Linux Security Breach

I have a Linux box at rackspace which has been hacked, I've recreated the box on a different VM, but, and I don't know if there's an answer to this, is it conceivable that data files can carry a Trojan/backdoor if I move them to a new server (esp .mp3 files) ?
I don't know if it's safe to migrate them over.

Yes, it is conceivable for data files to carry malicious trojans or backdoor viruses.

For example, MP3 files may contain EXIF data, and in theory the EXIF data could contain code sequences that could target vulnerabilities in media players to infect the memory and impact other files. Any data files that support EXIF may be vulnerable, including images, audio files and documents. This problem gained attention in 2007 when TIF images were used to gain control of iPod and iPhone devices.
http://www.scmagazineuk.com/iphone-and-ipod-touch-tiff-flaw-revealed/article/105562/

ClamAV is a free and open-source project that does an excellent job of scanning and detecting data files for these types of vulnerabilities.

http://www.clamav.net/download.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clam_AntiVirus

If you find ClamAV for Linux too intimidating to use, consider installing ClamWin or Clam Sentinel (both are powered by ClamAV) on a Windows machine, then using it on your Windows platform to scan the data files.

http://www.clamwin.com/
http://clamsentinel.sourceforge.net/

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LVL 10

skijCommented: 2015-07-06

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LVL 39

Gerwin Jansen, EE MVETopic Advisor Commented: 2015-07-11

>> I don't know if it's safe to migrate them over.
Just scan them with any decent virus scanner and move the files over.

skijCommented: 2015-07-11

ClamWin is a virus scanner that runs on both Windows and Linux.

LVL 35

serialbandCommented: 2015-07-13

ClamAV mostly scans for Windows Virus signatures. You'll probably want to use Rootkit Hunter and Chkrootkit to find what might be lurking on your Linux system.

https://rootkit.nl/projects/rootkit_hunter.html
http://www.chkrootkit.org/links/

LVL 19

joolsSenior Systems AdministratorCommented: 2015-07-13

Do all of the above but bear in mind that just because a file has a specific extension doesnt mean that it relates to the file type. when back doors are dropped onto systems I have noticed that they can be disguised as picture files or anything really.

Do a full scan!

Linux Security Breach

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