Gucci Botnet

The Gucci Botnet is a decentralized network of Trojan-compromised PCs that launches Distributed-Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks. Current distribution patterns for the Gucci Botnet show that its attacks are targeting European entities using vectors that may include brute-forcing, abusing software vulnerabilities for vulnerable servers or phishing. Users should implement appropriate security protocols and keep anti-malware products for deleting a Gucci Botnet's Trojan and stopping possible infections.

What's Fashionable for Trojans is Bad for Servers

A newly-growing botnet is collecting the name of Gucci Italian fashion for a much less glamorous purpose: launching server-flooding attacks. The Gucci Botnet still is young but is showing strong growth in Europe, with likely intentions of expansion elsewhere. Perhaps the most impressive of its 'features' isn't a part of the Trojan infection, at all, but how promptly the threat actors reacted to being traced.

Probes from the cyber-security industry broke into a Gucci Botnet Command & Control server using automated methods of cracking the login credentials successfully. This effort revealed a cornucopia of executables for the botnet, including ones for different architectures, such as x86, ARM, MIPS and PPC. In any of these compatible environments, the Gucci Botnet Trojan boasts significant flooding or DDOSing features, such as SYN, HTTP null scan, Value Source Engine-specific, and two UDP flood types. The attacks can be narrowly-targeted or broad and will crash unprotected Web servers with the simulated traffic – for facilitating further criminal operations or cyber-vandalism.

Malware researchers also point out that the removal of debugging details makes the Gucci Botnet's files much smaller than usual. The Trojan's code also includes additional obfuscation. Both of these defenses could thwart the threat databases and heuristics of some AV vendors.

Responding Just as Quickly to Fast Criminals

The adaptability of the Gucci Botnet lies in more than its code; the responsible operators also are showing a level of quick, reactive thinking. The security researchers analyzing the C&C domain noted that the threat actor responded almost immediately by wiping the responsible TCP service running via port 5555, and removing other 'evidence' from the PC. Because it's still in primary stage of its 'business' operations, the Gucci Botnet is even more likely than usual of also receiving additional updates that might compensate for the leaks from that probe.

Users should be proactive about protecting themselves from botnet Trojan infections similarly, which can use infection methods, including:

• Phishing e-mails and messages may provide links or attachments to fake invoices, printer alerts, resumes or news articles. The unsafe content in these attacks often uses outdated software vulnerabilities or macros.
• Servers with misconfigurations, such as by running with out-of-date software or default credentials, or not turning off RDP, are at risk of brute-force style attacks.
• More casually, some PC users can compromise their machines through unsafe browsing habits, like downloading illicit torrents or running JavaScript through their browser indiscriminately.

Any network-monitoring apparatus may provide some assistance with identifying activity related to a Gucci Botnet infection. Always have dedicated anti-malware products remove a Gucci Botnet Trojan from your computer, with the understanding that other threats also could be present.

The Gucci Botnet, both its human admins and the Trojan, itself, represents a fast-acting and flexible entity on the cyber-threat landscape. It also is growing – but, hopefully, not too fast, presuming that most businesses in Europe are maintaining proper network practices.