ClingSTUN Malware Turns Unpatched IoT Devices Into Proxy Nodes
ClingSTUN exploits unpatched IoT flaws and uses public STUN servers to run proxy nodes.
Unauthenticated root command injection in EnGenius EnShare
EnGenius EnShare Cloud Service 1.4.11 and earlier has an OS command injection flaw (CWE-78) in the usbinteract.cgi script. The path parameter is not properly sanitized, so an unauthenticated remote attacker can inject shell commands that execute as root and fully compromise the device. Affected products are EnGenius ESR300, ESR350, ESR600, ESR900, ESR1200, ESR1750, and EPG5000 firmware that include that EnShare version. Public exploit references exist, and the Shadowserver Foundation reported exploitation evidence on 2024-12-05 UTC. Related reporting describes malware such as ClingSTUN turning unpatched IoT devices into persistent proxy nodes, so internet-exposed units should be treated as potentially compromised.
What to do: Install the latest EnGenius firmware for each affected model if it replaces EnShare Cloud Service 1.4.11 or earlier; retire or isolate devices that no longer receive updates. Until patched, block internet access to the web interface and usbinteract.cgi and allow management only from a trusted network. Because exploitation has been observed and commands run as root, check devices for unexpected processes, proxy or backdoor activity, and unauthorized configuration changes.
| Product | Affected |
|---|---|
| EnGenius ESR300 firmware | Firmware incorporating EnShare Cloud Service 1.4.11 and earlier |
| EnGenius ESR350 firmware | Firmware incorporating EnShare Cloud Service 1.4.11 and earlier |
| EnGenius ESR600 firmware | Firmware incorporating EnShare Cloud Service 1.4.11 and earlier |
| EnGenius ESR900 firmware | Firmware incorporating EnShare Cloud Service 1.4.11 and earlier |
| EnGenius ESR1200 firmware | Firmware incorporating EnShare Cloud Service 1.4.11 and earlier |
| EnGenius ESR1750 firmware | Firmware incorporating EnShare Cloud Service 1.4.11 and earlier |
| EnGenius EPG5000 firmware | Firmware incorporating EnShare Cloud Service 1.4.11 and earlier |
Order-of-magnitude estimate by the model from install counts, market share and public scan data it knows; verify before quoting.
An OS command injection vulnerability exists in EnGenius EnShare Cloud Service version 1.4.11 and earlier. The usbinteract.cgi script fails to properly sanitize user input passed to the path parameter, allowing unauthenticated remote attackers to inject arbitrary shell commands. The injected commands are executed with root privileges, leading to full system compromise. Exploitation evidence was observed by the Shadowserver Foundation on 2024-12-05 UTC.
ClingSTUN exploits unpatched IoT flaws and uses public STUN servers to run proxy nodes.
ClingSTUN exploits unpatched IoT devices and turns them into persistent proxy nodes using public STUN.
Fortinet documents ClingSTUN, a Linux IoT backdoor exploiting multiple vendor flaws to build persistent proxy nodes with STUN-based control.
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