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SIGNATURE_BASE_APT_Sandworm_Cyclopsblink_Handle_Mod_0X51_Command

Detects the code bytes used to check commands sent to module ID 0x51 and notable strings relating to the Cyclops Blink update process

APT / threat actorSignature Base (Florian Roth / Nextron)Detection Rule License 1.1Compiles with YARA-X
Author
NCSC
Date
2022-02-23
Modified
2023-12-05
Score / Quality
75 / 85

What this rule detects

Detects the code bytes used to check commands sent to module ID 0x51 and notable strings relating to the Cyclops Blink update process

Targets: Linux ELF.

It defines 7 patterns (4 text, 3 hex, 0 regex).

Summary generated from the rule's metadata and condition.

Rule source

apt-sandworm-cyclopsblink-handle-mod-0x51-command.yarDetection Rule License 1.1
rule SIGNATURE_BASE_APT_Sandworm_Cyclopsblink_Handle_Mod_0X51_Command : FILE
{
	meta:
		description = "Detects the code bytes used to check commands sent to module ID 0x51 and notable strings relating to the Cyclops Blink update process"
		author = "NCSC"
		id = "a6800aed-27dc-5d01-b005-1eb4a62344a3"
		date = "2022-02-23"
		modified = "2023-12-05"
		reference = "https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/news/joint-advisory-shows-new-sandworm-malware-cyclops-blink-replaces-vpnfilter"
		source_url = "https://github.com/Neo23x0/signature-base/blob/94a1c48d7ab499879287ff611dfe7f9c56376030/yara/apt_sandworm_cyclops_blink.yar#L176-L200"
		license_url = "https://github.com/Neo23x0/signature-base/blob/94a1c48d7ab499879287ff611dfe7f9c56376030/LICENSE"
		hash = "3adf9a59743bc5d8399f67cab5eb2daf28b9b863"
		hash = "c59bc17659daca1b1ce65b6af077f86a648ad8a8"
		logic_hash = "8a68f4a5f5b7a45819e9a198881aa41b75a65181b63788c8b824b339bfd6fc67"
		score = 75
		quality = 85
		tags = "FILE"

	strings:
		$cmd_check = {88 1F [2] 54 00 06 3E 2F 80 00 (01|02|03) }
		$path1 = "/etc/wg/configd-hash.xml"
		$path2 = "/etc/wg/config.xml"
		$mnt_arg1 = "ext2"
		$mnt_arg2 = "errors=continue"
		$mnt_arg3 = {38 C0 0C 20}
		$mnt_arg4 = {38 C0 0C 21}

	condition:
		( uint32( 0 ) == 0x464c457f ) and ( #cmd_check == 3 ) and ( ( @cmd_check [ 3 ] - @cmd_check [ 1 ] ) < 0x200 ) and ( all of ( $path* ) ) and ( all of ( $mnt_arg* ) )
}

Strings (7 patterns)

IdentifierTypeValueModifiers
$cmd_checkhex{88 1F [2] 54 00 06 3E 2F 80 00 (01|02|03) }
$path1text"/etc/wg/configd-hash.xml"
$path2text"/etc/wg/config.xml"
$mnt_arg1text"ext2"
$mnt_arg2text"errors=continue"
$mnt_arg3hex{38 C0 0C 20}
$mnt_arg4hex{38 C0 0C 21}

Condition

( uint32( 0 ) == 0x464c457f ) and ( #cmd_check == 3 ) and ( ( @cmd_check [ 3 ] - @cmd_check [ 1 ] ) < 0x200 ) and ( all of ( $path* ) ) and ( all of ( $mnt_arg* ) )

In plain words (Heuristic)

  • The file must start with the ELF header — a Linux/Unix executable.
  • All patterns in ( $path* ) must match.
  • All patterns in ( $mnt_arg* ) must match.
  • Pattern $cmd_check must occur == 3 times.

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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).

  • 3adf9a59743bc5d8399f67cab5eb2daf28b9b863
  • c59bc17659daca1b1ce65b6af077f86a648ad8a8

Licence & attribution

Author: NCSC

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: a6800aed-27dc-5d01-b005-1eb4a62344a3

Tags:FILE