full-disclosure - Centralized server information gathering alternatives / The Bizex worm

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From: eckman at umn.edu (Brian Eckman)
Subject: Centralized server information gathering alternatives
 / The Bizex worm

Kristian Hermansen wrote:
> Most worms today that infect machines try to report back to centralized
> servers specified by the creator (to upload/download data).  The only
> problem with this approach is that centralized servers can be shut down to
> prevent the spread of the worm and cease information gathering.  Now, what
> would happen if worms were "smarter" and instead utilized the BitTorrent
> networks?  With a small server client built into the worm payload and
> 50,000-100,000 infected machines, the author(s) (and even the worm itself)
> now has access to the data being harvested without the crutch of a single
> (or a few) predetermined access points.  Do you guys think this approach
> will be utilized in the more advanced worms of tomorrow?

Some worms have been propogating using P2P-like methods for a while now. 
Check out Sinit if you're not familiar with it.

http://www.lurhq.com/sinit.html

This model will surely be recreated and improved, sooner rather than later.

Brian
-- 
Brian Eckman
Security Analyst
OIT Security and Assurance
University of Minnesota

"There are 10 types of people in this world. Those who
understand binary and those who don't."