In the news release, Akamai Threat Research Team Identifies New Abuses Of OpenSSH Vulnerability, issued Oct. 12, 2016 by Akamai Technologies, Inc. over PR Newswire, we are advised by the company that the link to the report has been revised. The complete, corrected release follows:

Akamai Threat Research Team Identifies New Abuses Of OpenSSH Vulnerability

Attackers Taking Advantage of the "Internet of Unpatchable Things"

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct. 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Akamai Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM), the global leader in content delivery network (CDN) services, today published new research from the company's Threat Research team. Akamai researchers Ory Segal and Ezra Caltum have identified a recent spate of attacks whereby attackers are using Internet of Things (IoT) devices to remotely generate attack traffic by using a 12-year old vulnerability in OpenSSH, which we are calling SSHowDowN Proxy. A full report detailing the attacks is available for download here https://www.akamai.com/us/en/multimedia/documents/state-of-the-internet/sshowdown-exploitation-of-iot-devices-for-launching-mass-scale-attack-campaigns.pdf.

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Overview

It is important to note that the research and subsequent advisory do not introduce a new type of vulnerability or attack technique, but rather a continued weakness in many default configurations of Internet-connected devices. These devices are now actively being exploited in mass-scale attack campaigns against Akamai customers.

The Threat Research Team has observed SSHowDowN Proxy attacks originating from the following types of devices:


    --  CCTV, NVR, DVR devices (video surveillance)
    --  Satellite antenna equipment
    --  Networking devices (e.g. Routers, Hotspots, WiMax, Cable and ADSL
        modems, etc.)
    --  Internet connected NAS devices (Network Attached Storage)
    --  Other devices could be susceptible as well

Compromised devices are being used for:


    --  Mounting attacks against a multitude of Internet targets and
        Internet-facing services, such as HTTP, SMTP and Network Scanning
    --  Mounting attacks against internal networks that host these connected
        devices

Once malicious users access the web administration console, they have been able to compromise the device's data and, in some cases, fully take over the machine.

"We're entering a very interesting time when it comes to DDoS and other web attacks; 'The Internet of Unpatchable Things' so to speak," explained Ory Segal, senior director, Threat Research, Akamai. "New devices are being shipped from the factory not only with this vulnerability exposed, but also without any effective way to fix it. We've been hearing for years that it was theoretically possible for IoT devices to attack. That, unfortunately, has now become the reality."

Mitigation

Some recommended approaches to mitigation include:


    --  If the device offers access to alter the SSH passwords or keys, change
        those from the vendor defaults.
    --  If the device offers direct file system access:
        --  Add "AllowTcpForwarding No" into the global sshd_config file.
        --  Add "no-port-forwarding" and "no-X11-forwarding" to the
            ~/ssh/authorized_ keys file for all users.
    --  If neither option above is available, or if SSH access is not required
        for normal operation, disable SSH entirely via the device's
        administration console.

If the device is behind a firewall, consider doing one or more of the following:


    --  Disable inbound connections from outside the network to port 22 of any
        deployed IoT devices
    --  Disable outbound connections from IoT devices except to the minimal set
        of ports and IP addresses required for their operation.

Akamai continues to monitor and analyze data related to this ongoing IoT threat. To learn more, please download a complimentary copy of the research white paper at https://www.akamai.com/us/en/multimedia/documents/state-of-the-internet/sshowdown-exploitation-of-iot-devices-for-launching-mass-scale-attack-campaigns.pdf.

About Akamai
As the global leader in Content Delivery Network (CDN) services, Akamai makes the Internet fast, reliable and secure for its customers. The company's advanced web performance, mobile performance, cloud security and media delivery solutions are revolutionizing how businesses optimize consumer, enterprise and entertainment experiences for any device, anywhere. To learn how Akamai solutions and its team of Internet experts are helping businesses move faster forward, please visit www.akamai.com or blogs.akamai.com, and follow @Akamai on Twitter.



    Contacts:

    Rob Morton         --or-- Tom Barth
    Media Relations           Investor Relations
    617-444-3641              617-274-7130
    rmorton@akamai.com
                              tbarth@akamai.com

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SOURCE Akamai Technologies, Inc.