The Iranian Cyber Evolution: RATs, Backdoors, and Droppers

Wapack Labs has been monitoring Iranian cyber activity for several years, specifically the evolving OilRig and Greenbug campaigns. Their adoption of a cyber operational paradigm involving both cyber hacktivism and cyber espionage tactics resembles cyber activity patterns employed by Chinese APT groups, whereby different groups perform different campaigns, with multiple teams conducting separate phases of a cyber campaign. With President Trump’s refusal to re-certify Iran’s compliance with the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, Wapack analysts are researching the continued efforts of Iranian-backed cyber threats in order to detect and defend against next moves. 

One common attribute is that they all engage in prolonged reconnaissance campaigns of their targets; at times lasting over a year. Greenbug, a cyber-espionage group with suspected Iranian ties, has been dynamically progressing in such campaigns. In August 2017, a Greenbug tool, dubbed ISMAgent (an ISMDoor variant), resurfaced in the wild to harvest account credentials. Wapack Labs discovered evidence of ISMDoor variants relying on the VB:Trojan.Valyria (possibly Clayside) for delivery, linking Greenbug to another group of Iranian actors known as OilRig. Wapack Labs assesses with moderate confidence that recent activity involving ISMDoor is an indicator of the ramping up of another cyber campaign cycle...READ MORE

Wapack Labs has cataloged and reported on Iranian cyber activity in the past. An archive of related reporting can be found in the Red Sky Alliance portal.

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Iranian Cyber Campaign Evolutions – The Next Wave: Greenbug and Ismdoor

Greenbug is an Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) cyber-espionage group with suspected Iranian ties. In August 2017, a Greenbug tool dubbed Ismdoor resurfaced in the wild. The malware possesses many reconnaissance capabilities, and in August of 2016 was deployed to harvest account credentials prior to an attack against Saudi Arabian infrastructure. Wapack Labs assesses with moderate confidence that the presence of Ismdoor is an indicator that Greenbug may be performing reconnaissance for a future campaign. While the Greenbug group is not directly affecting the membership, the targeting of Middle Eastern gas and energy companies affects multiple supply chains with repercussions for U.S. and Allied interests in the region. Wapack Labs’ analysts have also detected an evolution in Iranian cyber campaigns indicating likely adoption of cyber espionage and cyber hacktivism models similar to those employed by the Chinese APT groups, whereby different groups are utilized in different campaigns and multiple teams conduct separate phases of a cyber campaign. The Iranian originated campaigns, similar to the Chinese APT model, are also conducted in waves. The resurgence of Greenbug and Ismdoor indicate another Iranian based cyber campaign cycle is being initiated in the Middle East...READ MORE

Wapack Labs has cataloged and reported on APT groups and campaigns in the past. An archive of related reporting can be found in the Red Sky Alliance portal. 

WWW.WAPACKLABS.COM