An Iran-linked nation-state threat actor known for stealing data via custom malware and C2 servers spying on communication platforms.
Analyst brief
Madi is an Iran-linked nation-state threat actor. It targets government, private sector, infrastructure, engineering, finance, and administration entities primarily in Iran, Israel, Pakistan, and the United States. Its TTPs involve custom malware and Command & Control (C2) servers to spy on communication platforms such as Gmail, Hotmail, ICQ, Skype, and Google+, stealing sensitive data from victims. Defenders should focus on detecting Madi-related C2 traffic, securing accounts of personnel involved in critical infrastructure projects, and mitigating targeted phishing campaigns against email and communication applications.
Madi
nation-state
Kaspersky Lab and Seculert worked together to sinkhole the Madi Command & Control (C&C) servers to monitor the campaign. Kaspersky Lab and Seculert identified more than 800 victims located in Iran, Israel and select countries across the globe connecting to the C&Cs over the past eight months. Statistics from the sinkhole revealed that the victims were primarily business people working on Iranian and Israeli critical infrastructure projects, Israeli financial institutions, Middle Eastern engineering students, and various government agencies communicating in the Middle East.
Common applications and websites that were spied on include accounts on Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo! Mail, ICQ, Skype, Google+, and Facebook. Surveillance is also performed over integrated ERP/CRM systems, business contracts, and financial management systems.
origin (suspected)
🇮🇷Iran· state-sponsoredattribution confidence: medium (50)
Which communication platforms are typically targeted by the Madi threat actor?+
Madi's campaign focuses on monitoring communication platforms such as Gmail, Hotmail, ICQ, Skype, and Google+.
What groups were primarily identified as victims during the Madi sinkhole operation?+
According to sinkhole data from Kaspersky Lab and Seculert, the victims were primarily business people working on Iranian and Israeli critical infrastructure projects, Israeli financial institutions, Middle Eastern engineering students, and government agencies operating in the region.