Kobalos – A complex Linux threat to high performance computing infrastructure

ESET researchers have analyzed malware that has been targeting high performance computing (HPC) clusters, among other high-profile targets. They reverse engineered this small, yet complex, malware that is portable to many operating systems including Linux, BSD, Solaris, and possibly AIX and Windows. ESET have named this malware Kobalos for its tiny code size and many tricks; in Greek mythology, a Kobalos is a small, mischievous creature. 

Sequence diagram summarizing Kobalos network protocols

For more technical details about Kobalos, read the blogpost “Kobalos – A complex Linux threat to high performance computing infrastructure” on WeLiveSecurity.