Malicious Go Module Poses as SSH Brute-Force Tool, Steals Credentials via Telegram Bot

Cybersecurity researchers have discovered a malicious Go module that presents itself as a brute-force tool for SSH but actually contains functionality to discreetly exfiltrate credentials to its creator.

"On the first successful login, the package sends the target IP address, username, and password to a hard-coded Telegram bot controlled by the threat actor," Socket researcher Kirill Boychenko said .

The deceptive package, named "golang-random-ip-ssh-bruteforce," has been linked to a GitHub account called IllDieAnyway (G3TT), which is currently no longer accessible. However, it continues to be available on pkg.go[.]dev. It was published on June 24, 2022.

The software supply chain security company said the Go module works by scanning random IPv4 addresses for exposed SSH services o