Skip to main content

CYBERCOM_Malware_Alert - MuddyWater has been seen using a variety of techniques to maintain access to victim networks.

Medium
Published: Thu Jan 13 2022 (01/13/2022, 00:00:00 UTC)
Source: CIRCL OSINT Feed
Vendor/Project: type
Product: osint

Description

CYBERCOM_Malware_Alert - MuddyWater has been seen using a variety of techniques to maintain access to victim networks.

AI-Powered Analysis

AILast updated: 07/05/2025, 22:55:38 UTC

Technical Analysis

MuddyWater is a known Iranian threat actor group (also tracked as G0069) that has been active in cyber espionage and intrusion campaigns targeting various sectors globally. This alert indicates that MuddyWater has been observed employing multiple techniques to maintain persistent access within victim networks. While specific technical details are not provided in this alert, MuddyWater is historically known for leveraging spear-phishing, exploitation of vulnerabilities, and custom malware payloads to establish footholds. Their persistence techniques often include deploying backdoors, using living-off-the-land binaries, and employing obfuscation methods to evade detection. The alert highlights the group's continued activity and their capability to maintain long-term access, which poses significant risks to confidentiality and integrity of targeted networks. The lack of a patch or known exploits suggests that the threat relies on operational tradecraft and social engineering rather than exploiting a specific software vulnerability. The medium severity rating reflects the moderate certainty (50%) of the intelligence and the potential impact of their intrusion activities. Given MuddyWater's historical targeting of government, telecommunications, and critical infrastructure sectors, their presence in networks can lead to espionage, data exfiltration, and potential disruption.

Potential Impact

For European organizations, the presence of MuddyWater's persistent access techniques can result in significant espionage risks, especially for entities involved in government, defense, telecommunications, and critical infrastructure. The compromise of sensitive information could undermine national security and economic interests. Persistent access also increases the risk of lateral movement within networks, potentially leading to broader compromises and data breaches. The group's ability to maintain stealthy access complicates detection and remediation efforts, potentially causing prolonged exposure. This could lead to loss of intellectual property, disruption of services, and reputational damage. Additionally, given geopolitical tensions involving Iran, European organizations may be targeted for intelligence gathering or as part of broader geopolitical cyber campaigns.

Mitigation Recommendations

European organizations should implement advanced threat hunting and network monitoring focused on detecting anomalous behaviors indicative of persistence mechanisms, such as unusual use of legitimate tools or unexpected network connections. Employing endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions with behavioral analytics can help identify living-off-the-land techniques commonly used by MuddyWater. Regularly updating and enforcing strict email filtering and user awareness training can reduce the risk of spear-phishing attacks, a common initial vector. Network segmentation and least privilege access controls limit lateral movement opportunities. Organizations should also conduct regular threat intelligence sharing with national cybersecurity centers and peers to stay informed about MuddyWater TTPs. Incident response plans should include procedures for identifying and eradicating persistent backdoors. Given no patches are available, focus should be on detection and containment rather than patching specific vulnerabilities.

Need more detailed analysis?Get Pro

Technical Details

Uuid
ed46f822-41e6-4dca-a1c5-ad768306bfe9
Original Timestamp
1642082225

Indicators of Compromise

Hash

ValueDescriptionCopy
hash3098dd53da40947a82e59265a47059e69b2925bc49c679e6555d102d1c6cbbc8
hash42ca7d3fcd6d220cd380f34f9aa728b3bb68908b49f04d04f685631ee1f78986
hashb1e30cce6df16d83b82b751edca57aa17795d8d0cdd960ecee7d90832b0ee76c
hash255e53af8b079c8319ce52583293723551da9affe547da45e2c1d4257cff625a
hashe7f6c7b91c482c12fc905b84dbaa9001ef78dc6a771773e1de4b8eade5431eca
hash5bcdd422089ed96d6711fa251544e2e863b113973db328590cfe0457bfeb564f
hash9cb79736302999a7ec4151a43e93cd51c97ede879194cece5e46b4ff471a7af7
hashb6133e04a0a1deb8faf944dd79c46c62f725a72ea9f26dd911d6f6e1e4433f1a
hash9ec8319e278d1b3fa1ccf87b5ce7dd6802dac76881e4e4e16e240c5a98f107e2
hash7e7545d14df7b618b3b1bc24321780c164a0a14d3600dbac0f91afbce1a2f9f4
hashe7baf353aa12ff2571fc5c45184631dc2692e2f0a61b799e29a1525969bf2d13
hashb5b1e26312e0574464ddef92c51d5f597e07dba90617c0528ec9f494af7e8504
hashdd7ee54b12a55bcc67da4ceaed6e636b7bd30d4db6f6c594e9510e1e605ade92
hash9d50fcb2c4df4c502db0cac84bef96c2a36d33ef98c454165808ecace4dd2051
hash12db8bcee090521ecf852bf215ce3878737517a22ef1f2ff9bdec7cba8d0d3aa
hashce9bd1acf37119ff73b4dff989f2791eb24efc891a413df58856d848f0bcaee9
hash2471a039cb1ddeb826f3a11f89b193624d89052afcbee01205dc92610723eb82
hasha0421312705e847a1c8073001fd8499c
hash3204447f54adeffb339ed3e00649ae428544eca3
hash9cb79736302999a7ec4151a43e93cd51c97ede879194cece5e46b4ff471a7af7
hash4a022ea1fd2bf5e8c0d8b2343a230070
hash89df0feca9a447465d41ac87cb45a6f3c02c574d
hashe7baf353aa12ff2571fc5c45184631dc2692e2f0a61b799e29a1525969bf2d13
hash52299ffc8373f58b62543ec754732e55
hashca97ac295b2cd57501517c0efd67b6f8a7d1fbdf
hashce9bd1acf37119ff73b4dff989f2791eb24efc891a413df58856d848f0bcaee9
hash37fa9e6b9be7242984a39a024cade2d5
hash0211569091b96cffab6918e18ccc97f4b24d88d4
hash42ca7d3fcd6d220cd380f34f9aa728b3bb68908b49f04d04f685631ee1f78986
hashc0c2cd5cc018e575816c08b36969c4a6
hash47a4e0d466bb20cec5d354e56a9aa3f07cec816a
hashb1e30cce6df16d83b82b751edca57aa17795d8d0cdd960ecee7d90832b0ee76c
hashb6b0edf0b31bc95a042e13f3768a65c3
hash5168a8880abe8eb2d28f10787820185fe318859e
hashb6133e04a0a1deb8faf944dd79c46c62f725a72ea9f26dd911d6f6e1e4433f1a
hash0431445d6d6e5802c207c8bc6a6402ea
hash3765c1ad8a1d936aad88255aef5d6d4ce24f94e8
hash3098dd53da40947a82e59265a47059e69b2925bc49c679e6555d102d1c6cbbc8
hasha65696d6b65f7159c9ffcd4119f60195
hash570f7272412ff8257ed6868d90727a459e3b179e
hashb5b1e26312e0574464ddef92c51d5f597e07dba90617c0528ec9f494af7e8504
hash51bc53a388fce06487743eadc64c4356
hashb9e6fc51fa3940fb632a68907b8513634d76e5a0
hash9ec8319e278d1b3fa1ccf87b5ce7dd6802dac76881e4e4e16e240c5a98f107e2
hash0ac499496fb48de0727bbef858dadbee
hash483cd5c9dd887367793261730d59178c19fe13f3
hash255e53af8b079c8319ce52583293723551da9affe547da45e2c1d4257cff625a
hash860f5c2345e8f5c268c9746337ade8b7
hash6c55d3acdc2d8d331f0d13024f736bc28ef5a7e1
hash9d50fcb2c4df4c502db0cac84bef96c2a36d33ef98c454165808ecace4dd2051
hashd68f5417f1d4fc022067bf0313a3867d
hash2f6dd6d11e28bf8b4d7ceec8753d15c7568fb22e
hashe7f6c7b91c482c12fc905b84dbaa9001ef78dc6a771773e1de4b8eade5431eca
hash6c084c8f5a61c6bec5eb5573a2d51ffb
hash61608ed1de56d0e4fe6af07ecba0bd0a69d825b8
hash7e7545d14df7b618b3b1bc24321780c164a0a14d3600dbac0f91afbce1a2f9f4
hash218d4151b39e4ece13d3bf5ff4d1121b
hash28e799d9769bb7e936d1768d498a0d2c7a0d53fb
hash2471a039cb1ddeb826f3a11f89b193624d89052afcbee01205dc92610723eb82
hasha27655d14b0aabec8db70ae08a623317
hash8344f2c1096687ed83c2bbad0e6e549a71b0c0b1
hash12db8bcee090521ecf852bf215ce3878737517a22ef1f2ff9bdec7cba8d0d3aa
hashcec48bcdedebc962ce45b63e201c0624
hash81f46998c92427032378e5dead48bdfc9128b225
hashdd7ee54b12a55bcc67da4ceaed6e636b7bd30d4db6f6c594e9510e1e605ade92
hasha16f4f0c00ca43d5b20f7bc30a3f3559
hash94e26fb2738e49bb70b445315c0d63a5d364c71b
hash5bcdd422089ed96d6711fa251544e2e863b113973db328590cfe0457bfeb564f

Datetime

ValueDescriptionCopy
datetime2022-01-13T12:41:30+00:00
datetime2022-01-13T04:17:48+00:00
datetime2022-01-13T09:17:23+00:00
datetime2022-01-13T13:07:07+00:00
datetime2022-01-13T09:15:56+00:00
datetime2022-01-13T07:08:21+00:00
datetime2022-01-13T13:04:20+00:00
datetime2022-01-13T08:14:02+00:00
datetime2022-01-13T12:41:47+00:00
datetime2022-01-13T04:15:36+00:00
datetime2022-01-13T06:21:14+00:00
datetime2022-01-13T12:26:10+00:00
datetime2022-01-13T07:05:59+00:00
datetime2022-01-13T08:47:01+00:00
datetime2022-01-13T13:53:27+00:00
datetime2022-01-13T03:08:18+00:00
datetime2022-01-13T02:57:46+00:00

Link

ValueDescriptionCopy
linkhttps://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/9cb79736302999a7ec4151a43e93cd51c97ede879194cece5e46b4ff471a7af7/detection/f-9cb79736302999a7ec4151a43e93cd51c97ede879194cece5e46b4ff471a7af7-1642077690
linkhttps://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/e7baf353aa12ff2571fc5c45184631dc2692e2f0a61b799e29a1525969bf2d13/detection/f-e7baf353aa12ff2571fc5c45184631dc2692e2f0a61b799e29a1525969bf2d13-1642047468
linkhttps://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/ce9bd1acf37119ff73b4dff989f2791eb24efc891a413df58856d848f0bcaee9/detection/f-ce9bd1acf37119ff73b4dff989f2791eb24efc891a413df58856d848f0bcaee9-1642065443
linkhttps://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/42ca7d3fcd6d220cd380f34f9aa728b3bb68908b49f04d04f685631ee1f78986/detection/f-42ca7d3fcd6d220cd380f34f9aa728b3bb68908b49f04d04f685631ee1f78986-1642079227
linkhttps://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/b1e30cce6df16d83b82b751edca57aa17795d8d0cdd960ecee7d90832b0ee76c/detection/f-b1e30cce6df16d83b82b751edca57aa17795d8d0cdd960ecee7d90832b0ee76c-1642065356
linkhttps://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/b6133e04a0a1deb8faf944dd79c46c62f725a72ea9f26dd911d6f6e1e4433f1a/detection/f-b6133e04a0a1deb8faf944dd79c46c62f725a72ea9f26dd911d6f6e1e4433f1a-1642057701
linkhttps://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/3098dd53da40947a82e59265a47059e69b2925bc49c679e6555d102d1c6cbbc8/detection/f-3098dd53da40947a82e59265a47059e69b2925bc49c679e6555d102d1c6cbbc8-1642079060
linkhttps://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/b5b1e26312e0574464ddef92c51d5f597e07dba90617c0528ec9f494af7e8504/detection/f-b5b1e26312e0574464ddef92c51d5f597e07dba90617c0528ec9f494af7e8504-1642061642
linkhttps://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/9ec8319e278d1b3fa1ccf87b5ce7dd6802dac76881e4e4e16e240c5a98f107e2/detection/f-9ec8319e278d1b3fa1ccf87b5ce7dd6802dac76881e4e4e16e240c5a98f107e2-1642077707
linkhttps://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/255e53af8b079c8319ce52583293723551da9affe547da45e2c1d4257cff625a/detection/f-255e53af8b079c8319ce52583293723551da9affe547da45e2c1d4257cff625a-1642047336
linkhttps://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/9d50fcb2c4df4c502db0cac84bef96c2a36d33ef98c454165808ecace4dd2051/detection/f-9d50fcb2c4df4c502db0cac84bef96c2a36d33ef98c454165808ecace4dd2051-1642054874
linkhttps://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/e7f6c7b91c482c12fc905b84dbaa9001ef78dc6a771773e1de4b8eade5431eca/detection/f-e7f6c7b91c482c12fc905b84dbaa9001ef78dc6a771773e1de4b8eade5431eca-1642076770
linkhttps://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/7e7545d14df7b618b3b1bc24321780c164a0a14d3600dbac0f91afbce1a2f9f4/detection/f-7e7545d14df7b618b3b1bc24321780c164a0a14d3600dbac0f91afbce1a2f9f4-1642057559
linkhttps://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/2471a039cb1ddeb826f3a11f89b193624d89052afcbee01205dc92610723eb82/detection/f-2471a039cb1ddeb826f3a11f89b193624d89052afcbee01205dc92610723eb82-1642063621
linkhttps://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/12db8bcee090521ecf852bf215ce3878737517a22ef1f2ff9bdec7cba8d0d3aa/detection/f-12db8bcee090521ecf852bf215ce3878737517a22ef1f2ff9bdec7cba8d0d3aa-1642082007
linkhttps://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/dd7ee54b12a55bcc67da4ceaed6e636b7bd30d4db6f6c594e9510e1e605ade92/detection/f-dd7ee54b12a55bcc67da4ceaed6e636b7bd30d4db6f6c594e9510e1e605ade92-1642043298
linkhttps://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/5bcdd422089ed96d6711fa251544e2e863b113973db328590cfe0457bfeb564f/detection/f-5bcdd422089ed96d6711fa251544e2e863b113973db328590cfe0457bfeb564f-1642042666

Text

ValueDescriptionCopy
text8/57
text12/56
text0/57
text15/56
text7/56
text0/56
text26/63
text12/57
text1/57
text0/56
text20/66
text0/56
text42/68
text11/54
text24/68
text35/66
text3/56

Threat ID: 68359ca05d5f0974d01fc8fb

Added to database: 5/27/2025, 11:06:08 AM

Last enriched: 7/5/2025, 10:55:38 PM

Last updated: 8/11/2025, 7:11:26 AM

Views: 11

Actions

PRO

Updates to AI analysis are available only with a Pro account. Contact root@offseq.com for access.

Please log in to the Console to use AI analysis features.

External Links

Need enhanced features?

Contact root@offseq.com for Pro access with improved analysis and higher rate limits.

Latest Threats