TA402 Uses Complex IronWind Infection Chains to Target Middle East-Based Government Entities>
Proofpoint Blog –
Based on the provided context, it seems that Proofpoint researchers have analyzed the activities of a threat actor group known as TA402) Here are some key points from the analysis:
1) Sideloading IronWind and propsys.dll: TA402 was observed sideloading IronWind and propsys.dll instead of using malicious PPAM or XLL files.
This indicates a change in their malware delivery method.
2) Geofencing: TA402 regularly employs geofencing techniques to make detection of its malicious activity more difficult.
This technique involves redirecting URLs to decoy documents hosted on legitimate platforms if the geofencing is not bypassed.
3) Attribution: Based on tactics, techniques, and victimology, Proofpoint researchers attribute the campaigns to TA402) The group focuses on Arabic-speaking targets located in the Middle East, primarily government entities in the region.
The use of compromised Ministry of Foreign Affairs email accounts, geofencing, and decoy documents further contribute to the attribution.
4) PDB Analysis: Proofpoint researchers analyzed the PDB paths of the IronWind malware and identified that the project name is “tornado.” The malware development is broken down by function, including IA (IronWind dropper), stager (stager DLL), and payloads.
5) Indicators of Compromise (IOCs): The analysis includes a list of IOCs, including SHA256 hashes, domains, and IP addresses associated with TA402’s activities.
6) YARA Rule: Proofpoint researchers have also provided a YARA rule, named TA402_PDB, to help identify TA402-related PDB paths during threat hunting and analysis.
Overall, TA402 is described as a persistent and innovative threat actor focusing on intelligence collection, particularly involving Middle Eastern and North African government entities.
They continuously retool their attack methods and malware to evade detection and adjust their targeting based on geopolitical events, such as the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
Please note that the information provided is a summary of the analysis conducted by Proofpoint researchers, and it is essential to refer to the original source for more comprehensive details.
Link: https://www.proofpoint.com/us/blog/threat-insight/ta402-uses-complex-ironwind-infection-chains-target-middle-east-based-government