The provided information pertains to tracking the Command and Control (C2) infrastructure of the PowerShell Empire framework using the OSINT tool Urlscan.io. PowerShell Empire is a post-exploitation framework commonly used by threat actors to maintain persistence, execute commands, and exfiltrate data on compromised systems. The C2 servers are the backbone of this framework, enabling attackers to control infected hosts remotely. The threat described is not a direct vulnerability or exploit but rather an intelligence-gathering technique to identify and monitor PowerShell Empire C2 domains or URLs by leveraging Urlscan.io, a service that scans and indexes URLs for security analysis. This approach allows defenders and researchers to detect malicious infrastructure associated with PowerShell Empire campaigns by analyzing URL scan results and identifying patterns or indicators of compromise related to this tool. The threat level is medium, with no known active exploits in the wild, and the certainty of the OSINT information is moderate (50%). The technical details indicate a low threat level (2) and no direct analysis, suggesting this is primarily an intelligence or detection capability rather than an active attack vector. There are no affected product versions or patches since this is not a software vulnerability but a method for tracking malicious infrastructure. The tags emphasize the use of OSINT and the MITRE ATT&CK tool classification for Empire (S0363).

For European organizations, the impact of this threat is indirect but valuable from a defensive perspective. By tracking PowerShell Empire C2 servers via Urlscan.io, security teams can enhance their situational awareness and threat hunting capabilities, potentially identifying malicious infrastructure targeting their networks. This can lead to earlier detection of intrusions involving PowerShell Empire, reducing dwell time and limiting damage from data breaches or ransomware attacks. However, since this is not a direct exploit or vulnerability, the immediate risk to confidentiality, integrity, or availability is low. The main impact is on improving incident response and threat intelligence processes. Organizations lacking mature threat intelligence capabilities may miss these indicators, increasing their exposure to PowerShell Empire-based attacks. Additionally, attackers may attempt to evade detection by frequently changing C2 domains or using encrypted channels, limiting the effectiveness of this tracking method.

To leverage this intelligence effectively, European organizations should integrate Urlscan.io and similar OSINT tools into their security operations workflows. Specific recommendations include: 1) Establish automated monitoring of Urlscan.io for new or suspicious domains associated with PowerShell Empire C2 infrastructure. 2) Correlate detected C2 domains with internal network logs, DNS queries, and firewall data to identify potential compromises. 3) Update intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS) and endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools with indicators derived from Urlscan.io findings. 4) Conduct regular threat hunting exercises focusing on PowerShell Empire TTPs (Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures) using MITRE ATT&CK framework references. 5) Train SOC analysts to recognize patterns of PowerShell Empire activity and understand the limitations of OSINT-based detection. 6) Collaborate with national and European cybersecurity information sharing organizations to exchange updated indicators and threat intelligence. 7) Implement strict PowerShell execution policies and monitor PowerShell logs to detect anomalous behavior that may indicate Empire activity. These measures go beyond generic advice by emphasizing integration of OSINT tracking into active defense and incident response processes.