U.S. cybersecurity and intelligence agencies have issued a warning about an Iranian hacking group, known as Pioneer Kitten, that has been breaching multiple organizations across the country and coordinating with affiliates to deliver ransomware. The group, also known as Fox Kitten, Lemon Sandstorm, Parisite, and UNC757, is linked to the Iranian government and uses an Iranian IT company, Danesh Novin Sahand, as a likely cover.
Key Takeaways
Pioneer Kitten is targeting sectors such as education, finance, healthcare, and defense, as well as local government entities in the U.S.
The group collaborates with ransomware affiliates like NoEscape, RansomHouse, and BlackCat to deploy file-encrypting malware.
Initial access is gained through exploiting vulnerabilities in remote external services on internet-facing assets.
The group's activities date back to 2017 and continue to the present day.
Targeted Sectors and Methods
The hacking group has targeted a wide range of sectors, including education, finance, healthcare, and defense, as well as local government entities in the U.S. Intrusions have also been reported in Israel, Azerbaijan, and the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.), aimed at pilfering sensitive data. The goal is to gain an initial foothold in victim networks and subsequently collaborate with ransomware affiliates to deploy file-encrypting malware in exchange for a cut of the illicit proceeds.
Techniques and Tools
Initial access is achieved by exploiting vulnerabilities in remote external services on internet-facing assets. Some of the known vulnerabilities include CVE-2019-19781, CVE-2022-1388, CVE-2023-3519, CVE-2024-3400, and CVE-2024-24919. Once access is gained, the group uses tools like AnyDesk and the open-source Ligolo tunneling tool to persist, escalate privileges, and set up remote access.
Historical Context
Iranian state-sponsored ransomware operations are not new. In December 2020, cybersecurity companies Check Point and ClearSky detailed a Pioneer Kitten hack-and-leak campaign called Pay2Key that targeted dozens of Israeli companies by exploiting known security vulnerabilities. The ransom demanded ranged between seven and nine Bitcoin, with some cases negotiated down to three Bitcoin.
Recent Developments
Microsoft has observed another Iranian state-sponsored threat actor, Peach Sandstorm, deploying a new custom multi-stage backdoor referred to as Tickler. This malware has been used in attacks against targets in the satellite, communications equipment, oil and gas, and government sectors in the U.S. and U.A.E. between April and July 2024. Peach Sandstorm is assessed to be operating on behalf of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Counterintelligence Operations
Google-owned Mandiant has uncovered a suspected Iran-nexus counterintelligence operation aimed at collecting data on Iranians and domestic threats who may be collaborating with its perceived adversaries, including Israel. The operation uses fake recruitment websites to trick prospective victims into sharing their personal information. These decoy websites impersonate Israeli human resources firms and are disseminated via social media channels.
The campaign has been active since 2022 and targets Farsi-speaking individuals who may be working with intelligence and security agencies, posing a threat to Iran's regime.
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Sources
U.S. Agencies Warn of Iranian Hacking Group's Ongoing Ransomware Attacks, The Hacker News.