Red October

Red October is a sophisticated malware, also known by aliases such as Clean Ursa, Inception, Oxygen, and Cloud Atlas. This malicious software has been utilized by an active cyber espionage group since at least 2014, targeting several countries including Russia, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Slovenia. The malware is designed to exploit and damage computer systems, typically infiltrating through suspicious downloads, emails, or websites. Once inside a system, it can steal personal information, disrupt operations, or hold data hostage for ransom. The Red October malware incorporates a variety of tools and techniques to achieve its objectives. One notable feature is the use of object files and Office plugins. In the context of CloudAtlas, these are used to compress logs and decompress the decrypted payload from the command and control (C&C) servers. Conversely, in Red October, a "scheduler" plugin uses this functionality to decompress executable payloads from the C&C servers. These methods enable the malware to maintain persistence on infected systems and facilitate data exfiltration. The name "Red October" might be familiar to some due to its association with popular culture. It shares its name with the best-selling Tom Clancy novel "The Hunt for Red October," which was later adapted into a highly successful film directed by John McTiernan. The movie features a Soviet commander who takes his submarine rogue in the Atlantic Ocean, leading to a high-stakes geopolitical thriller. However, the malware and the movie/novel share only a name and should not be confused with each other.