3 malware familiesExploits CVEs in the wild

CopyKittens

Also known asCopyKittens

CopyKittens is an Iranian threat group active since 2013. The provided content states that it has targeted users in Germany, Jordan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. Observed tradecraft in the content includes PowerShell-based execution, including use of -w hidden and -windowstyle hidden to conceal PowerShell windows; use of PowerShell Empire; use of Metasploit and Empire for post-exploitation; and use of AirVPN for operational activity and post-exploitation. The content also states that CopyKittens digitally signed an executable with a stolen certificate from the legitimate company AI Squared. Additional tooling noted in the content includes ZPP, a .NET console program used to compress files with ZIP. ATT&CK techniques explicitly associated in the content include T1059.001 (PowerShell), T1090 (Proxy), T1129 (Shared Modules), and T1218.011 (Rundll32). Alias provided in the content: copykittens.

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MITRE ATT&CK

Tradecraft

35 distinct techniques observed across reporting, grouped by tactic. Hover any cell for the evidence excerpt; click through for MITRE's full description.

13 of 15 tactics55 techniques×N= number of intelligence reports citing this technique

MITRE ATT&CK

TA0043

Reconnaissance

1 technique

T1592

Gather Victim Host Information

TA0042

Resource Development

2 techniques

T1588

Obtain Capabilities

T1588.002×5

Tool

T1608

Stage Capabilities

TA0001

Initial Access

1 technique

T1078

Valid Accounts

TA0002

Execution

5 techniques

T1053

Scheduled Task/Job

T1053.005

Scheduled Task

T1059

Command and Scripting Interpreter

T1059.001×31

PowerShell

T1129

Shared Modules

T1204

User Execution

T1204.002

Malicious File

T1574

Hijack Execution Flow

TA0003

Persistence

3 techniques

T1053

Scheduled Task/Job

T1053.005

Scheduled Task

T1078

Valid Accounts

T1546

Event Triggered Execution

T1546.015

Component Object Model Hijacking

TA0004

Privilege Escalation

4 techniques

T1053

Scheduled Task/Job

T1053.005

Scheduled Task

T1055

Process Injection

T1078

Valid Accounts

T1546

Event Triggered Execution

T1546.015

Component Object Model Hijacking

TA0005

Stealth

7 techniques

T1027

Obfuscated Files or Information

T1027.005

Indicator Removal from Tools

T1027.010

Command Obfuscation

T1036

Masquerading

T1036.003

Rename Legitimate Utilities

T1036.005

Match Legitimate Resource Name or Location

T1055

Process Injection

T1078

Valid Accounts

T1218

System Binary Proxy Execution

T1218.011×13

Rundll32

T1564

Hide Artifacts

T1564.003×5

Hidden Window

T1564.006

Run Virtual Instance

T1574

Hijack Execution Flow

TA0112

Defense Impairment

1 technique

T1553

Subvert Trust Controls

T1553.002×2

Code Signing

TA0006

Credential Access

1 technique

T1649

Steal or Forge Authentication Certificates

TA0007

Discovery

3 techniques

T1012

Query Registry

T1482

Domain Trust Discovery

T1518

Software Discovery

TA0009

Collection

1 technique

T1560

Archive Collected Data

T1560.001×5

Archive via Utility

T1560.003

Archive via Custom Method

TA0011

Command and Control

5 techniques

T1090×5

Proxy

T1090.001×2

Internal Proxy

T1090.002×3

External Proxy

T1102×2

Web Service

T1105

Ingress Tool Transfer

T1571

Non-Standard Port

T1572×3

Protocol Tunneling

TA0040

Impact

1 technique

T1531

Account Access Removal

ARSENAL

Associated malware families

3 malware families attributed to this actor across reporting.

FamilyContextEvidenceLast seen

Cobalt StrikeDetects the PowerShell pattern used at the end of a Cobalt Strike PowerShell loader to perform the decompression of the executable. This loader is used in attacks such as scripted web delivery. Cobalt Strike is a legitimate, commercial penetration testing tool that has been largely co-opted by ransomware gangs to launch attacks. Cobalt Strike's popularity is mainly due to its beacons or payload being stealthy, and easily customizable. Cobalt Strike Beacon provides encrypted communication with the C&C server to send information and receive commands.1May 6, 2026

EmpireAPT19 has obtained and used publicly-available tools like Empire.1May 26, 2026

NishangThe following analytic detects the use of the Nishang Invoke-PowerShellTCPOneLine utility, which initiates a callback to a remote Command and Control (C2) server.1Mar 17, 2026

WEAPONIZED

Associated vulnerabilities

1 CVE this actor has used in observed campaigns. 1 of them exploited in the wild.

CVE-2025-9491Microsoft Windows LNK File UI Misrepresentation Remote Code Execution VulnerabilityIn the wildEvidence2

This detection identifies instances where Windows Explorer.exe spawns PowerShell or cmd.exe processes, particularly focusing on executions initiated by LNK files. This behavior is associated with the ZDI-CAN-25373 Windows shortcut zero-day vulnerability, where specially crafted LNK files are used to trigger malicious code execution through cmd.exe or powershell.exe. This technique has been actively exploited by multiple APT groups in targeted attacks through both HTTP and SMB delivery methods.

IOCS

Observables

5 indicators attributed to this actor: domains, IPs, hashes, and other artifacts pulled from reporting. View more in app.

5 IOCsView more in app

IOC values are gated. View more in Mallory for domains, IPs, hashes, and other artifacts, or pipe them straight into your SIEM.

ACTIVITY FEED

Recent activity

20 sources tracked across advisories, community write-ups, and news. New activity surfaces here as Mallory finds it.

20 SOURCESView more in app

splunk researchNews

May 12, 2026

Detection: Powershell Defender Threat Actions Set to Allow | Splunk Security Content

Listed as a threat actor associated with PowerShell execution behavior relevant to this detection.

splunk researchNews

Apr 22, 2026

Detection: PowerShell PInvoke Process Injection API Chain | Splunk Security Content

Listed as a threat actor associated with the PowerShell P/Invoke process injection API chain detection and related ATT&CK techniques.

splunk researchNews

Apr 20, 2026

Detection: PowerShell Environment Variable Execution | Splunk Security Content

Listed as a threat actor associated with PowerShell execution behavior relevant to this detection analytic.

splunk researchNews

Apr 13, 2026

Detection: Windows Devtunnels Execution | Splunk Security Content

Referenced as a threat actor associated with proxy-based command-and-control behavior relevant to the detection of Microsoft Devtunnels execution.

+76 more in the timeline

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Target overlap

Match sector + geo + tech-stack targeting against your real footprint.

Tradecraft mapping35

Every observed MITRE ATT&CK technique, grouped by tactic.

Malware arsenal3

Families this actor is known to deploy, with IOCs and behavior.

Exploited CVEs1

CVEs this actor has used in known campaigns.

Detection signatures

YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.

Observables5

Domains, IPs, and hashes tied to this actor, refreshed continuously.