Greenbug Cyberespionage Group Targeting Middle East, Possible Links to Shamoon
Symantec is currently investigating reports of yet another new attack in the Middle East involving the destructive disk-wiping malware used by the Shamoon group (W32.Disttrack, W32.Disttrack.B). Similar to previous attacks, the Disttrack malware used by Shamoon is just the destructive payload. It required other means to be deployed on targeted organizations’ networks and is configured with previously stolen credentials.
Symantec discovered the Greenbug cyberespionage group during its investigation into previous attacks involving W32.Disttrack.B (aka Shamoon). Shamoon (W32.Disttrack) first made headlines in 2012 when it was used in attacks against energy companies in Saudi Arabia. It recently resurfaced in November 2016 (W32.Disttrack.B), again attacking targets in Saudi Arabia. While these attacks were covered extensively in the media, how the attackers stole these credentials and introduced W32.Disttrack on targeted organizations’ networks remains a mystery.
Could Greenbug be responsible for getting Shamoon those stolen credentials?
Greenbug was discovered targeting a range of organizations in the Middle East including companies in the aviation, energy, government, investment, and education sectors. The group uses a custom information-stealing remote access Trojan (RAT) known as Trojan.Ismdoor as well as a selection of hacking tools to steal sensitive credentials from compromised organizations.
Although there is no definitive link between Greenbug and Shamoon, the group compromised at least one administrator computer within a Shamoon-targeted organization’s network prior to W32.Disttrack.B being deployed on November 17, 2016.
Source | symantec
