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APT42

APT42 is an Iranian-sponsored threat group that conducts cyber espionage and surveillance.[1] The group primarily focuses on targets in the Middle East region, but has targeted a variety of industries and countries since at least 2015.[1] APT42 starts cyber operations through spearphishing emails and/or the PINEFLOWER Android malware, then monitors and collects information from the compromised systems and devices.[1] Finally, APT42 exfiltrates data using native features and open-source tools.[2]

APT42 activities have been linked to Magic Hound by other commercial vendors. While there are behavior and software overlaps between Magic Hound and APT42, they appear to be distinct entities and are tracked as separate entities by their originating vendor.

ID: G1044
Contributors: Sittikorn Sangrattanapitak
Version: 1.0
Created: 08 January 2025
Last Modified: 08 March 2025
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Enterprise Layer
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Techniques Used

Domain ID Name Use
Enterprise T1087 .001 Account Discovery: Local Account

APT42 has used the PowerShell-based POWERPOST script to collect local account names from the victim machine.[1]

Enterprise T1583 .001 Acquire Infrastructure: Domains

APT42 has registered domains, several of which masqueraded as news outlets and login services, for use in operations.[1][3]

.003 Acquire Infrastructure: Virtual Private Server

APT42 has used anonymized infrastructure and Virtual Private Servers (VPSs) to interact with the victim’s environment.[1][2]

Enterprise T1071 .001 Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols

APT42 has used tools such as NICECURL with command and control communication taking place over HTTPS.[2]

Enterprise T1547 Boot or Logon Autostart Execution

APT42 has modified the Registry to maintain persistence.[1]

Enterprise T1059 .001 Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell

APT42 has downloaded and executed PowerShell payloads.[1]

.005 Command and Scripting Interpreter: Visual Basic

APT42 has used a VBScript to query anti-virus products.[2]

Enterprise T1555 .003 Credentials from Password Stores: Credentials from Web Browsers

APT42 has used custom malware to steal credentials.[1]

Enterprise T1132 .001 Data Encoding: Standard Encoding

APT42 has encoded C2 traffic with Base64.[2]

Enterprise T1530 Data from Cloud Storage

APT42 has collected data from Microsoft 365 environments.[2][1]

Enterprise T1573 .002 Encrypted Channel: Asymmetric Cryptography

APT42 has used tools such as NICECURL with command and control communication taking place over HTTPS.[2]

Enterprise T1585 .002 Establish Accounts: Email Accounts

APT42 has created email accounts to use in spearphishing operations.[3]
Enterprise T1656 Impersonation

APT42 has impersonated legitimate people in phishing emails to gain credentials.[1][3]

Enterprise T1070 Indicator Removal

APT42 has cleared Chrome browser history.[2]

.008 Clear Mailbox Data

APT42 has deleted login notification emails and has cleared the Sent folder to cover their tracks.[1]

Enterprise T1056 Input Capture

APT42 has used credential harvesting websites.[2]

.001 Keylogging

APT42 has used custom malware to log keystrokes.[1]

Enterprise T1036 .005 Masquerading: Match Legitimate Resource Name or Location

APT42 has masqueraded the VINETHORN payload as a VPN application.[1]

Enterprise T1112 Modify Registry

APT42 has modified Registry keys to maintain persistence.[1]

Enterprise T1111 Multi-Factor Authentication Interception

APT42 has intercepted SMS-based one-time passwords and has set up two-factor authentication.[1] Additionally, APT42 has used cloned or fake websites to capture MFA tokens.[2]

Enterprise T1588 .002 Obtain Capabilities: Tool

APT42 has used built-in features in the Microsoft 365 environment and publicly available tools to avoid detection.[2]

Enterprise T1566 .002 Phishing: Spearphishing Link

APT42 has sent spearphishing emails containing malicious links.[1][2][3]

Enterprise T1053 .005 Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task

APT42 has used scheduled tasks for persistence.[1]

Enterprise T1113 Screen Capture

APT42 has used malware, such as GHAMBAR and POWERPOST, to take screenshots.[1]

Enterprise T1518 .001 Software Discovery: Security Software Discovery

APT42 has used Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) to check for anti-virus products.[2]

Enterprise T1608 .001 Stage Capabilities: Upload Malware

APT42 has used its infrastructure for C2 and for staging the VINETHORN payload, which masqueraded as a VPN application.[1]

Enterprise T1539 Steal Web Session Cookie

APT42 has used custom malware to steal login and cookie data from common browsers.[1]

Enterprise T1082 System Information Discovery

APT42 has used malware, such as GHAMBAR and POWERPOST, to collect system information.[1]

Enterprise T1016 System Network Configuration Discovery

APT42 has used malware, such as GHAMBAR and POWERPOST, to collect network information.[1]

Enterprise T1102 Web Service

APT42 has used various links, such as links with typo-squatted domains, links to Dropbox files and links to fake Google sites, in spearphishing operations.[2][1][3]

Enterprise T1047 Windows Management Instrumentation

APT42 has used Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) to query anti-virus products.[2]

Software

ID Name References Techniques
S1192 NICECURL [2] Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols, Command and Scripting Interpreter, Encrypted Channel: Asymmetric Cryptography, Indicator Removal: File Deletion, Ingress Tool Transfer
S1193 TAMECAT [2] Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols, Command and Scripting Interpreter: Windows Command Shell, Command and Scripting Interpreter: Visual Basic, Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell, Data Encoding: Standard Encoding, Encrypted Channel: Symmetric Cryptography, Ingress Tool Transfer, Software Discovery: Security Software Discovery, Windows Management Instrumentation

References

  1. Mandiant. (n.d.). APT42: Crooked Charms, Cons and Compromises. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  2. Rozmann, O., et al. (2024, May 1). Uncharmed: Untangling Iran's APT42 Operations. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  1. Google Threat Analysis Group. (2024, August 14). Iranian backed group steps up phishing campaigns against Israel, U.S.. Retrieved October 9, 2024.