Mirai-Based xlabs_v1 Botnet Exploits ADB to Hijack IoT Devices for DDoS Attacks

This article discusses xlabs_v1, a Mirai-derived botnet that exploits exposed Android Debug Bridge (ADB) services to compromise IoT devices for DDoS attacks.

• •Targets devices with ADB enabled on port 5555, including Android TV boxes, set-top boxes, smart TVs, and residential routers
• •Provides 21 flood attack variants across TCP, UDP, and raw protocols, marketed as a DDoS-for-hire service
• •Features bandwidth profiling that opens 8,192 parallel TCP connections to measure device bandwidth for pricing tier assignment
• •Lacks persistence mechanism, requiring re-infection after bandwidth profiling but includes killer subsystem to eliminate competing malware
• •Operated by threat actor "Tadashi" and targets consumer IoT devices and small gaming operators