Categories: cyber securityMalware

Iran Hacking Group Used Open Source Multi-platform PupyRAT to Attack Energy Sector Organization

PupyRAT is a cross-platform (Windows, Linux, OSX, Android) is a remote administration and post-exploitation tool.

It was written in python, acts as a backdoor, allows an attacker to create remote command shells, steal password credentials, log keystrokes, steal files, and to record webcams.

The tool is intended for using red-team purposes, but the Iranian hacking groups APT33 (Elfin, Magic Hound, HOLMIUM) and COBALT GYPSY (which overlaps with APT34/OilRig), made heavy use of the tool.

Shifted focus on Attack Energy Sector Organization

These groups are known for targeting IT sectors in the United States, Europe, and elsewhere, now they have to target the physical control systems in electric utilities, manufacturing, and oil refineries.

Security researchers from Recorded Future observed a European energy sector organization Email server communicating with the PupyRAT command and control (C2) server between late November 2019 until at least January 5, 2020.

They further analyze the metadata which confirms the compromise, “we assess that the high volume and repeated communications from the targeted mail server to a PupyRAT C2 are sufficient to indicate a likely intrusion.”

Researchers are unable to confirm which Iranian hacking group used PupyRAT to attack the mail server of the high-value critical infrastructure organization.

Iranian groups know for targeting a wide range of industries in the U.S. and Europe, this recent attack shows the increasing rate of attacks targeting energy sector industrial control software.

Last year North Korean Hackers Attack Indian Nuclear Power Plant [KKNPP] Using Dtrack Malware and they have managed to compromise domain controller.

The Dtrack malware designed to spy on the victim machines, it extracts sensitive data from victim machines.

Mitigation Suggested

  • Monitor for login attempts
  • Enable multi-factor authentication
  • Use of password manager
  • Analyzing connection log data

You can follow us on Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook for daily Cybersecurity and hacking news updates

Gurubaran

Gurubaran is a co-founder of Cyber Security News and GBHackers On Security. He has 10+ years of experience as a Security Consultant, Editor, and Analyst in cybersecurity, technology, and communications.

Recent Posts

Hackers Use ConnectWise SkyKick Credentials to Access Microsoft 365, Halting Cloud Backups

Attackers abused compromised ConnectWise Cloud Backup credentials to access Microsoft 365 customer environments, prompting ConnectWise…

1 day ago

Anthropic’s Claude AI Uncovers Origins of NSA-Provided Cryptographic Keys After 25 Years

Anthropic says an internal Claude research model reconstructed how the National Security Agency generated seeds…

1 day ago

Critical WordPress Flaws Allow Attackers to Execute Remote Code Without Authentication

Two WordPress Core vulnerabilities can be chained to execute remote code without authentication, according to…

1 day ago

OpenBSD Kernel Flaw Dating Back 37 Years Enables Local Privilege Escalation to Root

A newly disclosed OpenBSD kernel exploitation chain combines a shared memory accounting flaw with a…

1 day ago

GhostAction Hackers Hide Credential-Stealing Malware in Fake Font Files Across 94 GitHub Repositories

GhostAction attackers have expanded their GitHub credential theft campaign with a second stage that disguises…

2 days ago

SideCopy Hackers Target Indian Organizations With ReverseRAT Malware to Steal Data

Indian authorities have warned that SideCopy hackers are targeting Indian organizations, including academic institutions, with…

2 days ago