4 malware familiesExploits CVEs in the wild

PARS Defense

Also known aspars_defense

PARS Defense is a Turkish commercial surveillance vendor associated with exploitation of Apple iOS devices and deployment of spyware. Its surveillance tooling has been used in campaigns targeting users in Turkey and Malaysia, including operations conducted by its customers. PARS Defense has also been linked to exploitation of the iOS vulnerabilities CVE-2023-42916 and CVE-2023-42917. In late November 2025, PARS Defense-associated activity in Turkey used the DarkSword exploit kit against iPhones running iOS 18.4 through 18.7. Delivery included a fake Snapchat-themed website. DarkSword chains browser exploitation, sandbox escapes, and privilege escalation to obtain kernel-level access and inject code into privileged iOS processes. The Turkey campaign obfuscated exploit loaders and stages and protected exploit delivery using ECDH and AES encryption. PARS Defense-associated campaigns in Turkey and Malaysia deployed GHOSTSABER, a JavaScript backdoor supporting more than 15 command-and-control commands. Its capabilities include device and account enumeration, file listing and exfiltration, arbitrary JavaScript execution, SQLite queries, and photo-thumbnail uploads. Activity in Malaysia involved another PARS Defense customer using the same backdoor.

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OPERATIONAL PROFILE

Targeting

Who, where, and (when attributed) which flag flies behind the operation. Pulled from open-source reporting and Mallory's analyst review.

Where they target

Geographies tied to known operations.

🇹🇷 Türkiye
🇲🇾 Malaysia

Where they're from

Attributed origin per open-source reporting.

🇹🇷 Türkiye

MITRE ATT&CK

Tradecraft

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

9 of 15 tactics17 techniques×N= number of intelligence reports citing this technique

MITRE ATT&CK

TA0001

Initial Access

2 techniques

T1189×2

Drive-by Compromise

T1190×5

Exploit Public-Facing Application

TA0002

Execution

2 techniques

T1059

Command and Scripting Interpreter

T1059.007×2

JavaScript

T1203×2

Exploitation for Client Execution

TA0004

Privilege Escalation

1 technique

T1611×2

Escape to Host

TA0005

Stealth

2 techniques

T1027

Obfuscated Files or Information

T1070

Indicator Removal

TA0006

Credential Access

1 technique

T1649×2

Steal or Forge Authentication Certificates

TA0007

Discovery

1 technique

T1083

File and Directory Discovery

TA0009

Collection

4 techniques

T1005×3

Data from Local System

T1123

Audio Capture

T1185

Browser Session Hijacking

T1213

Data from Information Repositories

TA0011

Command and Control

2 techniques

T1071

Application Layer Protocol

T1573×2

Encrypted Channel

TA0010

Exfiltration

1 technique

T1041×2

Exfiltration Over C2 Channel

ARSENAL

Associated malware families

4 malware families attributed to this actor across reporting.

FamilyContextEvidenceLast seen

DarkswordCybersecurity researchers have disclosed details of a previously unseen variant of the DarkSword iOS exploit kit called P7 DarkSword.2Oct 9, 2026

GHOSTSABERDepending on the threat actor, a successful compromise deployed distinct malware families we track as GHOSTBLADE, GHOSTKNIFE, or GHOSTSABER.2Apr 9, 2026

GHOSTBLADEDepending on the threat actor, a successful compromise deployed distinct malware families we track as GHOSTBLADE, GHOSTKNIFE, or GHOSTSABER.1Apr 9, 2026

GHOSTKNIFEDepending on the threat actor, a successful compromise deployed distinct malware families we track as GHOSTBLADE, GHOSTKNIFE, or GHOSTSABER.1Apr 9, 2026

WEAPONIZED

Associated vulnerabilities

8 CVEs this actor has used in observed campaigns. 8 of them exploited in the wild.

CVE-2023-42916Out-of-bounds read in Apple WebKitIn the wildEvidence1

CVE-2023-42916 and CVE-2023-42917 (Apple iOS) — PARS Defense.

CVE-2023-42917WebKit Memory Corruption Leading to Arbitrary Code ExecutionIn the wildEvidence1

CVE-2023-42916 and CVE-2023-42917 (Apple iOS) — PARS Defense.

CVE-2025-14174Out-of-bounds memory access and sandbox escape in ANGLEIn the wildEvidence1

CVE-2025-14174 sbox0_main_18.4.js , sbx0_main.js Out-of-bounds memory access in WebGL operation ANGLE (GPU process / WebKit) Yes iOS 18.7.3, 26.2

CVE-2025-31277Apple WebKit Malicious Web Content Memory CorruptionIn the wildEvidence1

CVE-2025-31277 rce_module.js JIT optimization / type confusion JavaScriptCore (WebKit) No iOS 18.6

CVE-2025-43510Apple XNU Improper Locking Memory CorruptionIn the wildEvidence1

CVE-2025-43510 sbx1_main.js Memory management / copy-on-write bug XNU Kernel No iOS 18.7.2, 26.1

3 more CVEs tied to this actor tracked in Mallory.

IOCS

Observables

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

1 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

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

6 SOURCESView more in app

the hacker newsNews

Oct 9, 2026

P7 DarkSword iOS Exploit Kit Adds Crypto Wallet Data Theft and Remote Commands

A Turkish commercial surveillance vendor mentioned as a previous operator of the DarkSword iOS exploit kit, using a fake Snapchat-themed website. The content does not attribute the P7 variant to this operator.

censys blogNews

Oct 7, 2026

DarkSword/Coruna Open Directory Finding Report - Censys

Named as a previously documented DarkSword operator, solely to distinguish it from the newly observed cluster. The Turkey/Malaysia association is not explicitly characterized as attacker origin or victim geography.

cyber security newsNews

Mar 18, 2026

New iOS Exploit With Advanced iPhone Hacking Tools Attacking Users to Steal Personal Data

A Turkish commercial surveillance vendor using the DarkSword iOS exploit chain to deploy GHOSTSABER in surveillance campaigns targeting victims in Turkey and Malaysia.

bleeping computerNews

Mar 18, 2026

New “Darksword” iOS exploit used in infostealer attack on iPhones

Turkish commercial surveillance vendor associated with DarkSword activity in Turkey and Malaysia, using the exploit kit with stronger OPSEC and delivering the GHOSTSABER backdoor.

+2 more in the timeline

What this page doesn’t show

The version that knows your environment.

This page is what’s public. Mallory adds the parts that aren’t: sector and geo overlap with your footprint, the IOCs they’re burning right now, detection coverage, and what to do next.

Start free trial

Target overlap

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

Tradecraft mapping16

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

Malware arsenal4

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

Exploited CVEs8

CVEs this actor has used in known campaigns.

Detection signatures

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

Observables1

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

Back to threat actors

4 malware familiesExploits CVEs in the wild

PARS Defense

Also known aspars_defense

Are they targeting you?

Know when an actor pivots toward your sector

Mallory correlates actor tradecraft and target patterns against your stack, your sector, and your geography. See overlap before they land.

Start free trial

OPERATIONAL PROFILE

Targeting

Who, where, and (when attributed) which flag flies behind the operation. Pulled from open-source reporting and Mallory's analyst review.

Where they target

Geographies tied to known operations.

🇹🇷 Türkiye
🇲🇾 Malaysia

Where they're from

Attributed origin per open-source reporting.

🇹🇷 Türkiye

MITRE ATT&CK

Tradecraft

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

9 of 15 tactics17 techniques×N= number of intelligence reports citing this technique

MITRE ATT&CK

TA0001

Initial Access

2 techniques

T1189×2

Drive-by Compromise

T1190×5

Exploit Public-Facing Application

TA0002

Execution

2 techniques

T1059

Command and Scripting Interpreter

T1059.007×2

JavaScript

T1203×2

Exploitation for Client Execution

TA0004

Privilege Escalation

1 technique

T1611×2

Escape to Host

TA0005

Stealth

2 techniques

T1027

Obfuscated Files or Information

T1070

Indicator Removal

TA0006

Credential Access

1 technique

T1649×2

Steal or Forge Authentication Certificates

TA0007

Discovery

1 technique

T1083

File and Directory Discovery

TA0009

Collection

4 techniques

T1005×3

Data from Local System

T1123

Audio Capture

T1185

Browser Session Hijacking

T1213

Data from Information Repositories

TA0011

Command and Control

2 techniques

T1071

Application Layer Protocol

T1573×2

Encrypted Channel

TA0010

Exfiltration

1 technique

T1041×2

Exfiltration Over C2 Channel

ARSENAL

Associated malware families

4 malware families attributed to this actor across reporting.

FamilyContextEvidenceLast seen

DarkswordCybersecurity researchers have disclosed details of a previously unseen variant of the DarkSword iOS exploit kit called P7 DarkSword.2Oct 9, 2026

GHOSTSABERDepending on the threat actor, a successful compromise deployed distinct malware families we track as GHOSTBLADE, GHOSTKNIFE, or GHOSTSABER.2Apr 9, 2026

GHOSTBLADEDepending on the threat actor, a successful compromise deployed distinct malware families we track as GHOSTBLADE, GHOSTKNIFE, or GHOSTSABER.1Apr 9, 2026

GHOSTKNIFEDepending on the threat actor, a successful compromise deployed distinct malware families we track as GHOSTBLADE, GHOSTKNIFE, or GHOSTSABER.1Apr 9, 2026

WEAPONIZED

Associated vulnerabilities

8 CVEs this actor has used in observed campaigns. 8 of them exploited in the wild.

CVE-2023-42916Out-of-bounds read in Apple WebKitIn the wildEvidence1

CVE-2023-42916 and CVE-2023-42917 (Apple iOS) — PARS Defense.

CVE-2023-42917WebKit Memory Corruption Leading to Arbitrary Code ExecutionIn the wildEvidence1

CVE-2023-42916 and CVE-2023-42917 (Apple iOS) — PARS Defense.

CVE-2025-14174Out-of-bounds memory access and sandbox escape in ANGLEIn the wildEvidence1

CVE-2025-14174 sbox0_main_18.4.js , sbx0_main.js Out-of-bounds memory access in WebGL operation ANGLE (GPU process / WebKit) Yes iOS 18.7.3, 26.2

CVE-2025-31277Apple WebKit Malicious Web Content Memory CorruptionIn the wildEvidence1

CVE-2025-31277 rce_module.js JIT optimization / type confusion JavaScriptCore (WebKit) No iOS 18.6

CVE-2025-43510Apple XNU Improper Locking Memory CorruptionIn the wildEvidence1

CVE-2025-43510 sbx1_main.js Memory management / copy-on-write bug XNU Kernel No iOS 18.7.2, 26.1

3 more CVEs tied to this actor tracked in Mallory.

IOCS

Observables

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

1 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

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

6 SOURCESView more in app

the hacker newsNews

Oct 9, 2026

P7 DarkSword iOS Exploit Kit Adds Crypto Wallet Data Theft and Remote Commands

censys blogNews

Oct 7, 2026

DarkSword/Coruna Open Directory Finding Report - Censys

cyber security newsNews

Mar 18, 2026

New iOS Exploit With Advanced iPhone Hacking Tools Attacking Users to Steal Personal Data

A Turkish commercial surveillance vendor using the DarkSword iOS exploit chain to deploy GHOSTSABER in surveillance campaigns targeting victims in Turkey and Malaysia.

bleeping computerNews

Mar 18, 2026

New “Darksword” iOS exploit used in infostealer attack on iPhones

Turkish commercial surveillance vendor associated with DarkSword activity in Turkey and Malaysia, using the exploit kit with stronger OPSEC and delivering the GHOSTSABER backdoor.

+2 more in the timeline

What this page doesn’t show

The version that knows your environment.

This page is what’s public. Mallory adds the parts that aren’t: sector and geo overlap with your footprint, the IOCs they’re burning right now, detection coverage, and what to do next.

Start free trial

Target overlap

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

Tradecraft mapping16

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

Malware arsenal4

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

Exploited CVEs8

CVEs this actor has used in known campaigns.

Detection signatures

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

Observables1

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