Back Orifice 2000

Back Orifice 2000

Screenshot of BO2k client
Developer(s) Dildog (cDc) (original code)
BO2k Development Team (current maintenance)
Stable release
1.1.6 (Windows), 0.1.5 pre1 (Linux) / March 21, 2007
Operating system Microsoft Windows,
Linux-systems (client only)
Type Remote administration
License GPL
Back Orifice 2000 advertisement (featuring the original logo)

Back Orifice 2000 (often shortened to BO2k) is a computer program designed for remote system administration. It enables a user to control a computer running the Microsoft Windows operating system from a remote location. The name is a pun on Microsoft BackOffice Server software.

BO2k debuted on July 10, 1999 at DEF CON 7 computer security convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was originally written by Dildog, a member of US hacker group Cult of the Dead Cow. It was a successor to the cDc's Back Orifice remote administration tool, released the previous year. As of 2007, BO2k is being actively developed.

Whereas the original Back Orifice was limited to the Windows 95 and Windows 98 operating systems, BO2k also supports Windows NT, Windows 2000 and Windows XP. Some BO2k client functionality has also been implemented for Linux-systems. In addition, BO2k was released as free software, which allows one to port it to other operating systems.

Plugins

BO2k has a plugin architecture. The optional plugins include

Controversy

Back Orifice and Back Orifice 2000 are widely regarded as malware, tools intended to be used as a combined rootkit and backdoor. For example, at present many antivirus software packages identify them as trojan horses.[1][2][3][4][5] This classification is justified by the fact that BO2k can be installed by a trojan horse, in cases where it is used by an unauthorized user, unbeknownst to the system administrator.

There are several reasons for this, including: the association with cDc; the tone of the initial product launch at Def Con '99[6] (including that the first distribution of BO2k by cDc was infected by the CIH virus[7]); the existence of tools (such as "Silk rope"[8]) designed to add BO2k dropper capability to self-propagating malware; and the fact that it has actually widely been used for malicious purposes.[9][10][11] The most common criticism is that BO2k installs and operates silently, without warning a logged-on user that remote administration or surveillance is taking place.[12] According to the official BO2k documentation, the person running the BO2k server is not supposed to know that it is running on his computer.[13]

BO2k developers counter these concerns in their Note on Product Legitimacy and Security, pointing out—among other things—that some remote administration tools widely recognized as legitimate, also have options for silent installation and operation.[14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Symantec press release, dated 12 July 1999, accessed 8 August 2006
  2. ↑ ISS press release, dated 13 July 1999, accessed 8 August 2006
  3. ↑ Trend Micro press release, dated 12 July 1999, accessed 8 August 2006
  4. ↑ CA threat description, dated 30 November 2005, accessed 8 August 2006
  5. ↑ F-secure threat description, accessed 8 August 2006
  6. ↑ CNN.com report "Bad rap for Back Orifice 2000?", dated 21 Jul 1999, accessed 8 August 2006
  7. ↑ ZDNet news "Back Orifice CDs infected with CIH virus", dated 14 July 1999, accessed 8 August 2006
  8. ↑ Trend Micro threat description, dated 14 July 2000, accessed 8 August 2006
  9. ↑ Insecure.org mailing list archive, Rik van Riel report dated 3 October 2000, accessed 8 August 2006
  10. ↑ Security Focus "Airport PCs stuffed with meaty goodness", dated 21 September 2005, accessed 8 August 2006
  11. ↑ Microsoft Security Administrator article "Danger: Remote Access Trojans", September 2002 edition, accessed 8 August 2006
  12. ↑ Bruce Schneier's Crypto-Gram Newsletter, dated 15 August 1999, accessed 8 August 2006
  13. ↑ Official BO2k Documentation: Basic Setup
  14. ↑ http://bo2k.sourceforge.net/docs/bo2k_legitimacy.html
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