[ISN] Apache worm barely squirms

From: InfoSec News (isnat_private)
Date: Tue Jul 02 2002 - 02:35:34 PDT

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    http://news.com.com/2100-1001-940989.html?tag=fd_top
    
    By Robert Lemos 
    Staff Writer, CNET News.com
    July 1, 2002, 1:45 PM PT
    
    A program designed to infect vulnerable computers running the
    open-source Apache Web server application apparently hasn't made it
    very far, security experts said Monday.
    
    As first reported by CNET News.com, the Apache worm infects unpatched
    servers running the FreeBSD operating system, an open-source variant
    of Unix, and the Apache Web software. Despite initial reports that the
    worm had spread to some servers, consultants and antivirus experts
    haven't seen much activity.
    
    "It's pretty much dead," said Marc Maiffret, chief hacking officer for
    network-protection company eEye Digital Security. "We haven't seen
    anything."
    
    At least one computer appears to have been infected, however. The
    Apache worm compromised a server owned by Baltic information
    technology company Microlink Systems, Domas Matuzas, a Lithuanian
    programmer for the company, said Friday.
    
    The worm failed to do much--if any--damage over the weekend, however.
    
    "We received no in-the-wild submissions," said Carey Nachenberg, chief
    architect of the security response team for antivirus company
    Symantec. "It doesn't seem to be actively spreading."
    
    The company, which refers to the worm as FreeBSD.Scalper.Worm, rated
    the program a low Internet threat.
    
    "This specific implementation...it doesn't pose a large problem
    because of its focus," said Peter Szor, chief antivirus researcher for
    Symantec, pointing out that because the worm focuses on FreeBSD, a
    relatively minor player in the Unix world, few computers would be
    affected.
    
    However, there are indications that the flaw exploited by the worm
    appears in other platforms, which could mean the advent of more
    damaging worms.
    
    "It will become a bigger issue for sure," said Szor.
    
    
    
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