A cybersecurity threat has emerged in the form of a stresser/booter service utilizing a Mirai-based botnet called Condi. The threat actor behind this has advertised the Condi botnet through a Telegram channel and is monetizing the service by offering distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, along with selling the source code for the botnet. Security researchers from Fortinet have reported that recent versions of the Condi botnet source code are now targeting TP-Link Archer AX21 routers with unpatched firmware, specifically exploiting the CVE-2023-1389 vulnerability.
This bug allows an unauthenticated attacker to inject commands, potentially leading to the compromise of the router. The TP-Link vulnerability, initially identified during the Pwn2Own competition in Toronto, had been addressed by the vendor with a firmware update in March. However, the Condi operator is now exploiting routers that remain vulnerable to this flaw.
The Condi botnet has been observed to not only attempt to deactivate rival botnet code but also aims to eliminate older versions of Condi running on infected devices. Fortinet’s analysis reveals serious errors in the latest Condi version that may disrupt the infected device’s functionality. Mirai-based botnets, like Condi, continue to pose significant threats to routers and IoT devices. Mirai, originating in 2016, has evolved over time as various attackers adapted and utilized its source code. In this case, Condi’s focus on a single vulnerability, CVE-2023-1389, is somewhat unusual, but it indicates a targeted approach by the threat actor, potentially due to the widespread prevalence of this particular flaw. Fortinet has provided information on URLs and command-and-control server addresses associated with this Condi sample to help defend against potential attacks.
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