MuddyWater

MuddyWater is an Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) actor that first surfaced in 2017, primarily targeting countries in the Middle East, Europe, and the USA. The group uses a range of techniques for its cyber-espionage activities, including PowerShell for execution, HTTP for C2 communications, and malware that can collect the victim's username. The tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) and infrastructure analyzed in recent intrusions align with previously reported activities by the MuddyWater APT group. Recently, VBS/DLL-based implants used by MuddyWater have been uncovered and are still active today. The threat actor has been spotted targeting Israeli entities on multiple occasions, demonstrating their ongoing activity and potential threats to global cybersecurity. These attacks have led to increased scrutiny from cybersecurity firms and government organizations alike. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released a Malware Analysis Report (MAR-10369127-1.v1) on MuddyWater, providing further insights into the group's operations and their potential impact on targeted systems. Recent reports from Check Point Research and Sekoia highlight new developments in MuddyWater's activities. The group has deployed a new backdoor, known as "BugSleep," in their recent campaigns, according to Check Point Research. Furthermore, Sekoia reported that MuddyWater has replaced Atera with a custom implant called "MuddyRot" in a recent campaign. This continuous evolution of tactics and tools underscores MuddyWater's persistent threat to cybersecurity and emphasizes the need for robust defense mechanisms against such sophisticated actors.