Also known as: APT34, Earth Preta, Stately Taurus, COLDRIVER, SEABORGIUM, Star Blizzard, Blue Callisto, BlueCharlie, Storm-0978, Tropical Scorpius, UNC2596, UAC-0056, UNC2589, EmberBear, LorecBear, Lorec53, TA471, APT28, Fancy Bear, Forest Blizzard, Sofacy, APT29, Cozy Bear, Nobelium, Snake, UAC-0020, UAC-0063, TAG-110, Operation C-Major, Mythic Leopard, ProjectM, APT36, Earth Karkaddan, APT-C-23, Desert Falcons, Two-tailed Scorpion, PROMETHIUM, APT-C-41, Inception Framework, UNC1151, TA446, GOSSAMER BEAR, TAG-53, IRON FRONTIER, UNC4057, COLD RELIC, Desert Falcon, Arid Viper, Bearded Barbie, Nascent Ursa, Nodaria, FROZENVISTA, Storm-0587, DEV-0587, Saint Bear, EMBER BEAR, Lorec Bear, Bleeding Bear, Cadet Blizzard, Ruinous Ursa, NIOBIUM, RENEGADE JACKAL, Scimitar
CloudSorcerer is a sophisticated APT targeting Russian government entities, utilizing cloud infrastructure for stealth monitoring and data exfiltration. The malware leverages APIs and authentication tokens to access cloud resources for command and control, with GitHub serving as its initial C2 server. CloudSorcerer operates as separate modules depending on the process it's running in, executing from a single executable and utilizing complex inter-process communication through Windows pipes. The actor behind CloudSorcerer shows similarities to the CloudWizard APT in modus operandi, but the unique code and functionality suggest it is a new threat actor inspired by previous techniques.
Targeted Sectors
Targeted Countries / Regions
Executive Summary
CloudSorcerer is a sophisticated APT targeting Russian government entities, employing cloud infrastructure for stealthy operations including monitoring and data exfiltration. The group leverages APIs and authentication tokens to gain unauthorized access to cloud resources, utilizing GitHub as its initial command-and-control server. CloudSorcerer operates with modular malware, demonstrating similarities to the CloudWizard APT in modus operandi but exhibits unique code functionality.
Goals & Targeting
CloudSorcerer's strategic objectives appear to center on espionage and data theft, particularly targeting Russian government entities. The choice of cloud infrastructure for its operations indicates an interest in maintaining long-term persistence and low-key surveillance within targeted networks. The group's focus on API exploitation and token-based access suggests a desire to operate undetected while exfiltrating sensitive information.
Enhanced Description
CloudSorcerer has emerged as a notable advanced persistent threat (APT) group, specializing in targeting Russian government entities through sophisticated cyber operations. The group's primarymethodology involves leveraging cloud infrastructure for both command and control (C2) communication and data exfiltration activities. Unique to CloudSorcerer is its use of APIs and authentication tokens to access cloud resources, ensuring a level of stealthiness that allows it to evade traditional detection mechanisms. The malware employed by CloudSorcerer operates as separate modules depending on the process it's running in. This modular approach enables flexibility and adaptability, with all components executing from a single executable file. Communication between these modules is facilitated through complex inter-process interactions using Windows pipes, further reinforcing the operational efficiency and stealth of the group. While sharing similarities in tactics with other cloud-focused APTs like CloudWizard, CloudSorcerer demonstrates unique code functionality, suggesting it may be a newly emerging threat actor inspired by previous techniques.
Key Capabilities
MITRE ATT&CK Tactics
ATT&CK Techniques
Software / Tooling
Campaigns & Victims
CloudSorcerer has demonstrated a patient and methodical approach, with operations appearing to be state-sponsored due to their focus on high-value targets in the Russian government sector. The group's campaigns exhibit a preference for long-term espionage over immediate破坏性 actions, aligning with APT behavior typically observed in nation-state actors. Notable operations include multiple campaigns leveraging cloud resources for C2 and data theft, though specific incidents remain limited in public reporting due to the group's relative newness.
IOC Patterns
Recommended Actions
Suggested Tags
Confidence Assessment
Medium confidence due to the uniqueness of the threat actor's code and its limited but targeted operations. The linkage to CloudWizard suggests a possible pattern, but more data is needed on weaponized campaigns. IOC patterns from similar groups can inform defensive measures.
No campaigns linked yet.
No observed data linked yet.
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Techniques
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Campaigns
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IOCs
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Observed Data
2
Tactics