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Aoqin Dragon

Aoqin Dragon is a suspected Chinese cyber espionage threat group that has been active since at least 2013. Aoqin Dragon has primarily targeted government, education, and telecommunication organizations in Australia, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Vietnam. Security researchers noted a potential association between Aoqin Dragon and UNC94, based on malware, infrastructure, and targets.[1]

ID: G1007
Contributors: Hiroki Nagahama, NEC Corporation; Pooja Natarajan, NEC Corporation India; Manikantan Srinivasan, NEC Corporation India
Version: 1.0
Created: 14 July 2022
Last Modified: 24 October 2022
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Enterprise Layer
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Techniques Used

Domain ID Name Use
Enterprise T1587 .001 Develop Capabilities: Malware

Aoqin Dragon has used custom malware, including Mongall and Heyoka Backdoor, in their operations.[1]
Enterprise T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution

Aoqin Dragon has exploited CVE-2012-0158 and CVE-2010-3333 for execution against targeted systems.[1]
Enterprise T1083 File and Directory Discovery

Aoqin Dragon has run scripts to identify file formats including Microsoft Word.[1]
Enterprise T1570 Lateral Tool Transfer

Aoqin Dragon has spread malware in target networks by copying modules to folders masquerading as removable devices.[1]
Enterprise T1036 .005 Masquerading: Match Legitimate Name or Location

Aoqin Dragon has used fake icons including antivirus and external drives to disguise malicious payloads.[1]
Enterprise T1027 .002 Obfuscated Files or Information: Software Packing

Aoqin Dragon has used the Themida packer to obfuscate malicious payloads.[1]
Enterprise T1588 .002 Obtain Capabilities: Tool

Aoqin Dragon obtained the Heyoka open source exfiltration tool and subsequently modified it for their operations.[1]
Enterprise T1091 Replication Through Removable Media

Aoqin Dragon has used a dropper that employs a worm infection strategy using a removable device to breach a secure network environment.[1]
Enterprise T1204 .002 User Execution: Malicious File

Aoqin Dragon has lured victims into opening weaponized documents, fake external drives, and fake antivirus to execute malicious payloads.[1]

Software

ID Name References Techniques
S1027 Heyoka Backdoor [1] Application Layer Protocol: DNS, Boot or Logon Autostart Execution: Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder, Deobfuscate/Decode Files or Information, File and Directory Discovery, Indicator Removal: File Deletion, Masquerading: Masquerade Task or Service, Obfuscated Files or Information: Encrypted/Encoded File, Peripheral Device Discovery, Process Discovery, Process Injection: Dynamic-link Library Injection, Protocol Tunneling, System Binary Proxy Execution: Rundll32, System Information Discovery, System Service Discovery, User Execution: Malicious File
S1026 Mongall [1] Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols, Boot or Logon Autostart Execution: Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder, Data Encoding: Standard Encoding, Data from Local System, Deobfuscate/Decode Files or Information, Encrypted Channel: Symmetric Cryptography, Exfiltration Over C2 Channel, Ingress Tool Transfer, Obfuscated Files or Information: Software Packing, Peripheral Device Discovery, Process Injection: Dynamic-link Library Injection, System Binary Proxy Execution: Rundll32, System Information Discovery, User Execution: Malicious File

References

  1. Chen, Joey. (2022, June 9). Aoqin Dragon | Newly-Discovered Chinese-linked APT Has Been Quietly Spying On Organizations For 10 Years. Retrieved July 14, 2022.