Common Backdoors

A backdoor is a method to bypass normal authentication or encryption in a computer system. An application that allows remote access to computers commonly known as a backdoor. Backdoor is used for applications that allow for remote access to computers. The attacker can exploit backdoor programs to access the client’s network. These backdoor can help cyber-criminals break into the infrastructure without being discovered. If a server has been breached once, there is a chance that the criminal might have installed a backdoor so that they can easily return to the server if required. Backdoors may be secretly added to information technology by organisations or individuals to gain access to their systems and data. It can also be an open and documented feature of information technology. In either case, they can potentially represent an information security vulnerability. The best way an attacker can implement backdoor is through remote file inclusion. The attacker will attempt phishing attacks to make the remote host download a trojan that gives the attacker the access to create a backdoor.

Impact

Using this vulnerability, an attacker can:-

• execute malicious code.
• make the web application unstable.
• perform Remote Command Execution.
• exploit Advanced persistent threat (APT) assaults
• perform Data theft
• implement distributed denial of service(DDoS) attacks
• Infect website visitors (watering hole attacks)
• perform website defacing
• execute a successful server hijacking

Mitigation / Precaution

Beagle recommends the following fixes:-

• Use firewalls that can block entry points from all, except for authorised users.
• Enable Network monitoring.
• Use an anti-malware solution.
• Ensure that every device is protected by a firewall.

Written by

Manieendar Mohan

Cyber Security Lead Engineer