payloadbin

Executive Summary

PayloadBIN is a ransomware strain attributed to Evil Corp, deployed as a rebranding effort to evade US Treasury OFAC sanctions. It was first seen in September 2021 and last observed in January 2022, targeting various organizations for financial gain. With 29 known victims, this actor poses a significant threat to global cybersecurity.

Goals & Targeting

PayloadBIN's strategic objectives are centered around achieving financial gain through ransomware attacks, with a focus on targeting organizations that can provide the highest returns. The actor's targeting profile is likely driven by the potential for significant financial rewards, with a emphasis on sectors that are more likely to pay ransom demands. Typical victims of PayloadBIN include organizations with valuable data and limited cyber security capabilities, making them more susceptible to ransomware attacks.

The use of PayloadBIN as a rebranding effort also underscores the complexities of attributing cyber attacks to specific actors. The impersonation of the Babuk gang by Evil Corp introduces challenges for threat intelligence analysts and law enforcement agencies, as it blurs the lines between different actor groups and their respective operations. This highlights the need for continuous monitoring and analysis of threat actor tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) to stay ahead of evolving cyber threats.

Key Capabilities

• Ransomware deployment
• Evasion techniques
• Impersonation of other actor groups
• Network exploitation
• Data encryption

MITRE ATT&CK Tactics

ATT&CK Techniques

Software / Tooling

Campaigns & Victims

PayloadBIN's campaign patterns are characterized by a focus on financial gain, with a notable operational tempo that involves the deployment of ransomware strains to maximize returns. The actor's campaigns typically involve targeting organizations with limited cyber security capabilities, using tactics such as phishing and network exploitation to gain initial access. Notable past operations include the deployment of WastedLocker and Hades ransomware strains, which share similarities with PayloadBIN's TTPs.

IOC Patterns

• Spear-phishing with macro-laced Office documents
• C2 over DNS using fast-flux
• Staging infrastructure on bulletproof hosting

Recommended Actions

• Implement robust network segmentation
• Conduct regular security audits
• Deploy anti-ransomware solutions
• Establish incident response plans

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