Cybersecurity researchers have recently unveiled a new modular backdoor malware named “ModPipe,” targeting Oracle’s point-of-sale (POS) restaurant management software with the intent of stealing sensitive payment information. The discovery highlights a growing trend in cyber threats towards payment processing systems where attackers exploit vulnerabilities to access critical data.
ModPipe specifically affects the Oracle MICROS Restaurant Enterprise Series (RES) 3700 systems, a prevalent software suite utilized in restaurants and hospitality venues across the United States. The malware serves as a serious risk, operating discreetly to extract sensitive information from the database of these systems.
The threat posed by ModPipe is exacerbated by its design, which includes unique downloadable modules capable of exfiltrating RES 3700 database passwords by decrypting them directly from Windows registry values. According to ESET researchers, this sophisticated approach enables attackers to gain access not just to basic credentials but to full database contents, including definitions, configurations, and transactional data.
While sensitive data such as credit card numbers and expiration dates remain secured by encryption within the RES 3700 system, the potential for further exploitation remains if attackers possess additional decryption tools. ESET suggests that the actors behind ModPipe may already have developed mechanisms to bypass these encryption barriers.
The structure of ModPipe unfolds through an initial dropper that facilitates the installation of a persistent loader, which then deploys the primary malware payload responsible for communication with various modules and the command-and-control (C2) server. This sophisticated deployment method suggests a high level of organization and planning within the malware’s architecture.
Among the key components of ModPipe is the “GetMicInfo” module, which intercepts and decrypts database credentials utilizing a unique algorithm. Researchers hypothesize that this module may have been developed through reverse-engineering methods or by leveraging insights gained from a data breach of Oracle’s MICROS division in 2016.
In addition to credential extraction, the malware employs other modules such as “ModScan 2.20,” which collects detailed information about the POS system and its configuration, while “Proclist” gathers data on active processes. The modular capabilities of ModPipe indicate significant expertise on the part of its authors, who likely possess a thorough understanding of the RES 3700 software.
Analysts underscore that the extensive modular capabilities of ModPipe may have been developed through various means, including the potential theft and reverse-engineering of proprietary software or acquiring code from illicit sources. Businesses operating within the hospitality sector utilizing the RES 3700 POS are strongly advised to update their software to the latest versions and ensure that underlying operating systems are secure and current, thereby reducing their vulnerability to these sophisticated attacks.
