OctLurk and SilkLurk: new Backdoors in Central Asia
Two newly identified backdoors, OctLurk and SilkLurk, have been targeting government organizations across Central Asia since January 2025. Victims span Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Syria, affecting healthcare, research, government offices, ministries of foreign affairs, logistics, law enforcement, urban planning, and educational institutions. Both backdoors employ heavily obfuscated loaders customized per victim, using machine-specific data for decryption. They deploy multiple plugins for command execution, file manipulation, credential harvesting, keylogging, network scanning, and remote access. The attackers also utilized LurkProxy for network traffic proxying and deployed additional tools including PlugX, Impacket, FSCAN, and Pandora FMS agents. Analysis indicates both backdoors are operated by the same Chinese-speaking threat actor, though attribution to a specific known group remains unconfirmed. The campaigns demonstrate sophisticated persistence mechanisms and ext...
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
OctLurk and SilkLurk are sophisticated backdoors identified in early 2025 targeting government-related entities across Central Asia and Syria. They utilize heavily obfuscated, victim-specific loaders that decrypt using machine-specific data. Both backdoors support multiple plugins enabling a broad range of malicious activities including command execution, file operations, credential theft, keylogging, network reconnaissance, and remote control. The attackers employ LurkProxy for network traffic proxying and deploy additional tools such as PlugX, Impacket, FSCAN, and Pandora FMS agents to enhance their operational capabilities. Analysis indicates a single Chinese-speaking threat actor operates both backdoors, though no definitive attribution to a known group is established. The campaigns show advanced persistence and evasion mechanisms.
Potential Impact
The backdoors enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands, manipulate files, harvest credentials, log keystrokes, scan networks, and maintain persistent remote access within targeted organizations. This compromises confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems across multiple critical sectors including government, healthcare, and education in Central Asia and Syria. The use of multiple plugins and additional tools increases the attack surface and operational flexibility for the adversary, facilitating extensive espionage and potential disruption activities.
Mitigation Recommendations
No official patch or remediation guidance is currently available. Organizations in the affected regions should monitor for indicators of compromise related to OctLurk and SilkLurk as described in the referenced analysis. Due to the sophisticated and customized nature of the loaders and plugins, detection may require specialized threat intelligence and behavioral analysis. Incident response teams should consult the detailed vendor analysis at the provided reference link for the latest detection and mitigation recommendations.
Affected Countries
Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Syria
Indicators of Compromise
- hash: 62944e26b36b1dcace429ae26ba66164
- hash: cf903e4a1629aa0582fd0363b5786676
- hash: 9a1dd1d96481d61934dcc2d568971d06
- domain: confbase.mdpsupport.net
- hash: 18dc8bff47cc282508354771d0c8cf8c
- hash: cc5cc2546d3ea8e27250cc4bec24f6ca13caf341
- hash: 23b122deea347dbe2407c1542c1cc6caaafca537eb5d1950a4ed7c8a69395dbb
- domain: fm01.clouddevicemetrics.com
- domain: ssl.blsouqs.com
- hash: 082d49ef9f14e6811d68c7e0e82e5069
- hash: 1415a78b75de7db4ba3d1e61d7db4501
- hash: 2a571f6cee42a17d873f4c942649813f
- hash: 2f18472866f38c1e1c2c5c14b9a6ab56
- hash: 32a5985543433a4f60da2fafd873b927
- hash: 37dc84e4bcad92fa28f1e7778d088283
- hash: 3c9a1ba8e0c7475706adc6376e9d7b7c
- hash: 45cf5916fab4272a1313c26e67aa9220
- hash: 4e6d5c4770d5a822d7fcce6a74f7ad73
- hash: 5e26df131ff0a679a0a2699b723b46e3
- hash: 6ecf84fb18f6747ed08d7598364d853a
- hash: 7c2f64461bb519c6cbf1fc687675514c
- hash: 8269d6ba1b6842f9152c90cf7add9b93
- hash: a0cc7accc79abb0287aaba825d0351f0
- hash: a4d550a3ba0cd073fe3839b99d98a7a8
- hash: a56cce62930a6bee80d679b4c495a340
- hash: b874123a80fc4f40e06872b9cb54ebc6
- hash: be4731c09734da2e8eb6814a9c82f266
- hash: ef59aad625eebda8650aec5820d6ce69
- hash: f4578e869a735cfad691f927bae3e638
- domain: about.blsouqs.com
- domain: api2.annoyingremote.com
- domain: ctyuhjerf.kozow.com
- domain: digital.leroymerling.com
- domain: dns.multitoconference.com
- domain: dns.ssentialserv.xyz
- domain: gycudore.kozow.com
- domain: rgnojb.casacam.net
- domain: tj.tajikistandip.com
- domain: tyhbgtyuj.gleeze.com
- domain: uyhvfredc.accesscam.org
- domain: wedfcvbn.gleeze.com
OctLurk and SilkLurk: new Backdoors in Central Asia
Description
Two newly identified backdoors, OctLurk and SilkLurk, have been targeting government organizations across Central Asia since January 2025. Victims span Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Syria, affecting healthcare, research, government offices, ministries of foreign affairs, logistics, law enforcement, urban planning, and educational institutions. Both backdoors employ heavily obfuscated loaders customized per victim, using machine-specific data for decryption. They deploy multiple plugins for command execution, file manipulation, credential harvesting, keylogging, network scanning, and remote access. The attackers also utilized LurkProxy for network traffic proxying and deployed additional tools including PlugX, Impacket, FSCAN, and Pandora FMS agents. Analysis indicates both backdoors are operated by the same Chinese-speaking threat actor, though attribution to a specific known group remains unconfirmed. The campaigns demonstrate sophisticated persistence mechanisms and ext...
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
OctLurk and SilkLurk are sophisticated backdoors identified in early 2025 targeting government-related entities across Central Asia and Syria. They utilize heavily obfuscated, victim-specific loaders that decrypt using machine-specific data. Both backdoors support multiple plugins enabling a broad range of malicious activities including command execution, file operations, credential theft, keylogging, network reconnaissance, and remote control. The attackers employ LurkProxy for network traffic proxying and deploy additional tools such as PlugX, Impacket, FSCAN, and Pandora FMS agents to enhance their operational capabilities. Analysis indicates a single Chinese-speaking threat actor operates both backdoors, though no definitive attribution to a known group is established. The campaigns show advanced persistence and evasion mechanisms.
Potential Impact
The backdoors enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands, manipulate files, harvest credentials, log keystrokes, scan networks, and maintain persistent remote access within targeted organizations. This compromises confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems across multiple critical sectors including government, healthcare, and education in Central Asia and Syria. The use of multiple plugins and additional tools increases the attack surface and operational flexibility for the adversary, facilitating extensive espionage and potential disruption activities.
Defensive Guidance
No official patch or remediation guidance is currently available. Organizations in the affected regions should monitor for indicators of compromise related to OctLurk and SilkLurk as described in the referenced analysis. Due to the sophisticated and customized nature of the loaders and plugins, detection may require specialized threat intelligence and behavioral analysis. Incident response teams should consult the detailed vendor analysis at the provided reference link for the latest detection and mitigation recommendations.
Affected Countries
Technical Details
- Author
- AlienVault
- Tlp
- white
- References
- ["https://securelist.com/octlurk-silklurk-backdoors-central-asia/120840/"]
- Pulse Id
- 6a6b4b97df5f9df74333adfa
Indicators of Compromise
Hash
| Value | Description | Copy |
|---|---|---|
hash62944e26b36b1dcace429ae26ba66164 | — | |
hashcf903e4a1629aa0582fd0363b5786676 | — | |
hash9a1dd1d96481d61934dcc2d568971d06 | — | |
hash18dc8bff47cc282508354771d0c8cf8c | — | |
hashcc5cc2546d3ea8e27250cc4bec24f6ca13caf341 | — | |
hash23b122deea347dbe2407c1542c1cc6caaafca537eb5d1950a4ed7c8a69395dbb | — | |
hash082d49ef9f14e6811d68c7e0e82e5069 | — | |
hash1415a78b75de7db4ba3d1e61d7db4501 | — | |
hash2a571f6cee42a17d873f4c942649813f | — | |
hash2f18472866f38c1e1c2c5c14b9a6ab56 | — | |
hash32a5985543433a4f60da2fafd873b927 | — | |
hash37dc84e4bcad92fa28f1e7778d088283 | — | |
hash3c9a1ba8e0c7475706adc6376e9d7b7c | — | |
hash45cf5916fab4272a1313c26e67aa9220 | — | |
hash4e6d5c4770d5a822d7fcce6a74f7ad73 | — | |
hash5e26df131ff0a679a0a2699b723b46e3 | — | |
hash6ecf84fb18f6747ed08d7598364d853a | — | |
hash7c2f64461bb519c6cbf1fc687675514c | — | |
hash8269d6ba1b6842f9152c90cf7add9b93 | — | |
hasha0cc7accc79abb0287aaba825d0351f0 | — | |
hasha4d550a3ba0cd073fe3839b99d98a7a8 | — | |
hasha56cce62930a6bee80d679b4c495a340 | — | |
hashb874123a80fc4f40e06872b9cb54ebc6 | — | |
hashbe4731c09734da2e8eb6814a9c82f266 | — | |
hashef59aad625eebda8650aec5820d6ce69 | — | |
hashf4578e869a735cfad691f927bae3e638 | — |
Domain
| Value | Description | Copy |
|---|---|---|
domainconfbase.mdpsupport.net | — | |
domainfm01.clouddevicemetrics.com | — | |
domainssl.blsouqs.com | — | |
domainabout.blsouqs.com | — | |
domainapi2.annoyingremote.com | — | |
domainctyuhjerf.kozow.com | — | |
domaindigital.leroymerling.com | — | |
domaindns.multitoconference.com | — | |
domaindns.ssentialserv.xyz | — | |
domaingycudore.kozow.com | — | |
domainrgnojb.casacam.net | — | |
domaintj.tajikistandip.com | — | |
domaintyhbgtyuj.gleeze.com | — | |
domainuyhvfredc.accesscam.org | — | |
domainwedfcvbn.gleeze.com | — |
Threat ID: 6a6c856d9c2644c7f8ba4277
Added to database: 07/31/2026, 11:22:21 UTC
Last enriched: 07/31/2026, 12:42:42 UTC
Last updated: 09/13/2026, 20:14:29 UTC
Views: 300
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