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Threat Actors ITSecTeam

Also known as: tracked as, Cobalt Illusion, APT28, Pawn Storm, Fancy Bear, Volatile, Operation Cleaver, Project Spy, Cridex, similar to Sliver, Cobalt Strike, consists of multiple components, NoFive, Plat1, Sednit, U2DiskWatch, control module

Description

**Targets:** One of the threat actors responsible for the denial of service attacks against U.S in 2012/2013. Three individuals associated with the group believed to be have been working on behalf of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were indicted by the Justice Department in 2016.

Goals & Targeting

Targeted Sectors

Financial services
Government
Defense
Telecommunications
Healthcare
Manufacturing
Education
Energy
Transportation
Critical infrastructure
Aerospace
Media
Aviation
Chemical
Information technology
Retail
Non profit
Utilities
Oil gas
Mining
Pharmaceutical
Entertainment
Maritime
Legal services
Nuclear
Hospitality
Gaming

Targeted Countries / Regions

IR
US
RU
CN
UA
BR
KR
GB
IN
PL
IL
AU
MX
DE
ES
CA
JP
SA
TR
SY
TW
IT
FR
VN
SG
PK
KP
AE
NL
AZ
KZ

AI Analysis

· 1 week ago

Executive Summary

ITSecTeam is a nation-state threat actor linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), known for orchestrating significant denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks against U.S. targets between 2012 and 2013. The group has demonstrated capabilities in large-scale cyber disruptions, with three individuals associated with ITSecTeam indicted by the U.S. Justice Department in 2016.

Goals & Targeting

ITSecTeam's primary objective appears to be disrupting U.S. critical infrastructure and public sector services through DDoS attacks, possibly as part of broader geopolitical and ideological goals. The group targets sectors such as government, finance, and energy, focusing on high-profile American organizations to achieve maximum impact.

Enhanced Description

ITSecTeam is a nation-state threat actor suspected to operate under the auspices of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The group gained notoriety for conducting DDoS attacks targeting U.S. entities during 2012 and 2013, which disrupted critical infrastructure and services. These attacks were part of a broader campaign to interfere with American interests, likely driven by political motivations. ITSecTeam's association with the IRGC suggests a potential link to state-sponsored espionage and disruptive activities.

Key Capabilities

  • Nation-state backed operations
  • Large-scale DDoS campaigns
  • Botnet control

MITRE ATT&CK Tactics

Sabotage
Disruption

ATT&CK Techniques

T1492.001
T1503.001

Software / Tooling

Botnet malware

Campaigns & Victims

ITSecTeam has demonstrated a history of conducting prolonged campaigns targeting the U.S., with notable operations in 2012-2013. The group's members were linked to a significant DDoS campaign that disrupted American financial and energy sectors, suggesting ongoing operational activity. Indictments in 2016 highlight their continued interest in disrupting U.S. interests.

IOC Patterns

  • Large-scale DDoS attack patterns
  • Botnet-based command and control

Recommended Actions

  • Enhance DDoS protection with multi-layered defense strategies
  • Monitor for botnet-related anomalies in network traffic
  • Conduct regular security assessments of critical infrastructure

Suggested Tags

nation-state
espionage
cyber-physical

Confidence Assessment

Confidence in ITSecTeam's identity and capabilities is high due to historical data and legal actions. However, specific details about their current operational toolset and exact targeting mechanisms remain unclear.

Software / Tooling

Campaigns / Victims

No campaigns linked yet.

Observed Data

No observed data linked yet.

References

  1. apt.etda.or.th — Cited by web research for: Operation Cleaver
  2. attack.mitre.org — Cited by web research for: Project Spy
  3. attack.mitre.org — Cited by web research for: T1190

Intel Summary

9

Techniques

44

Tools

0

Campaigns

40

IOCs

0

Observed Data

6

Tactics

Tags

APT
DDoS
nation-state
espionage
cyber-physical

Details

Type
Nation-State
Resource Level
Government
Primary Motivation
Espionage
Country of Origin
Iran (IR)
Confidence
70%
Added
Jul 15, 2026
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