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APT39 threat group

APT39 is a threat group thought to operate from Iran. Public reporting links it to 39 attack techniques. This free profile shows how it works, stage by stage, so you can judge the risk to you. It lists the other names the group goes by and links to every public report behind it.

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Attack techniques
39
Public reports
10
Thought to operate from
Iran
Other names
7
Built from public reporting, with every source listed below.
Overview

Who is APT39?

APT39 has 7 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

ChaferREMIX KITTENCOBALT HICKMANG0087Radio SerpensTA454ITG07

Security companies each give the same group their own name, so one group can have many.

What public reporting says

APT39 was created to bring together previous activities and methods used by this actor, and its activities largely align with a group publicly referred to as "Chafer." However, there are differences in what has been publicly reported due to the variances in how organizations track activity. APT39 primarily leverages the SEAWEED and CACHEMONEY backdoors along with a specific variant of the POWBAT backdoor. While APT39's targeting scope is global, its activities are concentrated in the Middle East. APT39 has prioritized the telecommunications sector, with additional targeting of the travel industry and IT firms that support it and the high-tech industry.

Public reports about APT39 (10)

How it works

How does APT39 attack? Stage by stage.

Each technique is a known way attackers research, get in, stay hidden or do damage. Here are the 39 linked to APT39, 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 33 more specific variations of them, called sub-techniques.

Stage 5 of 15

Staying in

Making sure they keep access after a restart or a password change.

7 techniques
  • T1053Scheduled Task/Job
  • T1078Valid Accounts
  • T1136Create Account
  • T1197BITS Jobs
  • T1505Server Software Component
  • T1546Event Triggered Execution
  • T1547Boot or Logon Autostart Execution
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FAQ

Questions about APT39

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APT39 is a threat group thought to operate from Iran. Public reporting links it to 39 attack techniques.

Public reporting places APT39 as operating from Iran. Attribution is never certain: it rests on the tools, infrastructure and targets researchers have seen.

Public reporting links APT39 to 39 attack techniques. Most of them are about staying in, hiding and looking around.

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