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YARA · Signature Base (Florian Roth / Nextron)

SIGNATURE_BASE_APT_CN_Twistedpanda_Loader

Detects loader 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 loader used by TwistedPanda

Targets: Windows PE.

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

Summary generated from the rule's metadata and condition.

Rule source

Download .yar
apt-cn-twistedpanda-loader.yarDetection Rule License 1.1
rule SIGNATURE_BASE_APT_CN_Twistedpanda_Loader : FILE
{
	meta:
		description = "Detects loader used by TwistedPanda"
		author = "Check Point Research"
		id = "a10f6019-f069-579c-b112-18537a7d8fd8"
		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#L1-L44"
		license_url = "https://github.com/Neo23x0/signature-base/blob/94a1c48d7ab499879287ff611dfe7f9c56376030/LICENSE"
		hash = "5b558c5fcbed8544cb100bd3db3c04a70dca02eec6fedffd5e3dcecb0b04fba0"
		hash = "efa754450f199caae204ca387976e197d95cdc7e83641444c1a5a91b58ba6198"
		logic_hash = "b7f4f31a26b5f968b1d5c82d9165b4d45d75336993b113dda54fd37f628639ee"
		score = 80
		quality = 85
		tags = "FILE"

	strings:
		$seq1 = { 6A 40 68 00 30 00 00 }
		$seq2 = { 6A 00 50 6A 14 8D ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? 50 53 FF }
		$seq3 = { 6A 00 6A 00 6A 03 6A 00 6A 03 68 00 00 00 80 }
		$decryption = { 8B C? [2-3] F6 D? 1A C? [4-6] 30 0? ?? 4? }

	condition:
		uint16( 0 ) == 0x5A4D and uint32( uint32( 0x3C ) ) == 0x00004550 and filesize < 3000KB and all of ( $seq* ) and $decryption
}

Strings (4 patterns)

IdentifierTypeValueModifiers
$seq1hex{ 6A 40 68 00 30 00 00 }
$seq2hex{ 6A 00 50 6A 14 8D ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? 50 53 FF }
$seq3hex{ 6A 00 6A 00 6A 03 6A 00 6A 03 68 00 00 00 80 }
$decryptionhex{ 8B C? [2-3] F6 D? 1A C? [4-6] 30 0? ?? 4? }

Condition

uint16( 0 ) == 0x5A4D and uint32( uint32( 0x3C ) ) == 0x00004550 and filesize < 3000KB and all of ( $seq* ) and $decryption

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).
  • All patterns in ( $seq* ) must match.
  • Pattern $decryption 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).

  • 5b558c5fcbed8544cb100bd3db3c04a70dca02eec6fedffd5e3dcecb0b04fba0
  • efa754450f199caae204ca387976e197d95cdc7e83641444c1a5a91b58ba6198

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: a10f6019-f069-579c-b112-18537a7d8fd8

Tags:FILE

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