Redtail Payload Analysis [Guest Diary], (Wed, Sep 9th)
SANS guest analyst detonated a RedTail Linux sample from a DShield honeypot, finding process masquerading as php-fpm, monitoring-kill behavior, and a TCP listener.
A DShield honeypot captured multi-architecture RedTail Linux executables (ARM, ARM64, i686, RISC-V, x86-64) deployed via shell scripts. Dynamic analysis of the UPX-packed, statically linked x86-64 sample (SHA-256 63be5f38...d35e) in an isolated Ubuntu 24.04 VM on Proxmox showed it renamed its process via prctl(PR_SET_NAME), killed a filesystem-monitoring process, and opened a TCP listening socket while surviving processes posed as php-fpm or PostgreSQL-like workers. Differential memory images pre- and post-execution were captured from the hypervisor for forensics.
US Customs supervisor busted for stealing hardware from Homeland Security PCs
FBI arrested CBP supervisor Terry Liu for swapping CPUs, RAM and drives in 46 DHS computers and trading stolen parts via Newegg.
The FBI arrested and charged CBP supervisor Terry "Jiajia" Liu of Calais, Maine, with theft of government property after hidden cameras captured hardware swaps on midnight shifts. Investigators found 39 processors replaced, six memory modules swapped, and eight hard drives changed across 46 DHS computers at three Maine border facilities, with original Intel 14th-gen Raptor Lake Refresh chips downgraded to older, sometimes Pentium-class parts. Liu traded in the stolen Core i7 chips 16 times via Newegg's trade-in program over 14 months for roughly $200-210 each. Restoring the stolen hardware is estimated at $20,460, with full replacement around $105,800.
Dell security advisory (AV26-863)
Dell issued firmware and AppSync security updates for PowerEdge Intel-processor servers (DSA-2026-356, DSA-2026-165); Cyber Centre urges administrators to apply them.
Dell advisories DSA-2026-356 and DSA-2026-165 cover vulnerabilities in Dell PowerEdge server firmware for Intel processors across multiple versions and models, and in Dell AppSync versions up to and including 4.6.0.4 and 4.6.1.0. Canada's Cyber Centre republished the notice (AV26-863) urging users and administrators to review the provided links and apply necessary updates. No exploitation or severity details were included in the bulletin.