Web host loses data of 100,000 websites after hack

 

Gallery

By Stuart Turton

Posted on 9 Jun 2009 at 09:38

Web-hosting firm Vaserv has lost the data of nearly 100,000 websites, after hackers attacked a zero-day vulnerability in its virtualisation software.

According to a report in The Register, hackers gained root access to Vaserv's servers by exploiting a vulnerability in the HyperVM virtualisation software used by the company.

Once they'd hacked into the system the attackers promptly set about destroying both user and system data. Engineers for the web host are currently working to restore their systems, and expect to be back online within 24 hours.

Vaserv estimates that almost half of the data hosted on its servers has been destroyed by the attack. Engineers are still working to get all servers back online, and claim to have had no word from those who conducted the attack.

A posting on the site places blame for the attack firmly on the shoulders of LXLabs, the company that makes the virtualisation software: "We do appreciate everyone being patient and please be assured this is something that was totally outside of our control as we believed that our infrastructure was up to date and fully patched in line with LXLabs announcements."

LXLabs was unavailable for comment at the time of writing, though it has been reported that the founder of the company was found hanged this morning.

The Times of India is reporting that KT Ligesh was upset after losing a contract, and still devastated after the suicide of his mother and sister five years ago.