Pierluigi Paganini@securityaffairs.com
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A new botnet campaign, dubbed AyySSHush, is targeting ASUS routers, compromising over 9,000 devices globally. The attackers are exploiting a known command injection vulnerability, CVE-2023-39780, along with other authentication bypass techniques to gain unauthorized access. Models such as RT-AC3100, RT-AC3200, and RT-AX55 are among those being targeted, with attackers seeking to establish a persistent presence within the compromised routers. GreyNoise researchers, who uncovered the campaign, emphasize the stealthy tactics employed, which include disabling router logging and avoiding the installation of malware, making detection difficult.
Attackers initially gain access to ASUS routers through brute-force login attempts and the exploitation of authentication bypass flaws, including techniques that have not yet been assigned CVEs. Once inside, they leverage the CVE-2023-39780 command injection vulnerability to execute system commands and modify router settings. These commands enable SSH access on a custom port, typically TCP/53282, and insert an attacker-controlled public key for remote access. This allows the attackers to maintain a persistent backdoor into the compromised routers, even after firmware upgrades and reboots.
As a result of this sophisticated campaign, compromised ASUS routers require a factory reset to fully remove the persistent SSH backdoor. Standard firmware updates are insufficient, as the attackers abuse legitimate router configuration features stored in non-volatile memory (NVRAM). GreyNoise recommends users rotate all authentication tokens, including passwords and SSH keys, and perform a factory reset to clear the affected devices' NVRAM. Users can also use runZero's service inventory to locate potentially impacted assets by querying for SSH protocol on port 53282, or scan for the attacker’s public key using the SSHamble tool.
References :
- cyberinsider.com: A campaign targeting nearly 9,000 ASUS routers globally has given attackers persistent, undetectable access, likely to build a botnet network for future operations.
- The GreyNoise Blog: GreyNoise uncovers a stealth campaign exploiting ASUS routers, enabling persistent backdoor access via CVE-2023-39780 and unpatched techniques. Learn how attackers evade detection, how GreyNoise discovered it with AI-powered tooling, and what defenders need to know.
- Blog: ASUS routers exposed to the public Internet are being compromised, with backdoors being installed. Here's how to find impacted assets on your network.
- www.scworld.com: ASUS router backdoors affect 9K devices, persist after firmware updates
- securityonline.info: Beyond Malware: Stealthy ASUS Router Exploitation Survives Reboots, Builds Botnet
- bsky.app: Over 9,000 ASUS routers are compromised by a novel botnet dubbed "AyySSHush" that was also observed targeting SOHO routers from Cisco
- securityaffairs.com: New AyySSHush botnet compromised over 9,000 ASUS routers, adding a persistent SSH backdoor.
- securityonline.info: Beyond Malware: Stealthy ASUS Router Exploitation Survives Reboots, Builds Botnet.
- CyberInsider: 9,000 ASUS Routers Compromised in Stealthy Backdoor Campaign
- BleepingComputer: Botnet hacks 9,000+ ASUS routers to add persistent SSH backdoor
- www.techradar.com: Thousands of Asus routers hacked to create a major botnet planting damaging malware.
- The Register - Security: 8,000+ Asus routers popped in 'advanced' mystery botnet plot
- PCMag UK security: Cybercriminals Hack Asus Routers: Here's How to Check If They Got Into Yours
- eSecurity Planet: Over 9,000 Routers Hijacked: ASUS Users Caught in Ongoing Cyber Operation
- www.itpro.com: Asus routers at risk from backdoor vulnerability
- www.csoonline.com: New botnet hijacks AI-powered security tool on Asus routers
- www.esecurityplanet.com: Over 9,000 ASUS routers were hacked in a stealth cyberattack exploiting CVE-2023-39780.
- cyble.com: Researchers disclosed that attackers have exploited this vulnerability in a widespread and stealthy botnet campaign, compromising over 9,000 ASUS routers and enabling persistent, unauthorized access to the affected devices.
- hothardware.com: Heads up if you have an Asus router in your home or office, as there's a backdoor exploit doing the rounds affecting 9,000 devices and counting.
- techvro.com: GreyNoise has exposed the AyySSHush botnet infecting over 9,000 ASUS routers, urging owners to factory reset devices as firmware updates alone won’t remove the hidden backdoor.
- Techzine Global: New botnet creates permanent backdoors in ASUS routers
- securityonline.info: AyySSHush: New Stealthy Botnet Backdoors ASUS Routers, Persists Through Firmware Updates
- securityonline.info: SecurityOnline: AyySSHush: New Stealthy Botnet Backdoors ASUS Routers, Persists Through Firmware Updates
- Catalin Cimpanu: -AyySSHush botnet infects 9k ASUS routers
- Blog: In early 2025, cybersecurity researchers uncovered a stealthy campaign compromising over 9,000 ASUS routers. Dubbed "AyySSHush," this operation targets specific ASUS models, including RT-AC3100, RT-AC3200, and RT-AX55, by exploiting a known command injection vulnerability, designated CVE-2023-39780, alongside other authentication bypass techniques.
- www.zdnet.com: Cybercriminals have hacked into thousands of Asus routers. Here's how to tell if yours is compromised.
Classification:
Ashish Khaitan@The Cyber Express
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The FBI has issued a warning regarding the increasing exploitation of end-of-life (EoL) routers by cybercriminals. These outdated devices, which no longer receive security updates from manufacturers, are being targeted with malware, most notably variants of TheMoon, to establish proxy networks. This allows malicious actors to mask their online activities and conduct illicit operations with anonymity. The FBI emphasizes that routers from 2010 or earlier are particularly vulnerable due to the absence of recent software updates, making them susceptible to known exploits.
The compromised routers are then incorporated into botnets and used as proxies, sold on networks like 5Socks and Anyproxy. This enables cybercriminals to route malicious traffic through these unsuspecting devices, obscuring their real IP addresses and making it difficult to trace their criminal activities. TheMoon malware exploits open ports on vulnerable routers, bypassing the need for passwords, and then connects to a command-and-control (C2) server for instructions. This process allows the malware to spread rapidly, infecting more routers and expanding the proxy network.
To mitigate this growing threat, the FBI advises users to replace EoL routers with actively supported models and apply all available firmware and security updates. Disabling remote administration and using strong, unique passwords are also crucial steps in securing network devices. Additionally, regularly rebooting routers can help flush out temporary malware behavior. The FBI's warning underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security measures on network hardware to prevent exploitation by cybercriminals seeking to anonymize their activities.
References :
- Daily CyberSecurity: FBI Warns: End-of-Life Routers Hijacked to Power Cybercriminal Proxy Networks
- The DefendOps Diaries: Exploitation of End-of-Life Routers: A Growing Cybersecurity Threat
- BleepingComputer: FBI: End-of-life routers hacked for cybercrime proxy networks
- Davey Winder: FBI Warns Of Router Attacks — Is Yours On The List Of 13?
- www.scworld.com: Attacks surge against antiquated routers, FBI warns
- bsky.app: The FBI IC3 has published a new PSA warning companies and home consumers that threat actors are exploiting old and outdated end-of-life routers to create massive botnets and that they should probably buy a new device
- BleepingComputer: The FBI warns that threat actors are deploying malware on end-of-life (EoL) routers to convert them into proxies sold on the 5Socks and Anyproxy networks.
- cyberinsider.com: FBI Warns Hackers Are Exploiting EoL Routers in Stealthy Malware Attacks
- www.bleepingcomputer.com: The FBI warns that threat actors are deploying malware on end-of-life (EoL) routers to convert them into proxies sold on the 5Socks and Anyproxy networks.
- bsky.app: The FBI warns that threat actors are deploying malware on end-of-life (EoL) routers to convert them into proxiesÂ
sold on the 5Socks and Anyproxy networks.
- thecyberexpress.com: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has issued a warning about the TheMoon malware. The warning also stresses the dramatic uptick in cyberattacks targeting aging internet routers, especially those deemed “End of Life†(EOL).
- thecyberexpress.com: TheMoon Malware Targets Aging Routers, FBI Issues Alert
- The Hacker News: BREAKING: 7,000-Device Proxy Botnet Using IoT, EoL Systems Dismantled in U.S. - Dutch Operation
- securityonline.info: FBI Warns: End-of-Life Routers Hijacked to Power Cybercriminal Proxy Networks
- securityaffairs.com: The FBI warns that attackers are using end-of-life routers to deploy malware and turn them into proxies sold on 5Socks and Anyproxy networks.
- www.techradar.com: FBI warns outdated routers are being hacked
- thecyberexpress.com: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has issued a warning about the TheMoon malware.
- BleepingComputer: Police dismantles botnet selling hacked routers as residential proxies
- thecyberexpress.com: Law Enforcement Takes Down Botnet Made Up of Thousands of End-Of-Life Routers
- techcrunch.com: NEW: FBI and Dutch police seized and shut down a botnet made of hacked routers. U.S. authorities also indicted three Russians and a Kazakhstan national for hacking the devices, running the botnet, and selling access to it as a service.
- infosec.exchange: NEW: FBI and Dutch police seized and shut down a botnet made of hacked routers. U.S. authorities also indicted three Russians and a Kazakhstan national for hacking the devices, running the botnet, and selling access to it as a service.
- techcrunch.com: NEW: FBI and Dutch police seized and shut down a botnet made of hacked routers. U.S. authorities also indicted three Russians and a Kazakhstan national for hacking the devices, running the botnet, and selling access to it as a service.
- www.justice.gov: A joint U.S.-Dutch law enforcement operation has taken down a botnet-for-hire that was comprised of thousands of end-of-life routers. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the unsealing of an indictment charging four foreign nationals with conspiracy and other alleged computer crimes for operating the botnets.
- www.csoonline.com: The FBI is warning that cybercriminals are exploiting that are no longer being patched by manufacturers. Specifically, the “5Socks†and “Anyproxy†criminal networks are using publicly available exploits and injecting persistent malware to gain entry to obsolete routers from Linksys, and Cradlepoint.
- The Register - Security: The FBI also issued a list of end-of-life routers you need to replace Earlier this week, the FBI urged folks to bin aging routers vulnerable to hijacking, citing ongoing attacks linked to TheMoon malware. In a related move, the US Department of Justice unsealed indictments against four foreign nationals accused of running a long-running proxy-for-hire network that exploited outdated routers to funnel criminal traffic.…
- iHLS: FBI Warns: Old Routers Exploited in Cybercrime Proxy Networks
- Peter Murray: FBI and Dutch police seize and shut down botnet of hacked routers
- The DefendOps Diaries: Explore the dismantling of the Anyproxy botnet and the global efforts to secure digital infrastructure against cybercrime.
- securityaffairs.com: Operation Moonlander dismantled the botnet behind Anyproxy and 5socks cybercriminals services
- Anonymous ???????? :af:: BREAKING: $46M cybercrime empire busted. FBI & Dutch forces take down a botnet run on hacked home routers—active since 2004.
- www.itpro.com: FBI takes down botnet exploiting aging routers
- Threats | CyberScoop: US seizes Anyproxy, 5socks botnets and indicts alleged administrators
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