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YARA · Signature Base (Florian Roth / Nextron)

SIGNATURE_BASE_APT_APT29_NOBELIUM_Malware_May21_4

Detects malware used by APT29 / NOBELIUM

APT / threat actorSignature Base (Florian Roth / Nextron)Detection Rule License 1.1Compiles with YARA-X
Author
Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)
Date
2021-05-29
Modified
2025-03-21
Score / Quality
75 / 85

What this rule detects

Detects malware used by APT29 / NOBELIUM

Targets: Windows PE.

It defines 5 patterns (1 text, 4 hex, 0 regex).

Summary generated from the rule's metadata and condition.

Rule source

Download .yar
apt-apt29-nobelium-malware-may21-4.yarDetection Rule License 1.1
rule SIGNATURE_BASE_APT_APT29_NOBELIUM_Malware_May21_4 : FILE
{
	meta:
		description = "Detects malware used by APT29 / NOBELIUM"
		author = "Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)"
		id = "56193475-52b4-5720-abc5-72249e2a0c37"
		date = "2021-05-29"
		modified = "2025-03-21"
		reference = "https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2021/05/28/breaking-down-nobeliums-latest-early-stage-toolset/"
		source_url = "https://github.com/Neo23x0/signature-base/blob/94a1c48d7ab499879287ff611dfe7f9c56376030/yara/apt_apt29_nobelium_may21.yar#L302-L323"
		license_url = "https://github.com/Neo23x0/signature-base/blob/94a1c48d7ab499879287ff611dfe7f9c56376030/LICENSE"
		hash = "3b94cc71c325f9068105b9e7d5c9667b1de2bde85b7abc5b29ff649fd54715c4"
		logic_hash = "7d5858cc6dab094d5dceab75a2002d9145537008241a08ac7bd399c9d6e6c270"
		score = 75
		quality = 85
		tags = "FILE"

	strings:
		$s1 = "KM.FileSystem.dll" ascii fullword
		$op1 = { 80 3d 50 6b 04 10 00 0f 85 96 00 00 00 33 c0 40 b9 48 6b 04 10 87 01 33 db 89 5d fc }
		$op2 = { c3 33 c0 b9 7c 6f 04 10 40 87 01 c3 8b ff 55 }
		$op3 = { 8d 4d f4 e8 53 ff ff ff 68 d0 22 01 10 8d 45 f4 50 e8 d8 05 00 00 cc 8b 41 04 }
		$xc1 = { 2E 64 6C 6C 00 00 00 00 41 53 4B 4F 44 00 00 00
               53 75 63 63 65 73 73 }

	condition:
		uint16( 0 ) == 0x5a4d and filesize < 3000KB and ( $xc1 or 3 of them )
}

Strings (5 patterns)

IdentifierTypeValueModifiers
$s1text"KM.FileSystem.dll"ascii fullword
$op1hex{ 80 3d 50 6b 04 10 00 0f 85 96 00 00 00 33 c0 40 b9 48 6b 04 10 87 01 33 db 89 5d fc }
$op2hex{ c3 33 c0 b9 7c 6f 04 10 40 87 01 c3 8b ff 55 }
$op3hex{ 8d 4d f4 e8 53 ff ff ff 68 d0 22 01 10 8d 45 f4 50 e8 d8 05 00 00 cc 8b 41 04 }
$xc1hex{ 2E 64 6C 6C 00 00 00 00 41 53 4B 4F 44 00 00 00 53 75 63 63 65 73 73 }

Condition

uint16( 0 ) == 0x5a4d and filesize < 3000KB and ( $xc1 or 3 of them )

In plain words (Heuristic)

  • The file must start with “MZ” — a Windows executable (PE).
  • The file must be smaller than 3000KB (a cheap guard that skips large files).
  • At least 3 patterns in the rule must match.
  • Pattern $xc1 must be present.

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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).

  • 3b94cc71c325f9068105b9e7d5c9667b1de2bde85b7abc5b29ff649fd54715c4

Licence & attribution

Author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)

Source repository: Signature Base (Florian Roth / Nextron) @ 94a1c48d7a

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: 56193475-52b4-5720-abc5-72249e2a0c37

Tags:FILE

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