Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Cybersecurity
    • Cybersecurity

    Code Red II Variant on the Prowl

    Written by

    Dennis Fisher
    Published March 11, 2003
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.

      Security experts are watching a new variant of the Code Red II worm that began appearing on some monitoring networks Tuesday. The worm is nearly identical to its ancestor, save for a modified drop-dead date that is now several thousand years in the future.

      Known as Code Red.F, the worm uses the same infection method as the previous versions, attacking Web servers running Microsoft Corp.s IIS software. The worm so far has infected only a few machines, and because most administrators patched their servers after the initial Code Red outbreak in 2001, it is unlikely to spread extensively, experts say.

      All of the Code Red worms exploit an unchecked buffer in the Index Server in the IIS software. They then spread by infecting one machine and then scanning a list of random IP addresses and attempting to connect to port 80. The original Code Red, which struck in July 2001, infected several hundred thousand IIS servers and caused massive traffic disruptions on some portions of the Internet.

      Roger Thompson, the technical director of malicious code research at TruSecure Corp., in Herndon, Va., first began seeing new worm activity Tuesday morning. His WormCatcher network of distributed hosts monitoring activity on ports that worms commonly use started catching packets that were 3,818 bytes long coming in on port 80.

      “After looking at it, it was quite obviously a Code Red II variant,” he said. “Its not going to be as bad as the previous version, but it will stay with us.”

      Thompson said he had seen 20 unique infections as of Tuesday afternoon.

      Like the first Code Red, this version of the worm code contains a date on which it is set to stop attempting to propagate itself. Code Red II died in October 2001, but Code Red.F wont exhaust itself for about 30,000 years, Thompson said.

      The change in the drop-dead date and the fact that the buffer overflow is caused with a multitude of Xs instead of Ns are the only differences between Code Red II and its offspring.

      Most Recent Security Stories:

      Search for more stories by Dennis Fisher.
      Find white papers on security.
      For more security news, check out Ziff Davis Medias Security Supersite.

      Dennis Fisher
      Dennis Fisher

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Artificial Intelligence

      9 Best AI 3D Generators You Need...

      Sam Rinko - June 25, 2024 0
      AI 3D Generators are powerful tools for many different industries. Discover the best AI 3D Generators, and learn which is best for your specific use case.
      Read more
      Cloud

      RingCentral Expands Its Collaboration Platform

      Zeus Kerravala - November 22, 2023 0
      RingCentral adds AI-enabled contact center and hybrid event products to its suite of collaboration services.
      Read more
      Artificial Intelligence

      8 Best AI Data Analytics Software &...

      Aminu Abdullahi - January 18, 2024 0
      Learn the top AI data analytics software to use. Compare AI data analytics solutions & features to make the best choice for your business.
      Read more
      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Video

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2024 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×