SeaDuke

SeaDuke is malware that was used by APT29 from 2014 to 2015. It was used primarily as a secondary backdoor for victims that were already compromised with CozyCar. [1]

ID: S0053
Associated Software: SeaDaddy, SeaDesk
Type: MALWARE
Platforms: Windows
Version: 1.1
Created: 31 May 2017
Last Modified: 26 April 2021

Techniques Used

Domain ID Name Use
Enterprise T1071 .001 Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols

SeaDuke uses HTTP and HTTPS for C2.[1]

Enterprise T1560 .002 Archive Collected Data: Archive via Library

SeaDuke compressed data with zlib prior to sending it over C2.[2]

Enterprise T1547 .001 Boot or Logon Autostart Execution: Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder

SeaDuke is capable of persisting via the Registry Run key or a .lnk file stored in the Startup directory.[3]

.009 Boot or Logon Autostart Execution: Shortcut Modification

SeaDuke is capable of persisting via a .lnk file stored in the Startup directory.[3]

Enterprise T1059 .001 Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell

SeaDuke uses a module to execute Mimikatz with PowerShell to perform Pass the Ticket.[4]

.003 Command and Scripting Interpreter: Windows Command Shell

SeaDuke is capable of executing commands.[3]

Enterprise T1132 .001 Data Encoding: Standard Encoding

SeaDuke C2 traffic is base64-encoded.[3]

Enterprise T1114 .002 Email Collection: Remote Email Collection

Some SeaDuke samples have a module to extract email from Microsoft Exchange servers using compromised credentials.[4]

Enterprise T1573 .001 Encrypted Channel: Symmetric Cryptography

SeaDuke C2 traffic has been encrypted with RC4 and AES.[2][3]

Enterprise T1546 .003 Event Triggered Execution: Windows Management Instrumentation Event Subscription

SeaDuke uses an event filter in WMI code to execute a previously dropped executable shortly after system startup.[5]

Enterprise T1070 .004 Indicator Removal on Host: File Deletion

SeaDuke can securely delete files, including deleting itself from the victim.[4]

Enterprise T1105 Ingress Tool Transfer

SeaDuke is capable of uploading and downloading files.[3]

Enterprise T1027 .002 Obfuscated Files or Information: Software Packing

SeaDuke has been packed with the UPX packer.[3]

Enterprise T1550 .003 Use Alternate Authentication Material: Pass the Ticket

Some SeaDuke samples have a module to use pass the ticket with Kerberos for authentication.[4]

Enterprise T1078 Valid Accounts

Some SeaDuke samples have a module to extract email from Microsoft Exchange servers using compromised credentials.[4]

Groups That Use This Software

ID Name References
G0016 APT29

[1]

References