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Attackers abused misconfigured Docker Engine instances that exposed the unauthenticated Docker API on port 2375, using it to enumerate running containers and execute malware inside them. Trend Micro reported that the campaign leveraged docker exec to deploy an AESDDoS payload detected as Backdoor.Linux.DOFLOO.AA, giving operators the ability to run distributed denial-of-service attacks from compromised container environments.
The activity relied on scanning IP ranges for hosts with port 2375 open and using a toolkit distributed in a ZIP archive named 2375-SYNG口漏洞.zip, which included utilities such as WinEggDrop and a Docker Batch Test Tool to find and exploit vulnerable systems. Researchers warned that exposing the Docker daemon in this way can effectively grant root-level control of the host, and noted that the AESDDoS variant has also been linked to remote code execution and cryptocurrency-mining activity.
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Trend Micro reported an attack campaign abusing misconfigured Docker Engine instances that exposed the Docker API on port 2375. The attackers scanned for exposed hosts, enumerated running containers, and used docker exec to deploy an AESDDoS malware variant inside containers.
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Attackers have been abusing improperly exposed Docker daemon APIs, especially unauthenticated services on port `2375`, to take control of running containers and deploy malware. One documented campaign used the Dofloo (AESDDoS) Trojan to enumerate containers and run malicious payloads with Docker commands, giving operators DDoS capability, host profiling data, and a foothold for follow-on activity such as cryptojacking or broader system compromise. Public tooling has also lowered the barrier to exploiting these weaknesses. The **BOtB** container assessment tool demonstrates how exposed Docker daemons, privileged container configurations, Kubernetes service account exposure, metadata service access, Linux kernel keyring leakage, and even `runc` escape flaw `CVE-2019-5736` can be used to break out of containers or extract secrets in CI/CD and live environments. Docker’s guidance recommends protecting the daemon socket and restricting remote API access to trusted systems, underscoring that exposed or misconfigured container management interfaces can quickly turn a single container issue into host-level compromise.
Aug 15, 2026
Threat actors abused exposed Docker servers by creating a malicious Alpine Linux container that launched a multi-stage infection chain, ultimately installing both a cryptocurrency miner and an IRC-based DDoS bot. The attack used a Bash script named `XMI` and a Python script named `d.py` to download payloads, establish persistence, and spread further, with the miner identified as **Coinminer.Linux.MALXMR.UWELD** and the bot as a Kaiten/Tsunami variant detected as **Backdoor.Linux.KAITEN.AMV**. The malware relied on Base64 obfuscation, cron jobs, and a service placed in `/etc/init.d` for persistence, and it attempted lateral movement by harvesting targets from `/.ssh/known_hosts`; researchers also found commented-out SSH brute-force propagation code. Trend Micro said the miner wallet overlapped with earlier campaigns exploiting `CVE-2019-3396` and `CVE-2017-5638`, previously associated in public reporting with the **8220** mining group, while the DDoS component communicated with command-and-control infrastructure including `c4k[.]xpl[.]pwndns[.]pw`, `104[.]244[.]75[.]25`, and `107[.]189[.]11[.]170`.
Aug 14, 2026
Palo Alto Networks Unit 42 reported that attackers are actively targeting **unsecured Docker daemons** exposed to the internet, using the Docker API to create and run malicious containers on victim systems. By abusing misconfigured deployments that lack proper access controls, intruders can gain effective control of the underlying host, execute arbitrary workloads, and use compromised infrastructure for follow-on activity such as cryptomining, persistence, and broader cloud or network compromise. The report details attacker tradecraft focused on exposed container management interfaces, where adversaries issue Docker commands remotely to pull attacker-controlled images and launch privileged containers that can interact with the host environment. The activity highlights a recurring cloud security risk: organizations that leave Docker services reachable without authentication can enable rapid compromise of containerized environments and the systems that support them.
Jul 12, 2026