Strange FTP logs

[Rob klein Gunnewiek <rob.kleingunnewiek () gmail com>]

Hello,

Awhile ago I checked my logs which i do now a lot more often than
before. Anyways I found very suspicious log-entries. I use pure-ftpd
which is rather secure and I had created an account "pgo" in about
februari 2004, which was used for my school project group to store
project documents. Now, i'm not new to security at all, I use very
strong passwords so I think we can easily rule out that "pgo"'s
password had been guessed (found no signs of brute-force in the logs
aswell).

Well.. the pgo account wasn't used anymore since about a month and
then I saw that  there were logins from over 50 different IP addresses
from all over the world (logs are appended). I put alot of effort into
tracing them back, most were open proxies, some seem to be rather
secure hosts that didn't seem to be used as open proxies.

I first expected this to be just some warez group and that somehow
school computers were backdoored by someone of them, but the logs are
very strange. I kept the account open to see what they would do, but
they didn't come back.. although there was no reason they shouldn't.

I show you the log here and note the strange behavior these clients
make, removed many loglines that were less interesting as there are
304 loglines:

---
Oct  3 15:03:48 www pure-ftpd:
(?@AStrasbourg-106-1-6-77.w81-50.abo.wanadoo.fr) [INFO] pgo is now
logged in
Oct  3 15:04:10 www pure-ftpd:
(pgo () AStrasbourg-106-1-6-77 w81-50 abo wanadoo fr) [INFO] Logout.
Oct  3 15:04:13 www pure-ftpd:
(?@AStrasbourg-106-1-6-77.w81-50.abo.wanadoo.fr) [INFO] pgo is now
logged in
Oct  3 15:04:39 www pure-ftpd:
(pgo () AStrasbourg-106-1-6-77 w81-50 abo wanadoo fr) [INFO] Logout.
Oct  3 15:04:42 www pure-ftpd:
(?@AStrasbourg-106-1-6-77.w81-50.abo.wanadoo.fr) [INFO] pgo is now
logged in
Oct  3 15:04:51 www pure-ftpd:
(pgo () AStrasbourg-106-1-6-77 w81-50 abo wanadoo fr) [INFO] Logout.
Oct  3 15:05:15 www pure-ftpd:
(?@AStrasbourg-106-1-6-77.w81-50.abo.wanadoo.fr) [INFO] pgo is now
logged in
Oct  3 15:05:37 www pure-ftpd:
(pgo () AStrasbourg-106-1-6-77 w81-50 abo wanadoo fr) [INFO] Logout.
----

The above IP continues to login and logout without
uploading/downloading anything

----
Oct  3 15:23:21 www pure-ftpd: (?@wc-142.r-195-85-157.essentkabel.com)
[INFO] pgo is now logged in
Oct  3 15:23:53 www pure-ftpd:
(pgo () wc-142 r-195-85-157 essentkabel com) [NOTICE]
/home/users/pgo/public_html//2004-2005/filelist.html downloaded  (4123
bytes, 2574.54KB/sec)
Oct  3 15:26:02 www pure-ftpd:
(pgo () wc-142 r-195-85-157 essentkabel com) [NOTICE]
/home/users/pgo/public_html//cw.txt uploaded
  (211 bytes, 5.41KB/sec)
Oct  3 15:26:05 www pure-ftpd:
(pgo () wc-142 r-195-85-157 essentkabel com) [NOTICE] Deleted cw.txt
Oct  3 15:29:03 www pure-ftpd:
(pgo () wc-142 r-195-85-157 essentkabel com) [INFO] Logout.
----

I tried to recover this cw.txt, but i failed here.. made an image with
dd and tried to find anything unusual, but no.. i think it's just to
check if he could write, that could explain the name "cw.txt" (check
writable?).

----
Oct  3 15:51:41 www pure-ftpd: (?@host43-91.pool8252.interbusiness.it)
[WARNING] Authentication failed for user [pgo]
Oct  3 15:52:04 www pure-ftpd: (?@host43-91.pool8252.interbusiness.it)
[INFO] pgo is now logged in
Oct  3 15:52:17 www pure-ftpd:
(pgo () host43-91 pool8252 interbusiness it) [INFO] Logout.
----

The above tells me this is not some automated program, cause it
wouldn't fail typing the right password..

----
Oct  3 15:52:28 www pure-ftpd: (?@host43-91.pool8252.interbusiness.it)
[INFO] pgo is now logged in
Oct  3 15:52:58 www pure-ftpd:
(pgo () host43-91 pool8252 interbusiness it) [INFO] Logout.
Oct  3 15:53:09 www pure-ftpd: (?@host43-91.pool8252.interbusiness.it)
[INFO] pgo is now logged in
Oct  3 15:53:11 www pure-ftpd:
(pgo () host43-91 pool8252 interbusiness it) [INFO] Logout.
Oct  3 15:53:24 www pure-ftpd: (?@host43-91.pool8252.interbusiness.it)
[INFO] pgo is now logged in
Oct  3 15:53:27 www pure-ftpd:
(pgo () host43-91 pool8252 interbusiness it) [INFO] Logout.
Oct  3 15:53:38 www pure-ftpd: (?@host43-91.pool8252.interbusiness.it)
[INFO] pgo is now logged in
Oct  3 15:55:29 www pure-ftpd:
(pgo () host43-91 pool8252 interbusiness it) [INFO] Logout.
----

The above ip continues logging in and out...

----
Oct  3 16:23:26 www pure-ftpd: (?@a81-84-79-26.netcabo.pt) [INFO] pgo
is now logged in
Oct  3 16:24:50 www pure-ftpd: (pgo () a81-84-79-26 netcabo pt) [INFO] Logout.
Oct  3 16:44:09 www pure-ftpd: (?@a81-84-79-26.netcabo.pt) [INFO] pgo
is now logged in
Oct  3 16:44:42 www pure-ftpd: (pgo () a81-84-79-26 netcabo pt) [NOTICE]
/home/users/pgo/public_html//phpBB-2.0.10.tar.bz2 downloaded  (453378
bytes, 22.65KB/sec)
Oct  3 16:45:09 www pure-ftpd: (pgo () a81-84-79-26 netcabo pt) [INFO]
Can't change directory to .tmp: No such file or directory
Oct  3 16:45:12 www pure-ftpd: (pgo () a81-84-79-26 netcabo pt) [INFO]
Can't change directory to .tmp: No such file or directory
Oct  3 16:45:16 www pure-ftpd: (pgo () a81-84-79-26 netcabo pt) [INFO]
Can't change directory to 15:28: No such file or directoryOct  3
16:45:19 www pure-ftpd: (pgo () a81-84-79-26 netcabo pt) [INFO] Can't
change directory to 15:28: No such file or directory
Oct  3 16:46:45 www pure-ftpd: (pgo () a81-84-79-26 netcabo pt) [INFO] Logout.
----

The above i think is really strange.. could be some newbie having
trouble controlling an open proxy ofcourse... Btw.. the directories "
.tmp" and "   " were created before... nothing in there. What is also
strange is that ".tmp" you would use to hide it or something, why
create " .tmp"? Probably to make it ""hard"" to remove or something..
strange.

----
Oct  3 16:53:26 www pure-ftpd: (?@SHASTA081209.ig.com.br) [INFO] pgo
is now logged in
Oct  3 16:56:23 www pure-ftpd: (pgo () SHASTA081209 ig com br) [INFO] Logout.
Oct  3 16:56:25 www pure-ftpd: (?@SHASTA081209.ig.com.br) [INFO] pgo
is now logged in
Oct  3 16:56:26 www pure-ftpd: (pgo () SHASTA081209 ig com br) [INFO] Logout.
Oct  3 16:57:52 www pure-ftpd: (?@SHASTA081209.ig.com.br) [INFO] pgo
is now logged in
Oct  3 16:57:52 www pure-ftpd: (pgo () SHASTA081209 ig com br) [INFO] Logout.
Oct  3 17:05:36 www pure-ftpd: (?@161.139.66.1) [INFO] pgo is now logged in
Oct  3 17:22:15 www pure-ftpd: (pgo@161.139.66.1) [INFO] Logout.
Oct  3 17:42:52 www pure-ftpd: (?@pD9FAD6AD.dip.t-dialin.net) [INFO]
pgo is now logged in
Oct  3 17:45:55 www pure-ftpd: (pgo () pD9FAD6AD dip t-dialin net) [INFO] Logout.
Oct  3 17:59:19 www pure-ftpd: (?@pD9FAD6AD.dip.t-dialin.net) [INFO]
pgo is now logged in
Oct  3 17:59:28 www pure-ftpd: (pgo () pD9FAD6AD dip t-dialin net) [INFO]
Can't change directory to 15:28: No such file or directory
Oct  3 17:59:28 www pure-ftpd: (pgo () pD9FAD6AD dip t-dialin net) [INFO]
Can't change directory to 15:28: No such file or directory
Oct  3 17:59:28 www pure-ftpd: (pgo () pD9FAD6AD dip t-dialin net) [INFO]
Can't change directory to 15:28: No such file or directory
Oct  3 17:59:29 www pure-ftpd: (pgo () pD9FAD6AD dip t-dialin net) [INFO]
Can't change directory to 15:28: No such file or directory
Oct  3 17:59:29 www pure-ftpd: (pgo () pD9FAD6AD dip t-dialin net) [INFO]
Can't change directory to /15:28: No such file or directory
Oct  3 17:59:30 www pure-ftpd: (pgo () pD9FAD6AD dip t-dialin net) [INFO]
Can't change directory to /15:28: No such file or directory
Oct  3 17:59:39 www pure-ftpd: (pgo () pD9FAD6AD dip t-dialin net) [INFO] Logout.
----

Again strange behavior.. probably typo's aswell

----
Oct  3 18:09:34 www pure-ftpd: (?@83.100.132.94) [INFO] pgo is now logged in
Oct  3 18:10:08 www pure-ftpd: (pgo@83.100.132.94) [INFO] Logout.
Oct  3 18:18:41 www pure-ftpd: (?@ti400720a080-3071.bb.online.no)
[INFO] pgo is now logged in
Oct  3 18:21:02 www pure-ftpd: (pgo () ti400720a080-3071 bb online no)
[INFO] Logout.
Oct  3 18:31:11 www pure-ftpd: (?@tony04-58-98.inter.net.il) [INFO]
pgo is now logged in
Oct  3 18:31:26 www pure-ftpd: (pgo () tony04-58-98 inter net il)
[NOTICE] Deleted phpBB-2.0.10.tar.bz2
----

How rude, deleting my board package! Wasn't used anymore anyway so..
It continues...

----
Oct  3 18:31:29 www pure-ftpd: (pgo () tony04-58-98 inter net il) [INFO]
Can't change directory to .tmp: No such file or directory
Oct  3 18:31:42 www pure-ftpd: (pgo () tony04-58-98 inter net il) [INFO]
Transfer aborted
Oct  3 18:33:11 www pure-ftpd: (pgo () tony04-58-98 inter net il) [INFO]
Timeout (no new data for 900 seconds)
Oct  3 18:33:15 www pure-ftpd: (?@tony04-58-98.inter.net.il) [INFO]
pgo is now logged in
Oct  3 18:33:47 www pure-ftpd: (pgo () tony04-58-98 inter net il) [INFO] Logout.
----

----
Oct  3 18:35:09 www pure-ftpd: (?@rr3-c-31-1.lnet.lut.fi) [INFO] pgo
is now logged in
Oct  3 18:35:16 www pure-ftpd: (pgo () rr3-c-31-1 lnet lut fi) [INFO]
Can't change directory to 15:28: No such file or directory
Oct  3 18:35:31 www pure-ftpd: (?@UBR-cpe-1.nat-pool.nsad.sbb.co.yu)
[INFO] pgo is now logged in
Oct  3 18:35:44 www pure-ftpd: (pgo () UBR-cpe-1 nat-pool nsad sbb co yu)
[INFO] Can't change directory to .tmp: No such file ordirectory
Oct  3 18:35:46 www pure-ftpd: (pgo () UBR-cpe-1 nat-pool nsad sbb co yu)
[INFO] Can't change directory to 15:28   : No such file or directory
Oct  3 18:35:49 www pure-ftpd: (pgo () rr3-c-31-1 lnet lut fi) [INFO] Logout.
----

Well, I'll skip all those ".tmp" messages.. all these fools seem to
miss that it should be " .tmp". Maybe i should explain that this "
.tmp" was also created by these account crackers.

----
Oct  3 23:48:56 www pure-ftpd: (?@modem-1327.buffalo.dialup.pol.co.uk)
[WARNING] Authentication failed for user [pgo]
Oct  3 23:49:00 www pure-ftpd: (?@modem-1327.buffalo.dialup.pol.co.uk)
[WARNING] Authentication failed for user [pgo]
Oct  3 23:49:41 www pure-ftpd: (?@modem-1327.buffalo.dialup.pol.co.uk)
[WARNING] Authentication failed for user [pgo]
Oct  3 23:49:45 www pure-ftpd: (?@modem-1327.buffalo.dialup.pol.co.uk)
[WARNING] Authentication failed for user [pgo]
Oct  3 23:49:49 www pure-ftpd: (?@modem-1327.buffalo.dialup.pol.co.uk)
[WARNING] Authentication failed for user [pgo]
Oct  3 23:49:52 www pure-ftpd: (?@modem-1327.buffalo.dialup.pol.co.uk)
[WARNING] Authentication failed for user [pgo]
Oct  3 23:49:56 www pure-ftpd: (?@modem-1327.buffalo.dialup.pol.co.uk)
[WARNING] Authentication failed for user [pgo]
Oct  3 23:50:00 www pure-ftpd: (?@modem-1327.buffalo.dialup.pol.co.uk)
[WARNING] Authentication failed for user [pgo]
Oct  3 23:55:54 www pure-ftpd:
(?@host81-157-252-251.range81-157.btcentralplus.com) [INFO] pgo is now
logged in
Oct  3 23:55:56 www pure-ftpd:
(pgo () host81-157-252-251 range81-157 btcentralplus com) [INFO] Can't
change directory to .tmp: No such file or directory
Oct  3 23:56:16 www pure-ftpd:
(pgo () host81-157-252-251 range81-157 btcentralplus com) [INFO] Logout.
----

Well, told yah; hard to type password..

----
Oct  4 00:58:06 www pure-ftpd: (?@213-132-213-18.adsl.nlhosting.nl)
[INFO] pgo is now logged in
Oct  4 00:58:14 www pure-ftpd: (pgo () 213-132-213-18 adsl nlhosting nl)
[INFO] Can't change directory to 15:28: No such file or
directory
Oct  4 00:58:53 www pure-ftpd: (pgo () 213-132-213-18 adsl nlhosting nl)
[INFO] Logout.
----

The above doesn't look like an open proxy to me.. strange.

----
Oct  4 01:20:02 www pure-ftpd: (?@pD9EB995F.dip0.t-ipconnect.de)
[INFO] pgo is now logged in
Oct  4 01:20:03 www pure-ftpd: (pgo () pD9EB995F dip0 t-ipconnect de)
[INFO] Can't change directory to / 21: No such file or directory
Oct  4 01:20:06 www pure-ftpd: (pgo () pD9EB995F dip0 t-ipconnect de)
[INFO] Can't change directory to .tmp: No such file or directory
----

The above goes on trying to fetch '.tmp' .. fails. But this time you
see directory "/ 21" weird..

----
Oct  4 14:35:17 www pure-ftpd: (?@p50812301.dip0.t-ipconnect.de)
[INFO] pgo is now logged in
Oct  4 14:35:22 www pure-ftpd: (pgo () p50812301 dip0 t-ipconnect de)
[INFO] Can't change directory to ./.tmp. / /: No such file or
directory
Oct  4 14:36:44 www pure-ftpd: (pgo () p50812301 dip0 t-ipconnect de)
[INFO] Logout.
----

So, i think it's very strange. I don't understand how they get the
password of this account which really is hard (8 chars, randum letters
and numbers). They could have sniffed it ofcourse but why login from
somany ip addresses and do absolutely nothing? I still have this
account working, it's about 2 weeks ago when i found out.. i want to
find out the purpose and cause and who did this. Any ideas?

-- 
Rob klein Gunnewiek