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SEKOIA_Apt_Cottonsandstorm_Win_Implant

Detects a simple win implant used by Cotton Sandstorm

APT / threat actorSEKOIA.IO CommunityDetection Rule License 1.1Compiles with YARA-X
Author
Sekoia.io
Date
2024-11-05
Modified
2024-12-19
Score / Quality
75 / 80

What this rule detects

Detects a simple win implant used by Cotton Sandstorm

Targets: Windows PE.

It defines 8 patterns (8 text, 0 hex, 0 regex).

Summary generated from the rule's metadata and condition.

Rule source

apt-cottonsandstorm-win-implant.yarDetection Rule License 1.1
rule SEKOIA_Apt_Cottonsandstorm_Win_Implant : FILE
{
	meta:
		description = "Detects a simple win implant used by Cotton Sandstorm"
		author = "Sekoia.io"
		id = "04a5255c-f9bb-4612-b0e2-ed0326867055"
		date = "2024-11-05"
		modified = "2024-12-19"
		reference = "https://github.com/SEKOIA-IO/Community"
		source_url = "https://github.com/SEKOIA-IO/Community/blob/a438a5901a211c2abdf75da9c93921ef187473d1/yara_rules/apt_cottonsandstorm_win_implant.yar#L1-L24"
		license_url = "https://github.com/SEKOIA-IO/Community/blob/a438a5901a211c2abdf75da9c93921ef187473d1/LICENSE.md"
		hash = "f797d71ed07d6e05556300e4ce0f2927"
		logic_hash = "dcb25ee236ca52f23cc6bfdbcedcbc6d407e88f06341e684f202a59954733ade"
		score = 75
		quality = 80
		tags = "FILE"
		version = "1.0"
		classification = "TLP:CLEAR"

	strings:
		$ = "DIR =>" wide
		$ = "type=machines&md5=" wide
		$ = "File =>" wide
		$ = "&ip=" wide fullword
		$ = "&un=" wide fullword
		$ = "&cp=" wide fullword
		$ = "myFile\";filename=" ascii
		$ = "ifB75BcjsRBhy2et" ascii

	condition:
		uint16be( 0 ) == 0x4d5a and 4 of them and filesize < 500KB
}

Strings (8 patterns)

IdentifierTypeValueModifiers
$text"DIR =>"wide
$text"type=machines&md5="wide
$text"File =>"wide
$text"&ip="wide fullword
$text"&un="wide fullword
$text"&cp="wide fullword
$text"myFile\";filename="ascii
$text"ifB75BcjsRBhy2et"ascii

Condition

uint16be( 0 ) == 0x4d5a and 4 of them and filesize < 500KB

In plain words (Heuristic)

  • The file must start with “MZ” — a Windows executable (PE).
  • The file must be smaller than 500KB (a cheap guard that skips large files).
  • At least 4 patterns in the rule must match.

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References

Sample hashes

Hashes of samples the author lists in the rule's meta (look them up in your threat-intelligence platform).

  • f797d71ed07d6e05556300e4ce0f2927

Licence & attribution

Author: Sekoia.io

Source repository: SEKOIA.IO Community @ a438a5901a

Licence: Detection Rule License 1.1 (repository licence)

Original rule

Mirrored via YARA Forge 20260927, which prefixes rule names with the source and adds normalised meta fields.

Rule id: 04a5255c-f9bb-4612-b0e2-ed0326867055

Metadata

version1.0
classificationTLP:CLEAR

Tags:FILE