[K12OSN] Random system crashes: Linux gurus, what would you do?

Mike Ely mely at rogueriver.k12.or.us
Wed Dec 21 05:27:19 UTC 2005


> If you think your computer may have been broken into, it is best to do
> a fresh re-install. If a root kit was installed, it would hide the signs
> of damage and could very well cause stability problems.
> 
>> I have also been having what I call dictionary attacks almost every 
>> night, repeated login attempts via various ports and user names via 
>> ssh, all from the same IP.  But the only validated logins via ssh can 
>> all be accounted for as coming from me or a trusted user.
> 
> If you keep getting attacked from a specific IP address, it would be a good
> idea to firewall off that IP.
> 
> -Eric
> 

First off, I agree that there's a good chance that box is still rooted. 
  Just as in the case of a persistent spyware infestation on a windows 
machine, your only real hope of being sure that machine's clean is to do 
a wipe-and-reinstall.

With regard to the SSH brute-force attacks you're suffering, 
unfortunately, that's become increasingly common of late.  One tool I 
use and heartily recommend is fail2ban, available at 
fail2ban.sourceforge.net

The gist of how fail2ban works is that if a given IP address fails ssh 
logins enough times within a given time period, it adds a DROP rule to 
iptables for that address for a while.  You can easily configure how 
many failed logins leads to a blacklisting, and also how long the 
blacklisting lasts.

It's a lot of fun to read /var/log/fail2ban.log too =]

Cheers,
Mike

PS: Sample output from my current fail2ban log.  Enjoy:

2005-12-20 19:36:43,962 INFO: SSH: 201.140.13.99 has 6 login failure(s)
. Banned.
2005-12-20 19:36:44,182 WARNING: SSH: Ban 201.140.13.99
2005-12-20 19:37:52,374 INFO: SSH: 201.140.13.99 has 60 login failure(s
). Banned.
2005-12-20 19:38:48,741 ERROR: SSH: 201.140.13.99 already in ban list
2005-12-20 19:46:44,974 WARNING: SSH: Unban 201.140.13.99
2005-12-20 20:50:59,880 INFO: SSH: 62.148.87.146 has 5 login failure(s)
. Banned.
2005-12-20 20:50:59,882 WARNING: SSH: Ban 62.148.87.146
2005-12-20 20:51:56,685 INFO: SSH: 62.148.87.146 has 12 login failure(s
). Banned.
2005-12-20 20:52:47,621 ERROR: SSH: 62.148.87.146 already in ban list
2005-12-20 21:01:00,117 WARNING: SSH: Unban 62.148.87.146




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