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YARA · Signature Base (Florian Roth / Nextron)

SIGNATURE_BASE_APT_Sandworm_Cyclopsblink_Module_Initialisation

Detects the code bytes used to initialise the modules built into Cyclops Blink

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 initialise the modules built into Cyclops Blink

Targets: Linux ELF.

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

Summary generated from the rule's metadata and condition.

Rule source

apt-sandworm-cyclopsblink-module-initialisation.yarDetection Rule License 1.1
rule SIGNATURE_BASE_APT_Sandworm_Cyclopsblink_Module_Initialisation : FILE
{
	meta:
		description = "Detects the code bytes used to initialise the modules built into Cyclops Blink"
		author = "NCSC"
		id = "c81b92c4-3f70-5bbd-acfa-ed1e1d33461d"
		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#L39-L55"
		license_url = "https://github.com/Neo23x0/signature-base/blob/94a1c48d7ab499879287ff611dfe7f9c56376030/LICENSE"
		hash = "3adf9a59743bc5d8399f67cab5eb2daf28b9b863"
		hash = "c59bc17659daca1b1ce65b6af077f86a648ad8a8"
		logic_hash = "8bde37f642cf07e323beabaacd5c62f8422b451777fc1fc4a6bdf474db49de12"
		score = 75
		quality = 85
		tags = "FILE"

	strings:
		$ = {94 21 FF F0 93 E1 00 08 7C 3F 0B 78 38 00 00 ?? 7C 03
      03 78 81 61 00 00 8E EB FF F8 7D 61 5B 78 4E 80 00 20}

	condition:
		( uint32( 0 ) == 0x464c457f ) and ( any of them )
}

Strings (1 patterns)

IdentifierTypeValueModifiers
$hex{94 21 FF F0 93 E1 00 08 7C 3F 0B 78 38 00 00 ?? 7C 03 03 78 81 61 00 00 8E EB FF F8 7D 61 5B 78 4E 80 00 20}

Condition

( uint32( 0 ) == 0x464c457f ) and ( any of them )

In plain words (Heuristic)

  • The file must start with the ELF header — a Linux/Unix executable.
  • At least one pattern 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).

  • 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: c81b92c4-3f70-5bbd-acfa-ed1e1d33461d

Tags:FILE