Pensive

Threat Actor updated 5 months ago (2024-05-04T20:14:30.860Z)
Download STIX
Preview STIX
Pensive Ursa, also known as Turla or Uroburos, is a Russian-based threat group that has been active since at least 2004 and is linked to the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). The group employs advanced and stealthy tools like Kazuar, a .NET backdoor used as a second stage payload. In 2023, Pensive Ursa was chosen as the main focus for the MITRE ATT&CK evaluation due to its significant activities and arsenal which consistently raised multiple alerts in Cortex XDR, mapping to various MITRE ATT&CK tactics and techniques. During the tracking of Pensive Ursa's evolution, Unit 42 researchers discovered an upgraded variant of Kazuar, indicating the group's ongoing development of sophisticated cyber threats. An incident involving a combination of known Pensive Ursa tools and techniques scored a 91, a very high-risk level, highlighting the potential damage of falling victim to an attack by this group. It's important to note that the term "Pensive" is also associated with a company called Oasis Pensive Abacutors, founded by Gary Bowser in 1985, but this entity has no connection to the threat actor Pensive Ursa. Given the escalating threat posed by Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) groups like Pensive Ursa, it's crucial for organizations of all sizes and industries to prioritize comprehensive security strategies and invest in multilayered security measures. Palo Alto Networks' Cortex XDR and XSIAM customers are provided with protections against Pensive Ursa's arsenal of malware. The potential damage from a Pensive Ursa APT attack can be significant, emphasizing the need for robust cybersecurity defenses.
Description last updated: 2024-05-04T18:49:37.971Z
What's your take? (Question 1 of 4)
Help tune the shared Cybergeist dataset, assist your peers, and earn karma. Expand the panel to get started.
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. Create a free account to see the source evidence for each alias, and help fix any errors.
Alias DescriptionVotes
Turla is a possible alias for Pensive. Turla, a Russia-linked Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) group, has been increasingly active in recent years, demonstrating advanced capabilities and a sophisticated approach to cyber-espionage. The group is known for its use of innovative backdoors, such as TinyTurla-NG, which was used to spy on Pol
2
Uroburos is a possible alias for Pensive. Uroburos, also known as Snake, Turla, Pensive Ursa, and Venomous Bear, is a sophisticated malware linked to the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). The development of this malicious software began in late 2003, with its operations traced back to at least 2004. Uroburos is part of a broader arsen
2
Miscellaneous Associations
Other elements of context that could aid in the identification of relevance
Backdoor
Analyst Notes & Discussion
Be the first to leave your mark here! Log in to share your views and vote.
Associated Malware
To see the evidence that has resulted in these malware associations, create a free account
Alias DescriptionAssociation TypeVotes
The Kazuar Malware is associated with Pensive. Kazuar is a sophisticated multiplatform trojan horse malware, linked to the Russian-based threat group Turla (also known as Pensive Ursa, Uroburos, Snake), which has been operating since at least 2004. This group, believed to be connected to the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), utilizes an arUnspecified
2
Associated Threat Actors
To see the evidence that has resulted in these threatActor associations, create a free account
Alias DescriptionAssociation TypeVotes
The Pensive Ursa Threat Actor is associated with Pensive. Pensive Ursa, also known as Turla, Uroburos, Venomous Bear, and Waterbug, is a Russian-based advanced persistent threat (APT) group that has been operating since at least 2004. The group, linked to the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), is renowned for its sophisticated cyber-espionage activitiUnspecified
2
Source Document References
Information about the Pensive Threat Actor was read from the documents corpus below. This display is limited to 20 results, create a free account to see more