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YARA · Signature Base (Florian Roth / Nextron)

SIGNATURE_BASE_APT_Sandworm_Cyclopsblink_Notable_Strings

Detects notable strings identified within the Cyclops Blink executable

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 notable strings identified within the Cyclops Blink executable

Targets: Linux ELF.

It defines 12 patterns (12 text, 0 hex, 0 regex).

Summary generated from the rule's metadata and condition.

Rule source

apt-sandworm-cyclopsblink-notable-strings.yarDetection Rule License 1.1
rule SIGNATURE_BASE_APT_Sandworm_Cyclopsblink_Notable_Strings : FILE
{
	meta:
		description = "Detects notable strings identified within the Cyclops Blink executable"
		author = "NCSC"
		id = "81ccf582-41f5-5fe5-8afc-e008e01289ff"
		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#L6-L37"
		license_url = "https://github.com/Neo23x0/signature-base/blob/94a1c48d7ab499879287ff611dfe7f9c56376030/LICENSE"
		hash = "3adf9a59743bc5d8399f67cab5eb2daf28b9b863"
		hash = "c59bc17659daca1b1ce65b6af077f86a648ad8a8"
		logic_hash = "fdd3a1de9d178370fcc66dbca4628d7bedfbc002bca9e463e11cb444302900ea"
		score = 75
		quality = 85
		tags = "FILE"

	strings:
		$proc_name1 = "[kworker/0:1]"
		$proc_name2 = "[kworker/1:1]"
		$dns_query = "POST /dns-query HTTP/1.1\x0d\x0aHost: dns.google\x0d\x0a"
		$iptables1 = "iptables -I %s -p tcp --dport %d -j ACCEPT &>/dev/null"
		$iptables2 = "iptables -D %s -p tcp --dport %d -j ACCEPT &>/dev/null"
		$sys_recon1 = "{\"ver\":\"%x\",\"mods\";["
		$sys_recon2 = "uptime: %lu mem_size: %lu mem_free: %lu"
		$sys_recon3 = "disk_size: %lu disk_free: %lu"
		$sys_recon4 = "hw: %02x:%02x:%02x:%02x:%02x:%02x"
		$testpath = "%s/214688dsf46"
		$confpath = "%s/rootfs_cfg"
		$downpath = "/var/tmp/a.tmp"

	condition:
		( uint32( 0 ) == 0x464c457f ) and ( 8 of them )
}

Strings (12 patterns)

IdentifierTypeValueModifiers
$proc_name1text"[kworker/0:1]"
$proc_name2text"[kworker/1:1]"
$dns_querytext"POST /dns-query HTTP/1.1\x0d\x0aHost: dns.google\x0d\x0a"
$iptables1text"iptables -I %s -p tcp --dport %d -j ACCEPT &>/dev/null"
$iptables2text"iptables -D %s -p tcp --dport %d -j ACCEPT &>/dev/null"
$sys_recon1text"{\"ver\":\"%x\",\"mods\";["
$sys_recon2text"uptime: %lu mem_size: %lu mem_free: %lu"
$sys_recon3text"disk_size: %lu disk_free: %lu"
$sys_recon4text"hw: %02x:%02x:%02x:%02x:%02x:%02x"
$testpathtext"%s/214688dsf46"
$confpathtext"%s/rootfs_cfg"
$downpathtext"/var/tmp/a.tmp"

Condition

( uint32( 0 ) == 0x464c457f ) and ( 8 of them )

In plain words (Heuristic)

  • The file must start with the ELF header — a Linux/Unix executable.
  • At least 8 patterns 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: 81ccf582-41f5-5fe5-8afc-e008e01289ff

Tags:FILE