[apnic-talk] UPDATE: Re: New Active Exploit: memcached on port 11211 UDP & TCP being exploited for reflection attacks

[Barry Greene <bgreene@senki.org>]

UPDATE: As of 2018-02-28, more attack using the memcached reflection vector have been unleashed on the Internet. Operators are asked to port filter (Exploitable Port Filters), rate limits the port 11211 UDP traffic (ingress and egress), and clean up any memcached exposed to the Internet (iptables on UNIX works).  These mitigations should be on IPv4 and IPv6! There is not excuse for ISPs, Telcos, and other operators for not acting. NTT is an example of action. As stated by Job Snijders <job@ntt.net> on the NANOG List:

“NTT too has deployed rate limiters on all external facing interfaces on the GIN backbone – for UDP/11211 traffic – to dampen the negative impact of open memcached instances on peers and customers.

The toxic combination of ‘one spoofed packet can yield multiple reponse packets’ and ‘one small packet can yield a very big response’ makes the
memcached UDP protocol a fine example of double trouble with potential for severe operational impact.”

This post has been updated with recommendations. Check with your network vendors for deployment/configuration details.

http://www.senki.org/memcached-on-port-11211-udp-tcp-being-exploited/

On Feb 27, 2018, at 3:20 PM, Barry Greene <bgreene@senki.org> wrote:

Hello Fellow APNIC Colleagues,

We (various Operator Security Community) are working to head off another reflection DOS vector.

All Operators and Enterprise Networks – memcached on port 11211 UDP & TCP being exploited. This is now new. We know how reflection attacks work (send a spoofed packet to a device and have it reflected back (see illustration).

Operators are asked to review their networks and consider updating their Exploitable Port Filters (Infrastructure ACLs) to track or block UDP/TCP port 11211 for all ingress and egress traffic. This white paper provides details on Exploitable Port Filters: http://www.senki.org/operators-security-toolkit/filtering-exploitable-ports-and-minimizing-risk-to-and-from-your-customers/

Enterprises are also asked to update their iACLs, Exploitable Port Filters, and Firewalls to track or block UDP/TCP port 11211 for all ingress and egress traffic.

Deploying these filters will help protect your network, your organization, your customers, and the Internet.

Ping me 1:1 if you have questions.

Sincerely,

--
Barry Raveendran Greene
Security Geek helping with OPSEC Trust
Mobile: +1 408 218 4669
E-mail: bgreene@senki.org

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Resources on memcached Exploit (to evaluate your risk):

More information about this attack vector can be found at the following:

• JPCERT – memcached のアクセス制御に関する注意喚起 (JPCERT-AT-2018-0009)
http://www.jpcert.or.jp/at/2018/at180009.html
• Qrator Labs: The memcached amplification attacks reaching 500 Gbps
https://medium.com/@qratorlabs/the-memcached-amplification-attack-reaching-500-gbps-b439a7b83c98
• Arbor Networks: memcached Reflection/Amplification Description and DDoS Attack Mitigation Recommendations
https://www.arbornetworks.com/blog/asert/memcached-reflection-amplification-description-ddos-attack-mitigation-recommendations/
• Cloudflare: Memcrashed – Major amplification attacks from UDP port 11211
https://blog.cloudflare.com/memcrashed-major-amplification-attacks-from-port-11211/
• Link11: New High-Volume Vector: Memcached Reflection Amplification Attacks
https://www.link11.com/en/blog/new-high-volume-vector-memcached-reflection-amplification-attacks/
• Blackhat Talk: The New Page of Injections Book: Memcached Injections by Ivan Novikov
https://www.blackhat.com/docs/us-14/materials/us-14-Novikov-The-New-Page-Of-Injections-Book-Memcached-Injections-WP.pdf
• Memcache Exploit
http://niiconsulting.com/checkmate/2013/05/memcache-exploit/

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