UnknownPublished 21 Nov 2022Updated 12 May 2023

tlp white · Is Hagga Threat Actor (ab)using FSociety framework ?

Affects tlp whiteSource CIRCL OSINT Feed

TLP:WHITE, disclosure is not limited

Description

The Hagga threat actor is suspected of abusing the FSociety framework for payload delivery, though details remain unclear and the certainty of this information is moderate (50%). There is no confirmed exploit or patch available, and the threat type is currently classified as unknown. The FSociety framework is known as an open-source penetration testing tool that can be repurposed by malicious actors for payload delivery. The medium severity rating reflects potential risks associated with payload delivery frameworks being leveraged by threat actors. European organizations should be vigilant, especially those in sectors commonly targeted by such actors. Mitigation requires enhanced monitoring for unusual use of penetration testing tools and restricting unauthorized use of frameworks like FSociety. Countries with higher adoption of penetration testing tools and significant critical infrastructure may be more at risk. Given the lack of confirmed exploits and limited technical details, the suggested severity is medium, emphasizing caution but not indicating immediate critical threat. Defenders should focus on detection and prevention of unauthorized tool usage and maintain strong endpoint security controls.

Impact

If the Hagga threat actor successfully abuses the FSociety framework for payload delivery, European organizations could face risks including unauthorized system access, data theft, and operational disruption. The use of legitimate penetration testing tools by attackers can evade traditional security controls, making detection more challenging. This could lead to increased dwell time for attackers within networks and potential lateral movement. Sectors such as finance, energy, telecommunications, and government agencies in Europe are particularly sensitive to such threats due to the critical nature of their operations and data. The medium severity suggests that while the threat is not immediately critical, it poses a meaningful risk that could escalate if combined with other vulnerabilities or attack vectors. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently limits immediate impact, but the potential for future abuse remains. Organizations relying on penetration testing frameworks must ensure that these tools are not misused internally or externally, as this could facilitate sophisticated attacks. Overall, the impact is moderate but warrants proactive monitoring and response capabilities to mitigate potential damage.

Defensive guidance

1. Implement strict access controls and monitoring on systems where penetration testing tools like FSociety are installed or used to prevent unauthorized use. 2. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of identifying unusual behaviors associated with payload delivery frameworks. 3. Conduct regular audits of penetration testing tools and frameworks within the organization to ensure they are used only by authorized personnel for legitimate purposes. 4. Enhance network segmentation to limit the potential spread of payloads delivered via such frameworks. 5. Train security teams to recognize signs of legitimate tool abuse and incorporate threat intelligence related to FSociety and Hagga actor activities. 6. Utilize behavioral analytics to detect deviations from normal tool usage patterns. 7. Maintain up-to-date threat intelligence feeds to monitor for emerging indicators related to this threat. 8. Develop incident response playbooks that include scenarios involving abuse of penetration testing frameworks. 9. Restrict execution privileges and employ application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized execution of FSociety components. 10. Collaborate with industry peers and information sharing organizations to stay informed about developments related to this threat actor and framework abuse.

Summary

The reported threat involves the Hagga threat actor potentially abusing the FSociety framework, an open-source penetration testing tool, for malicious payload delivery. FSociety is designed for red team operations and can be repurposed by attackers to deliver malware or other payloads. The information is derived from OSINT sources with moderate certainty (50%), and the threat type remains unknown due to lack of detailed technical data. No specific affected versions or exploits in the wild have been identified, and no patches are available. The threat is categorized under OSINT and payload delivery, indicating that the primary concern is the use of FSociety as a delivery mechanism rather than a vulnerability in the framework itself. This suggests that the risk lies in threat actors leveraging legitimate tools for malicious purposes, complicating detection and response efforts. The medium severity rating reflects the potential impact of such abuse, which could lead to unauthorized access, data exfiltration, or disruption if payloads are successfully delivered. The lack of detailed indicators or technical specifics limits the ability to provide precise detection signatures or mitigation steps beyond general best practices. However, organizations should be aware of the possibility of FSociety being used in attacks and monitor for unusual activity related to penetration testing tools. The threat is relevant to any organization that uses or monitors penetration testing frameworks, especially those in critical infrastructure or high-value sectors. The absence of a CVSS score necessitates an assessment based on impact potential, exploitation ease, and scope, leading to a medium severity classification.

Indicators of compromise

Domains 4

4.204.233.44
4.204.233.44
4.204.233.44
4.204.233.44

URLs 2

http://4.204.233.44/Rump/Rump.xls
http://4.204.233.44/Dll/Dll.ppam

IP addresses 4

4.204.233.44
69.174.99.181
103.151.123.121
103.151.123.121

Hashes 4

9ea4eebd9cf2a5d4e6343cb559d8c996fae6bf0f3bd7ffada0567053c08acc31
ab5b1989ddf6113fcb50d06234dbef65d871e41ce8d76d5fb5cc72055c1b28ba
20a53f17071f377d50ad9de30fdddd320d54d00b597bf96565a2b41c15649f76
5d910ee5697116faa3f4efe230a9d06f6e3f80a7ad2cf8e122546b10e34a0088

File 4

update.js
Dll.ppam
Rump.xls
Rump.xls.inverted.charsReplaced.decoded

X509 fingerprint sha1 2

970f993ad1a289620b5f5033ff5e0b5c4491bb2b
b0238c547a905bfa119c4e8baccaeacf36491ff6

Text 10

servidor
136234453590953102797263558291395548452
localhost
13098529066745705731
/Rump/Rump.xls
4.204.233.44
/Dll/Dll.ppam
4.204.233.44
Is Hagga Threat Actor (ab)using FSociety framework ? apt cybersecurity malwareNovember 21, 2022 Introduction Today I’d like to share a quick analysis initiated during a threat hunting process. The first observable was found during hunting process over OSINT sources, the entire infrastructure was still up and running during the analyses as well as malicious payload were downloadable.
Blog

Boolean 2

Port 1

8895

Link 1

https://marcoramilli.com/2022/11/21/is-hagga-threat-actor-abusing-fsociety-framework/

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