After a failed Linux backdoor attempt grabs headlines, open-source leaders warn of more attacks
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A failed Linux backdoor attempt was discovered in XZ Utils, a data-compression toolkit used in many Linux operating systems. The backdoor could have enabled a major cyberattack on corporate servers. The identity of the culprit, known as 'Jia Tan,' remains unknown. Open-source leaders have warned that this incident is likely not a one-off and have called on maintainers of open-source projects to be alert for social engineering takeover attempts. There have been recent attempts to persuade the OpenJS Foundation to grant administrative access to a popular JavaScript project, similar to the tactics used by Jia Tan. Experts believe that many more attempts to infiltrate open-source projects are already underway. The vulnerability of open-source projects, which are often underfunded and run by a small group of maintainers, makes them susceptible to social engineering attacks. Open-source leaders advise maintainers to be cautious and pay attention to interactions that create self-doubt or feelings of inadequacy, as these may be signs of a social engineering attack.



https://fortune.com/2024/04/16/xz-utils-open-source-linux-javascript-vulnerabilities-social-engineering/