Microsoft Azure VMs exploited to infect users with botnet malware

Cloud Security
(Image credit: laymanzoom / Shutterstock)

Unsurprisingly, threat actors have started actively exploiting the critical Azure vulnerabilities, not long after they were publicly disclosed and patched by Microsoft in the recent September Patch Tuesday release.

BleepingComputer reports that the first attacks were spotted last week by security researcher Germán Fernández, before being confirmed by cybersecurity vendors GreyNoise and Bad Packets.

The four privilege escalation and remote code execution vulnerabilities were discovered in the Open Management Infrastructure (OMI) software agent, which is automatically deployed inside Linux virtual machines (VM) when users enable certain Azure services.

TechRadar needs you!

We're looking at how our readers use VPNs with streaming sites like Netflix so we can improve our content and offer better advice. This survey won't take more than 60 seconds of your time, and we'd hugely appreciate if you'd share your experiences with us.

>> Click here to start the survey in a new window <<

However, in a surprising move, instead of patching all affected Azure services, Microsoft instead released an advisory stating that while it’ll update six of them, seven others must be updated by users themselves.

Capitalizing on laxity

The OMI vulnerabilities were discovered by researchers at Wiz, who estimate that they affect thousands of Azure customers, across millions of endpoints. 

"With a single packet, an attacker can become root on a remote machine by simply removing the authentication header. It’s that simple," shared Wiz researcher Nir Ohfeld, adding that one of the four vulnerabilities (tracked as CVE-2021-38647) could be exploited to target Azure.

No wonder then, GreyNoise is already tracking attackers scanning the internet for exposed Azure Linux VMs vulnerable to CVE-2021-38647 exploits.

Other security researchers, such as Kevin Beaumont have already had their vulnerable honeypots compromised with cryptominers.

In a bizarre twist, while Microsoft has patched the vulnerabilities, the company shared that it’s still in the process of rolling out the update for some of the compromisable services to its cloud customers.

“Customers must update vulnerable extensions for their Cloud and On-Premises deployments as the updates become available per schedule outlined in table below...” read Microsoft’s advisory - much to the chagrin of security researchers.

Via BleepingComputer

TOPICS
Mayank Sharma

With almost two decades of writing and reporting on Linux, Mayank Sharma would like everyone to think he’s TechRadar Pro’s expert on the topic. Of course, he’s just as interested in other computing topics, particularly cybersecurity, cloud, containers, and coding.

Read more
A person at a laptop with a cybersecure lock symbol floating above it.
Hackers are still using old Ivanti bugs to break into networks
Representational image depecting cybersecurity protection
Hackers are breaking SonicWall products to target business networks
Flag of the People&#039;s Republic of China overlaid with a technological network of wires and circuits.
One of the biggest flaws exploited by Salt Typhoon hackers has had a patch available for years
The best free firewall
Microsoft fixes Power Pages security flaw, tells users to be on their guard
Image depicting a hand on a scanner
Hackers are targeting unpatched ServiceNow instances that exploit 3 separate year-old vulnerabilities
vpn
Ivanti warns another critical security flaw is being attacked
Latest in Security
Data leak
Top home hardware firm data leak could see millions of customers affected
Representational image depecting cybersecurity protection
Third-party security issues could be the biggest threat facing your business
A stylized depiction of a padlocked WiFi symbol sitting in the centre of an interlocking vault.
Broadcom warns of worrying security flaws affecting VMware tools
Android Logo
Devious new Android malware uses a Microsoft tool to avoid being spotted
URL phishing
HaveIBeenPwned owner suffers phishing attack that stole his Mailchimp mailing list
Ransomware
Cl0p resurgence drives ransomware attacks to new highs in 2025
Latest in News
Hisense U8 series TV on wall in living room
Hisense announces 2025 mini-LED TV lineup, with screen sizes up to 100 inches – and a surprising smart TV switch
Nintendo Music teaser art
Nintendo Music expands its library with songs from Kirby and the Forgotten Land and Tetris
An image of Pro-Ject&#039;s Flatten it closed and opened
Pro-Ject’s new vinyl flattener will fix any warped LPs you inadvertently buy on Record Store Day
The iPhone 16 Pro on a grey background
iPhone 17 Pro tipped to get 8K video recording – but I want these 3 video features instead
EA Sports F1 25 promotional image featuring drivers Oscar Piastri, Carlos Sainz and Oliver Bearman.
F1 25 has been officially announced, with this year's entry marking a return for Braking Point and a 'significant overhaul' for My Team mode
Garmin clippd integration
Garmin's golf watches just got a big software integration upgrade to help you improve your game