OSINT - Goblin Panda continues to target Vietnam
OSINT - Goblin Panda continues to target Vietnam
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
The provided information pertains to the threat actor known as Goblin Panda, also referenced by the alias 'hellsing' and associated with the malware family 'newcore rat'. Goblin Panda is a persistent threat actor group known for conducting cyber espionage campaigns, primarily targeting entities in Vietnam. The intelligence is derived from open-source intelligence (OSINT) and indicates ongoing targeting activities against Vietnamese organizations. The threat actor is characterized by a low severity rating and a moderate threat level (3 on an unspecified scale), with an analysis confidence level of 2, suggesting some uncertainty in the details. The malware associated, 'newcore rat', is a remote access trojan that enables attackers to gain unauthorized access and control over victim systems, potentially facilitating data exfiltration, surveillance, and further lateral movement within networks. The threat actor's activity is described as perpetual, implying a long-term, sustained campaign rather than a transient or opportunistic attack. No specific affected software versions or known exploits are listed, and no direct indicators of compromise (IOCs) are provided in the data. The absence of known exploits in the wild and the low severity rating suggest that while the threat actor is active, the immediate risk or impact may be limited or targeted rather than widespread. The information is tagged with a TLP (Traffic Light Protocol) white designation, indicating it is intended for public sharing without restriction.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, the direct impact of Goblin Panda's activities appears limited given the current intelligence focuses on Vietnam as the primary target region. However, the presence of a persistent threat actor capable of deploying remote access trojans poses a potential risk if their targeting scope expands or if European entities have operational or business ties with Vietnamese organizations. The use of RATs like 'newcore rat' can compromise confidentiality by enabling unauthorized data access and exfiltration, threaten integrity through potential manipulation of data or systems, and affect availability if systems are disrupted or commandeered. European organizations involved in sectors such as manufacturing, technology, or supply chain operations linked to Vietnam could be indirectly affected. Additionally, geopolitical tensions and the interconnected nature of global supply chains mean that intelligence sharing and vigilance are important to preempt any lateral movement or expansion of targeting by Goblin Panda into Europe.
Mitigation Recommendations
European organizations should adopt targeted threat hunting and monitoring for indicators associated with Goblin Panda and 'newcore rat', even if no direct IOCs are provided here. This includes deploying advanced endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of identifying RAT behaviors such as unusual remote connections, persistence mechanisms, and data exfiltration patterns. Network segmentation and strict access controls should be enforced to limit lateral movement in case of compromise. Organizations with business links to Vietnam should enhance supply chain security assessments and collaborate with partners to share threat intelligence. Regular employee training on spear-phishing and social engineering, common initial attack vectors for RAT deployment, is critical. Additionally, organizations should maintain up-to-date asset inventories and conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate potential entry points. Participation in information sharing communities and leveraging threat intelligence feeds that include Goblin Panda activity can improve detection and response capabilities.
Affected Countries
Vietnam, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Poland
OSINT - Goblin Panda continues to target Vietnam
Description
OSINT - Goblin Panda continues to target Vietnam
AI-Powered Analysis
Technical Analysis
The provided information pertains to the threat actor known as Goblin Panda, also referenced by the alias 'hellsing' and associated with the malware family 'newcore rat'. Goblin Panda is a persistent threat actor group known for conducting cyber espionage campaigns, primarily targeting entities in Vietnam. The intelligence is derived from open-source intelligence (OSINT) and indicates ongoing targeting activities against Vietnamese organizations. The threat actor is characterized by a low severity rating and a moderate threat level (3 on an unspecified scale), with an analysis confidence level of 2, suggesting some uncertainty in the details. The malware associated, 'newcore rat', is a remote access trojan that enables attackers to gain unauthorized access and control over victim systems, potentially facilitating data exfiltration, surveillance, and further lateral movement within networks. The threat actor's activity is described as perpetual, implying a long-term, sustained campaign rather than a transient or opportunistic attack. No specific affected software versions or known exploits are listed, and no direct indicators of compromise (IOCs) are provided in the data. The absence of known exploits in the wild and the low severity rating suggest that while the threat actor is active, the immediate risk or impact may be limited or targeted rather than widespread. The information is tagged with a TLP (Traffic Light Protocol) white designation, indicating it is intended for public sharing without restriction.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, the direct impact of Goblin Panda's activities appears limited given the current intelligence focuses on Vietnam as the primary target region. However, the presence of a persistent threat actor capable of deploying remote access trojans poses a potential risk if their targeting scope expands or if European entities have operational or business ties with Vietnamese organizations. The use of RATs like 'newcore rat' can compromise confidentiality by enabling unauthorized data access and exfiltration, threaten integrity through potential manipulation of data or systems, and affect availability if systems are disrupted or commandeered. European organizations involved in sectors such as manufacturing, technology, or supply chain operations linked to Vietnam could be indirectly affected. Additionally, geopolitical tensions and the interconnected nature of global supply chains mean that intelligence sharing and vigilance are important to preempt any lateral movement or expansion of targeting by Goblin Panda into Europe.
Mitigation Recommendations
European organizations should adopt targeted threat hunting and monitoring for indicators associated with Goblin Panda and 'newcore rat', even if no direct IOCs are provided here. This includes deploying advanced endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of identifying RAT behaviors such as unusual remote connections, persistence mechanisms, and data exfiltration patterns. Network segmentation and strict access controls should be enforced to limit lateral movement in case of compromise. Organizations with business links to Vietnam should enhance supply chain security assessments and collaborate with partners to share threat intelligence. Regular employee training on spear-phishing and social engineering, common initial attack vectors for RAT deployment, is critical. Additionally, organizations should maintain up-to-date asset inventories and conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate potential entry points. Participation in information sharing communities and leveraging threat intelligence feeds that include Goblin Panda activity can improve detection and response capabilities.
Affected Countries
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Technical Details
- Threat Level
- 3
- Analysis
- 2
- Original Timestamp
- 1556803290
Threat ID: 682acdbdbbaf20d303f0bfcb
Added to database: 5/19/2025, 6:20:45 AM
Last enriched: 7/2/2025, 10:10:13 AM
Last updated: 7/30/2025, 9:04:52 PM
Views: 12
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Actions
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