YARA · Signature Base (Florian Roth / Nextron)

SIGNATURE_BASE_APT_CN_Twistedpanda_64Bit_Loader

Detects the 64bit Loader DLL used by TwistedPanda

APT / threat actorSignature Base (Florian Roth / Nextron)Detection Rule License 1.1Compiles with YARA-X

Author: Check Point Research
Date: 2022-04-14
Modified: 2025-07-01
Score / Quality: 80 / 85

What this rule detects

Detects the 64bit Loader DLL used by TwistedPanda

Targets: Windows PE.

It defines 3 patterns (0 text, 3 hex, 0 regex).

Summary generated from the rule's metadata and condition.

Rule source

Download .yar

apt-cn-twistedpanda-64bit-loader.yarDetection Rule License 1.1

rule SIGNATURE_BASE_APT_CN_Twistedpanda_64Bit_Loader : FILE
{
	meta:
		description = "Detects the 64bit Loader DLL used by TwistedPanda"
		author = "Check Point Research"
		id = "2172dd33-204b-5a05-ad26-534a0c1d7a17"
		date = "2022-04-14"
		modified = "2025-07-01"
		reference = "https://research.checkpoint.com/2022/twisted-panda-chinese-apt-espionage-operation-against-russians-state-owned-defense-institutes/"
		source_url = "https://github.com/Neo23x0/signature-base/blob/94a1c48d7ab499879287ff611dfe7f9c56376030/yara/apt_cn_twisted_panda.yar#L120-L155"
		license_url = "https://github.com/Neo23x0/signature-base/blob/94a1c48d7ab499879287ff611dfe7f9c56376030/LICENSE"
		hash = "e0d4ef7190ff50e6ad2a2403c87cc37254498e8cc5a3b2b8798983b1b3cdc94f"
		logic_hash = "644547f9fa6ca3f34ea32e06896f341e0c92f5c57dee3c478aed0cdf87b2f3de"
		score = 80
		quality = 85
		tags = "FILE"

	strings:
		$path_check = { 48 8D [6] 48 8B ?? 48 81 [5] 72 }
		$shellcode_read = { 48 8B D0 41 B8 F0 16 00 00 48 8B CF 48 8B D8 FF}
		$shellcode_allocate = { BA F0 16 00 00 44 8D 4E 40 33 C9 41 B8 00 30 00 00 FF }

	condition:
		uint16( 0 ) == 0x5A4D and uint32( uint32( 0x3C ) ) == 0x00004550 and filesize < 3000KB and $path_check and $shellcode_allocate and $shellcode_read
}

Strings (3 patterns)

Identifier	Type	Value
$path_check	hex	{ 48 8D [6] 48 8B ?? 48 81 [5] 72 }
$shellcode_read	hex	{ 48 8B D0 41 B8 F0 16 00 00 48 8B CF 48 8B D8 FF}
$shellcode_allocate	hex	{ BA F0 16 00 00 44 8D 4E 40 33 C9 41 B8 00 30 00 00 FF }

Condition

uint16( 0 ) == 0x5A4D and uint32( uint32( 0x3C ) ) == 0x00004550 and filesize < 3000KB and $path_check and $shellcode_allocate and $shellcode_read

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).
Pattern $path_check must be present.
Pattern $shellcode_allocate must be present.
Pattern $shellcode_read must be present.

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References

https://research.checkpoint.com/2022/twisted-panda-chinese-apt-espionage-operation-against-russians-state-owned-defense-institutes/

Sample hashes

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

e0d4ef7190ff50e6ad2a2403c87cc37254498e8cc5a3b2b8798983b1b3cdc94f

Licence & attribution

Author: Check Point Research

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: 2172dd33-204b-5a05-ad26-534a0c1d7a17

Tags:FILE

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