Gozi Trojan Resurfaces Briefly, Security Researcher Finds

The malware worm behind an identity theft service returns to exploit vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat 8.x, then disappears.

Thu, October 25, 2007CSO The Gozi Trojan, a bot that fronted a sophisticated hacking subscription service earlier last year, was found again in the wild today infecting PCs at a healthy clip through the use of PDF spam, according to SecureWorks security researcher Don Jackson.

It appeared the servers that hosted the malware started to clog their own network and pull down performance, causing the service provider hosting the servers to shut them down voluntarily, Jackson said.

In January, Jackson accidentally discovered the Gozi Trojan and the service it connected to, called 76service. He said the latest distribution of the Gozi bot is the first in-the-wild exploit of a vulnerability in Adobe Acrobat version 8.x. The Acrobat vulnerability is based on the fact that in certain PDF pages will automatically execute a "mailto:" command when the file is opened. Hackers manipulate this such that the command gets passed off to the operating system instead of an e-mail client. The command tells the machine to download a small file called a downloader, which is simply another command that in turn tells the machine to download the Gozi bot.

You can read more about this development at CIO's sister publication, CSOonline.com.

Gozi

Loading...
Security MarketSpace
8 Tactics to Combat Vulnerabilities
This white paper reviews 8 key elements of vulnerability management and provides advice on combating known vs. unknown vulnerabilities. Learn more »
Email and Web Threats Require a Layered Defense
Learn how web threats are changing and how using a layered defense strategy can give you the security you need. Learn more »
Take Fraudsters Out of the Game
Easily identify account-device relationships and get data for in-depth forensic analysis. Learn more »
Mobile Security Landscape
This paper examines the current mobile security landscape, including myths surrounding the risks and threats, and how organizations can establish a solid mobile security strategy. Learn more »
Reducing Energy Costs in Your Data Center
This white paper examines the most common roadblocks to improving data center efficiency. Learn more »
Security convergence equals network security cost savings
Security convergence equals network security cost savings Learn more »
IBM ISS X-Force Threat and Risk Report
Read this Trend and Risk report from IBM® ISS X-Force® to learn statistical information about all aspects of threats that affect Internet security, including software vulnerabilities and public exploitation, malware, spam, phishing, web-based threats, and general cyber criminal activity. Learn more »
 
SPONSORED LINKS
 

Mobile Security: The Essential Ingredient for Today's Enterprise

IDC White Paper: CCM for IT Compliance and Risk Management

Keeping Your Members Safe from Online Scams and Predators

Learn about the growing threat of insider data theft.

Cut Costs & Green Your IT Operations with PC Power Management

White Paper: 4 Customer Service Myths

White Paper: Improve Agility with Operational Responsiveness

White Paper: Legacy Tools: Not Built for the Helpdesk

Taking a Seat at the Executive Table: The Reality of Virtualization

White Paper: Next Generation Remote Infrastructure Management

Seven Design Requirements for Web 2.0 Threat Protection

Generation Remote Infrastructure Management - Changing the Paradigm

Cloud-Based Email Management: Opinion Shifts In Favor

eBook: How Can You Make Your People Productive Anywhere?

Achieving Business Agility with Application Grid

Ready to virtualize tier one applications? Check your virtualization maturity.

Seven Ways ITIL Can Help You in an Economic Downturn

Tips for successful virtualization management.

Unified Communications: Thoughts, Strategies and Predictions. Join the discussion

Read the RSA report: Security for Business Innovation

Webcast: Looking to the Cloud for Email and Collaboration Services

64-page prescriptive guide to security, compliance, and IT operations.

Keep your IT expertise up to date. Join the Intel Premier IT Professionals.

A Clear View Toward Virtualization

Virtualization Technology as a Business Solution

White Paper: Managed Security for a Not-So-Secure World

Secure Email and Web-Based Communication from Evolving Attacks

WagerWorks Takes Fraudsters Out of the Game using iovation

White Paper: A Security Blueprint Delivered From within the Network

See how AT&T can help protect your network.

Webcast: Unleashing the Power of Customer Data

White Paper: 5 Best Practices for Smartphone Support

Global Research: CIOs Weigh In On Virtualization

5 Key Virtualization Management Challenges

The Total Economic Impact of Network Security Intrusion Prevention

Join us at the US-Brazil IT-BPO Summit, on November 10th in New York.

Increase UPS efficiency without sacrificing protection.

Learn how advanced forecasting tools can deliver significant business results for global corporations.

Lower IT Costs with Oracle Database 11g Release 2

White Paper: Visibility and the New Normal of Mobile Work

Taking the Service Desk to the Next Level

Learn about The Information Technology Infrastructure Library.

Top Five CIO Challenges

Streamline IT Costs. Boost Performance with WAN Optimization.

Want to know how you can maximize employee productivity?

Build your 1st app FREE with Force.com

TDWI checklist helps define data readiness for analytics. Download report.

A new fleet of PCs with a total ROI in 10 months. Find your ROI.

eZine: A Roadmap to Reducing IT Complexity

Reduce risk, gain agility. See how Progress can help your business.

 
 
RESOURCE CENTER