HTTPBot: A Stealthy Botnet Targeting China’s Gaming and Tech Sectors

Cybersecurity experts have recently uncovered a powerful new botnet malware named HTTPBot, designed to perform highly targeted Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks. This emerging threat has primarily focused on the gaming industry, technology companies, educational institutions, and tourism platforms in China.

What is HTTPBot?

HTTPBot is a Windows-based malware written in the Golang programming language. It was first observed in the wild in August 2024 and has since expanded rapidly. Its primary function is to launch HTTP-based flood attacks — a type of DDoS attack that overwhelms targeted systems with high volumes of HTTP requests, effectively disrupting their operation.

Unlike traditional DDoS botnets, which often spread across Linux and IoT environments, HTTPBot is unusual in that it specifically targets Windows platforms. This reflects a deliberate shift in attack strategy to exploit high-value business interfaces like game login systems and online payment portals.

Precision Attacks with Stealth and Simulation

What sets HTTPBot apart is its "scalpel-like" precision. Rather than launching widespread, brute-force attacks, HTTPBot conducts targeted strikes against mission-critical services.

Researchers at NSFOCUS, a Chinese cybersecurity company, emphasize that this marks a paradigm shift in DDoS strategies—from broad traffic suppression to surgical attacks focused on real-time business functions.

Infection and Persistence Techniques

Once HTTPBot is installed on a victim system, it undertakes several stealthy operations to remain undetected:

• Conceals its Graphical User Interface (GUI) to evade user suspicion.

• Manipulates the Windows Registry to ensure it starts automatically with the system.

• Contacts a Command-and-Control (C2) server to receive instructions for carrying out attacks.

Since April 2025, HTTPBot is estimated to have executed over 200 distinct attack commands, with targets heavily concentrated in China.

Attack Modules: A Versatile Arsenal

HTTPBot comes with a variety of sophisticated attack techniques to mimic legitimate user behavior and evade detection:

• BrowserAttack: Launches hidden Google Chrome instances to simulate human-like browsing behavior, thereby exhausting server resources.

• HttpAutoAttack: Uses cookie-based session emulation to simulate authentic user traffic.

• HttpFpDlAttack: Leverages HTTP/2 protocols to force servers into generating large responses, increasing CPU usage.

• WebSocketAttack: Exploits WebSocket protocols (ws:// and wss://) to initiate and maintain persistent, resource-draining connections.

• PostAttack: Uses HTTP POST requests to consume bandwidth and processing power.

• CookieAttack: Enhances BrowserAttack by injecting randomized cookie headers to maintain active session states and overwhelm servers.

Bypassing Traditional Defenses

HTTPBot employs several advanced evasion tactics, such as:

• Protocol Simulation: Accurately mimicking browser behavior and protocol layers to slip past traditional DDoS filters.

• Dynamic URL Paths and Cookie Rotation: Prevents detection by constantly changing request paths and session identifiers, making it hard for defense systems to block traffic effectively.

• Low-Volume, High-Impact Tactics: Instead of overwhelming targets with massive traffic, HTTPBot focuses on exhausting server-side resources in a more subtle, but effective, manner.

Why It Matters

The emergence of HTTPBot highlights several trends in modern cyber threats:

• DDoS attacks are becoming more surgical, focusing on disrupting key business operations rather than just knocking systems offline.

• Windows systems are now a more frequent target for DDoS botnets, moving beyond the typical IoT and Linux-based infrastructure.

• Real-time services, especially in gaming and payments, are particularly vulnerable due to their reliance on seamless user experiences.

How to Protect Against HTTPBot

Organizations should consider the following countermeasures:

• Monitor Windows endpoints for unusual registry changes and hidden processes.

• Deploy behavioral analysis tools that can detect simulated user behavior.

• Use rate limiting and CAPTCHA mechanisms on login and payment interfaces.

• Keep web servers and browser components updated to reduce exposure to exploited weaknesses.

By closely studying botnets like HTTPBot, security teams can better anticipate future attack trends and improve the resiliency of critical online services.