicious code or attack vectors. What it does present is an opportunity for those who are less technically adept to use this tool to cause substantial damage. Once initiated by a person, the script automates and couples the process of finding vulnerable devices and attacking them. The compromised devices can be used to hack Internet entities, mine cryptocurrencies, or be recruited into a botnet for DDoS attacks. The release of tools like these exponentially expands the threat landscape by allowing a wider group of hackers to launch global attacks at will”.

On the other hand, Chris Roberts, chief security architect at Acalvio states:

” The kids are not more dangerous. They already were dangerous. We’ve simply given them a newer, simpler, shinier way to exploit everything that’s broken. Maybe we should fix the ROOT problem”.

The recent revelation that adult sex toys can be accessed remotely by hackers using Shodan is a scenario where the tool can represent a great and grave danger.

The risks and dangers looming around always existed. The release of the tool is not a new attack vector itself according to Gavin Millard, Technical Director at Tenable:

“Most organizations should have a process in place for measuring their cyber risk and identifying issues that could be easily leveraged by automated tools. For those that don’t, this would be an ideal time to understand where those exposures are and address them before a curious kid pops a web server and causes havoc with a couple of commands”.

A recommendation is given by Jason Garbis, VP at Cyxtera: ” In order to protect themselves, organizations need to get a clear, accurate, and up-to-date picture of every service they expose to the Internet. Security teams must combine internal tools with external systems like Shodan to ensure they’re aware of all their points of exposure”.

Sources:

https://www.scmagazine.com/autosploit-marries-shodan-metasploit-puts-iot-devices-at-risk/article/740912/
https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/xw4emj/autosploit-automated-hacking-tool
https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2018/02/threat-or-menace-autosploit-tool-sparks-fears-of-empowered-script-kiddies/
https://www.wired.com/story/autosploit-tool-makes-unskilled-hacking-easier-than-ever/
https://n0where.net/automated-mass-exploiter-autosploit
http://www.informationsecuritybuzz.com/expert-comments/autosploit/
https://securityledger.com/2018/02/episode-82-skinny-autosploit-iot-hacking-tool-get-ready-gdpr
https://www.kitploit.com/2018/02/autosploit-automated-mass-exploiter.html
https://www.darkreading.com/threat-intelligence/autosploit-mass-exploitation-just-got-a-lot-easier-/a/d-id/1330982
http://www.securityweek.com/autosploit-automated-hacking-tool-set-wreak-havoc-or-tempest-teapot

About the author Luis Nakamoto

Luis Nakamoto is a Computer Science student of Cryptology and an enthusiastic of information security having participated in groups like Comissão Especial de Direito Digital e Compliance (OAB/SP) and CCBS (Consciência Cibernética Brasil) as a researcher in new technologies related to ethical hacking, forensics and reverse engineering. Also, a prolific and compulsive writer participating as a Redactor to Portal Tic from Sebrae Nacional.

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Pierluigi Paganini

(Security Affairs – Metasploit, hacking)

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