Rootkits for the Linux kernel 2.6
SECRET WEAPON
Today’s rootkits infiltrate a target system at kernel level, thus escaping unwanted attention from administrators. Read on for a practical look at how a kernel rootkit really works.
After an attacker compromises a target, the next step is to secure a foothold. Any seasoned attacker wants to keep sysadmins and inquisitive users from noticing the unauthorized changes. Various tools are available to help infiltrators cover their tracks. So-called rootkits hide telltale processes, network connections, and files from admins, and they guarantee the attacker access through a backdoor. Up to just a few years ago, hackers would typically manipulate installed programs to build a rootkit. A trojanized version of netstat would hide any connections established by the hacker, and a trojanized ps would obfuscate any illegal processes. Because a typical attack involved replacing a large number of utilities, special userland rootkits quickly started to appear. These kits, which include several manipulated programs, are easy for attackers to install. Most rootkits also include backdoors and popular hacker tools, such as IRC Bouncer.
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
US / Canada
UK / Australia
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
CachyOS Now Lets Users Choose Their Shell
Imagine getting the opportunity to select which shell you want during the installation of your favorite Linux distribution. That's now a thing.
-
Wayland 1.24 Released with Fixes and New Features
Wayland continues to move forward, while X11 slowly vanishes into the shadows, and the latest release includes plenty of improvements.
-
Bugs Found in sudo
Two critical flaws allow users to gain access to root privileges.
-
Fedora Continues 32-Bit Support
In a move that should come as a relief to some portions of the Linux community, Fedora will continue supporting 32-bit architecture.
-
Linux Kernel 6.17 Drops bcachefs
After a clash over some late fixes and disagreements between bcachefs's lead developer and Linus Torvalds, bachefs is out.
-
ONLYOFFICE v9 Embraces AI
Like nearly all office suites on the market (except LibreOffice), ONLYOFFICE has decided to go the AI route.
-
Two Local Privilege Escalation Flaws Discovered in Linux
Qualys researchers have discovered two local privilege escalation vulnerabilities that allow hackers to gain root privileges on major Linux distributions.
-
New TUXEDO InfinityBook Pro Powered by AMD Ryzen AI 300
The TUXEDO InfinityBook Pro 14 Gen10 offers serious power that is ready for your business, development, or entertainment needs.
-
LibreOffice Tested as Possible Office 365 Alternative
Another major organization has decided to test the possibility of migrating from Microsoft's Office 365 to LibreOffice.
-
Linux Mint 20 Reaches EOL
With Linux Mint 20 at its end of life, the time has arrived to upgrade to Linux Mint 22.