What makes this botnet particularly concerning is its dual-purpose design—while capable of launching various DDoS attack vectors, its primary value appears to lie in its ability to download and execute arbitrary payloads, positioning it as a potential distribution platform for more dangerous malware including ransomware or advanced persistent threat components. The hpingbot malware, first detected in June 2025, represents a significant departure from traditional botnet architectures by leveraging legitimate online services and network testing tools to orchestrate distributed denial-of-service attacks while maintaining operational stealth. The malware’s developers have demonstrated remarkable resourcefulness by exploiting the popular text-sharing platform Pastebin for payload distribution and integrating the legitimate network diagnostic tool hping3 for launching DDoS attacks. This system demonstrates remarkable operational security awareness, as attackers can modify their infrastructure rapidly while maintaining persistent access to compromised systems through the ubiquitous Pastebin platform. NSFOCUS Global analysts identified the botnet’s operations through their Fuying Lab Global Threat Hunting System, revealing that attackers have been continuously iterating and improving the malware since its initial deployment. Monitoring data indicates that since June 17, 2025, attackers have issued several hundred DDoS commands, though the botnet remains largely dormant between active campaigns, suggesting strategic operational planning rather than continuous assault patterns. The malware includes a dedicated UPDATE module that processes these Pastebin-hosted instructions, enabling attackers to push new functionality or completely replace existing components remotely. The botnet’s attack capabilities are extensive, supporting over ten different DDoS methods including ACK FLOOD, TCP FLOOD, SYN FLOOD, UDP FLOOD, and sophisticated mixed-mode attacks. Cyber Security News is a Dedicated News Platform For Cyber News, Cyber Attack News, Hacking News & Vulnerability Analysis.
This Cyber News was published on cybersecuritynews.com. Publication date: Fri, 04 Jul 2025 04:35:19 +0000