What public reporting says
Our analysis reveals that APT33 is a capable group that has carried out cyber espionage operations since at least 2013. We assess APT33 works at the behest of the Iranian government.
APT33 threat group
APT33 is an espionage group thought to operate from Iran, with suspected state backing. Public reporting links it to 23 attack techniques, and to attacks on private sector organisations, with 3 countries and victims named. This free profile shows how it works and who it targets, so you can judge the risk to you.
- Attack techniques
- 23
- Countries and victims named
- 3
- Thought to operate from
- Iran
- Suspected backing
- Iran
- Motive
- Espionage
- Other names
- 10
Built from public reporting, with every source listed below.
Overview
Who is APT33?
APT33 has 10 other names in security research. Below is what published reporting says about it, with a link to every report so you can check the detail yourself.
Also known as
APT 33ElfinMAGNALLIUMRefined KittenHOLMIUMCOBALT TRINITYG0064ATK35Peach SandstormTA451
Security companies each give the same group their own name, so one group can have many.
Public reports about APT33 (11)
- APT33 Insights into Iranian Cyber Espionagefireeye.com · 2017 (opens in a new tab)
- More Than a Dozen Obfuscated APT33 Botnets Used for Extreme Narrow Targetingtrendmicro.com (opens in a new tab)
- Webcastbrighttalk.com (opens in a new tab)
- Elfin APT33 Espionagebroadcom.com (opens in a new tab)
- Cobalt Trinitysecureworks.com (opens in a new tab)
- Groupsmitre.org (opens in a new tab)
- Research Roundup Activity on Previously Identified APT33 Domainsthreatconnect.com (opens in a new tab)
- APT 33cfr.org (opens in a new tab)
How it works
How does APT33 attack? Stage by stage.
Each technique is a known way attackers research, get in, stay hidden or do damage. Here are the 23 linked to APT33, laid out from first look to final blow. Some techniques belong to more than one stage. Pick a stage to see them. Public reporting also lists 24 more specific variations of them, called sub-techniques.
Stage 6 of 15
5 techniquesTaking control
Turning ordinary access into administrator access.
- T1053Scheduled Task/Job
- T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation
- T1078Valid Accounts
- T1546Event Triggered Execution
- T1547Boot or Logon Autostart Execution
Targets
Who does APT33 go after?
The sectors and places named in public reporting about this group. If yours is on the list, it is worth knowing how they work and which flaws they use.
Countries and victims named (3)
- 01United States
- 02Saudi Arabia
- 03South Korea
Free account
Is APT33 a risk to you?
A public profile tells you who a group is. Your account tells you whether it matters to you: we match the software you run to the flaws threat groups use, and we keep watching, so you hear about anything that affects you as soon as we know.
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APT33 is an espionage group thought to operate from Iran, with suspected state backing. Public reporting links it to 23 attack techniques, and to attacks on private sector organisations, with 3 countries and victims named.
Public reporting places APT33 as operating from Iran, with suspected state backing. Attribution is never certain: it rests on the tools, infrastructure and targets researchers have seen.
In public reporting, sectors named include private sector, and 3 countries and victims are named, including United States, Saudi Arabia and South Korea.
Public reporting links APT33 to 23 attack techniques. Most of them are about taking control, stealing passwords and keeping contact with their servers.
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