Forest Blizzard

Threat Actor Profile Updated 3 months ago
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Forest Blizzard, also known as APT28, Fancy Bear, and Strontium, is a threat actor linked to the Russian General Staff Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) and the 85th Main Special Service Center (GTsSS). The group has been involved in persistent espionage campaigns against European countries, which have been strongly condemned by NATO and the European Union. In April 2022, Forest Blizzard gained access to the Moobot botnet and utilized it for their operations. This group is known for its advanced persistent threat (APT) tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), demonstrating consistent and long-lasting repetitions in its activities. The group exploited a Microsoft Outlook flaw, identified as CVE-2023-23397, which escalated privileges within the system. They also used a hacking tool named GooseEgg to exploit the Windows Print Spooler flaw CVE-2022-38028, which was disclosed by Microsoft in October 2022. Forest Blizzard had been using GooseEgg since at least June 2020, but the discovery of this new vulnerability allowed them to find a new pathway into Windows systems. Following these incidents, Microsoft recommended users apply the CVE-2022-38028 security update to mitigate the GooseEgg threat, with the Microsoft Defender Antivirus specifically detecting the Forest Blizzard capability as HackTool:Win64/GooseEgg. This Russia-linked threat actor's actions have attracted international attention, with observations from US agencies and partners from Belgium, Brazil, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. Despite efforts to dismantle the botnets and patch vulnerabilities, Forest Blizzard continues to pose a significant threat due to its ability to adapt and utilize publicly available exploits. It is critical for organizations to remain vigilant, apply necessary security updates, and monitor for potential threats associated with this group.
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Possible Aliases / Cluster overlaps
It's hard to track cluster overlaps and naming conventions between vendors, so here are some possible overlapping names / profiles you also may want to look at.
IDVotesProfile Description
APT28
8
APT28, also known as Fancy Bear, is a threat actor linked to Russia and has been involved in numerous cyber espionage campaigns. The group is notorious for its sophisticated tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs). Recently, NATO and the EU formally condemned APT28's activities, acknowledging the
STRONTIUM
4
Strontium, also known as APT28, Fancy Bear, Forest Blizzard, and several other aliases, is a Russia-linked threat actor that has been active since at least 2007. This group, believed to be associated with the Russian General Staff Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), has targeted governments, milita
Pawn Storm
4
Pawn Storm, also known as APT28, Fancy Bear, Sofacy Group, Sednit, BlueDelta, and STRONTIUM, is a threat actor that has been active since at least 2007. This group is notorious for targeting governments, militaries, and security organizations worldwide. In recent years, the methods employed by Pawn
Ta422
2
TA422, also known under various aliases such as APT28, Forest Blizzard, Pawn Storm, Fancy Bear, and BlueDelta, is a threat actor attributed to the Russian General Staff Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) by the United States Intelligence Community. This group has been active in exploiting vulnerabi
Itg05
2
ITG05, also known by various aliases including APT28, Fancy Bear, and Forest Blizzard, is a sophisticated malware that has been targeting non-governmental organizations (NGOs) through phishing lures. This harmful software, designed to exploit and damage computer systems, infects systems primarily th
Sednit
2
Sednit, also known as APT28, Fancy Bear, Strontium/Forest Blizzard, Pawn Storm, Sofacy, and BlueDelta, is a threat actor associated with Russia's military intelligence. Active since at least 2007, the group has targeted governments, militaries, and security organizations worldwide. ESET has shed lig
Fighting Ursa
1
Fighting Ursa, also known as APT28 or Fancy Bear, is a malicious software (malware) group notorious for conducting attacks on behalf of Russia's military. The group has been involved in numerous cyber campaigns exploiting various vulnerabilities, with the most recent being the Microsoft Outlook vuln
Blue Athena
1
None
Midnight Blizzard
1
Midnight Blizzard, a Russia-linked Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) group, has emerged as a significant cybersecurity concern. The group is known for executing actions with malicious intent and has been linked to several high-profile cyber attacks on global organizations. Notably, it breached the sy
Fancybear
1
Fancybear, also known as APT28, Forest Blizzard, or Strontium, is a threat actor linked to Russia that has been involved in various cyber espionage operations. These operations have targeted European countries and have been condemned by both NATO and the European Union. This group has demonstrated a
Miscellaneous Associations
Other elements of context that could aid in the identification of relevance
Russia
Vulnerability
Microsoft
Botnet
Apt
Ukraine
Exploit
Outlook
Windows
Phishing
Spearphishing
CISA
Antivirus
Openai
Blizzard
State Sponso...
Zero Day
Malware
Evasive
Proxy
Associated Malware
To see the evidence that has resulted in this association, create a free account
IDTypeVotesProfile Description
MoobotUnspecified
2
Moobot is a malicious software (malware) that has been causing significant disruption in the digital world. The malware, which can infiltrate systems through various methods such as suspicious downloads, emails, or websites, is known for its capability to steal personal information, disrupt operatio
Associated Threat Actors
To see the evidence that has resulted in this association, create a free account
IDTypeVotesProfile Description
Frozenlakehas used
2
Frozenlake, also known as APT28, Fancy Bear, Forest Blizzard, and several other names, is a threat actor believed to be sponsored by the Russian military. The group has been involved in numerous cyber-attacks, primarily targeting Ukraine's energy sector. Their modus operandi includes exploiting vuln
Sofacy GroupUnspecified
1
The Sofacy Group, also known as APT28, Fancy Bear, Pawn Storm, Sednit, BlueDelta, and STRONTIUM, is a significant threat actor in the global cybersecurity landscape. Active since at least 2007, this group has targeted governments, militaries, and security organizations worldwide. The group's activit
SandwormUnspecified
1
Sandworm, a threat actor linked to Russia, has been implicated in numerous high-profile cyber attacks. This group's activities have primarily targeted Ukraine, compromising the country's critical infrastructure and telecommunications providers. The Sandworm group is known for its fileless attack met
Seashell BlizzardUnspecified
1
Seashell Blizzard, also known as Iridium, Sandworm, Voodoo Bear, and APT44, is a state-sponsored threat actor group affiliated with the Russian military intelligence service (GRU). Microsoft has identified this group as distinct from other Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) groups operating under the
Seashell Blizzard IridiumUnspecified
1
Seashell Blizzard Iridium, also known as Sandworm, is a threat actor reportedly comprised of Russian military intelligence officers. This group has been identified as distinct from other Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) groups associated with the Russian military intelligence GRU, such as Forest Bli
Star BlizzardUnspecified
1
Star Blizzard, also known as Seaborgium or the Callisto Group, is a threat actor linked to Russia's intelligence service, the FSB. The group has been involved in sophisticated cyber-attacks worldwide, primarily using spear-phishing campaigns to steal account credentials and data. Microsoft, which tr
KryptonUnspecified
1
Krypton, also known as Secret Blizzard or UAC-0003, is a significant threat actor that has been associated with Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB). This Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) group has been active since at least 2004, targeting diplomatic and government organizations as well as priva
Secret BlizzardUnspecified
1
Secret Blizzard, also known as Turla, KRYPTON, and UAC-0003, is a threat actor group linked to Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB). This Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) group has been active since the early 2000s, primarily targeting government organizations worldwide. The group's activities we
Charcoal TyphoonUnspecified
1
Charcoal Typhoon, a China-affiliated threat actor, has been identified as one of the state-backed groups using OpenAI's ChatGPT for malicious purposes. The group is known for focusing on tracking groups in Taiwan, Thailand, Mongolia, Malaysia, France, Nepal, and individuals globally that oppose Chin
Crimson SandstormUnspecified
1
Crimson Sandstorm, an Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) group linked to Iran, has been identified as a significant threat actor in the cybersecurity landscape. This entity, potentially connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and active since at least 2017, targets victims across diverse se
Emerald SleetUnspecified
1
Emerald Sleet, a North Korea-affiliated advanced persistent threat (APT) group, has emerged as a significant cybersecurity concern. The group leverages OpenAI’s ChatGPT, the same technology that underpins Microsoft's Copilot, to enhance its malicious activities. These activities include spear-phishi
Associated Vulnerabilities
To see the evidence that has resulted in this association, create a free account
IDTypeVotesProfile Description
CVE-2022-38028Unspecified
4
None
CVE-2021-34527Unspecified
1
CVE-2021-34527, also known as PrintNightmare, is a software vulnerability that involves a flaw in software design or implementation. The exploitation process begins when a user clicks on a link which downloads a ZIP archive containing a malicious JScript (JS) downloader titled 'Stolen Images Evidenc
Printnightmare Cve-2021-34527Unspecified
1
PrintNightmare (CVE-2021-34527) is a significant software vulnerability that was identified and reported in 2021. It is a flaw in the design or implementation of Microsoft's Windows Print Spooler service, which can be exploited for local and Windows Active Domain privilege escalation. This allows at
CVE-2021-1675Unspecified
1
None
Source Document References
Information about the Forest Blizzard Threat Actor was read from the documents corpus below. This display is limited to 20 results, create a free account to see more
SourceCreatedAtTitle
SecurityIntelligence.com
2 months ago
Threat intelligence to protect vulnerable communities
Securityaffairs
2 months ago
Pro-Russia hackers targeted Kosovo government websites
Securityaffairs
3 months ago
Russia-linked APT28 targets government Polish institutions
Securityaffairs
3 months ago
NATO and the EU formally condemned APT28 cyber espionage
BankInfoSecurity
3 months ago
Russian GRU Hackers Compromised German, Czech Targets
Securityaffairs
3 months ago
Russia-linked APT28 and crooks are still using the Moobot botnet
Trend Micro
3 months ago
Router Roulette: Cybercriminals and Nation-States Sharing Compromised Networks
Securityaffairs
3 months ago
CISA adds Microsoft Windows Print Spooler flaw to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
BankInfoSecurity
3 months ago
Russian Hackers Exploiting Windows Print Spooler Vuln
DARKReading
3 months ago
Russia's Fancy Bear Pummels Windows Print Spooler Bug
InfoSecurity-magazine
3 months ago
Russian APT28 Group in New “GooseEgg” Hacking Campaign
Securityaffairs
3 months ago
Russia-linked APT28 used tool GooseEgg for to exploit Win bug
CERT-EU
4 months ago
APT28 Hacker Group Targeting Europe, Americas, Asia in Widespread Phishing Scheme | #hacking | #cybersecurity | #infosec | #comptia | #pentest | #hacker | National Cyber Security Consulting
CERT-EU
5 months ago
Russian Midnight Blizzard Hackers Breached Microsoft Source Code | #hacking | #cybersecurity | #infosec | #comptia | #pentest | #hacker | National Cyber Security Consulting
CERT-EU
5 months ago
Russian Military Botnet Dismantled
CERT-EU
5 months ago
Ubiquiti router users urged to secure devices targeted by Russian hackers
CERT-EU
5 months ago
FBI Alert: Russian Hackers Target Ubiquiti Routers for Data, Botnet Creation
CERT-EU
5 months ago
Russia-linked APT28 compromised Ubiquiti EdgeRouters to facilitate cyber operations
CERT-EU
5 months ago
Microsoft, OpenAI move to fend off genAI-aided hackers — for now
BankInfoSecurity
5 months ago
Moscow Military Hackers Used Microsoft Outlook Vulnerability