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OSX_OCEANLOTUS.D

OSX_OCEANLOTUS.D is a MacOS backdoor with several variants that has been used by APT32.[1][2]

ID: S0352
ⓘ
Associated Software: Backdoor.MacOS.OCEANLOTUS.F
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Type: MALWARE
ⓘ
Platforms: macOS
Version: 2.1
Created: 30 January 2019
Last Modified: 15 October 2021

Associated Software Descriptions

Name Description
Backdoor.MacOS.OCEANLOTUS.F

[2]
Enterprise Layer
download view

Techniques Used

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

OSX_OCEANLOTUS.D can use HTTP POST and GET requests to send and receive C2 information.[2]
Enterprise T1560 .003 Archive Collected Data: Archive via Custom Method

OSX_OCEANLOTUS.D scrambles and encrypts data using AES256 before sending it to the C2 server.[1][2]
Enterprise T1059 .001 Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell

OSX_OCEANLOTUS.D uses PowerShell scripts.[1]
.004 Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell

OSX_OCEANLOTUS.D uses a shell script as the main executable inside an app bundle and drops an embedded base64-encoded payload to the /tmp folder.[2][3]
.005 Command and Scripting Interpreter: Visual Basic

OSX_OCEANLOTUS.D uses Word macros for execution.[1]
Enterprise T1543 .001 Create or Modify System Process: Launch Agent

OSX_OCEANLOTUS.D can create a persistence file in the folder /Library/LaunchAgents.[1][2]
.004 Create or Modify System Process: Launch Daemon

If running with root permissions, OSX_OCEANLOTUS.D can create a persistence file in the folder /Library/LaunchDaemons.[1][3]
Enterprise T1005 Data from Local System

OSX_OCEANLOTUS.D has the ability to upload files from a compromised host.[2]
Enterprise T1222 File and Directory Permissions Modification

OSX_OCEANLOTUS.D has changed permissions of a second-stage payload to an executable via chmod.[3]
Enterprise T1564 .001 Hide Artifacts: Hidden Files and Directories

OSX_OCEANLOTUS.D sets the main loader file’s attributes to hidden.[1]
Enterprise T1070 .004 Indicator Removal on Host: File Deletion

OSX_OCEANLOTUS.D has a command to delete a file from the system. OSX_OCEANLOTUS.D deletes the app bundle and dropper after execution.[1][2]
.006 Indicator Removal on Host: Timestomp

OSX_OCEANLOTUS.D can use the touch -t command to change timestamps.[2][4]
Enterprise T1105 Ingress Tool Transfer

OSX_OCEANLOTUS.D has a command to download and execute a file on the victim’s machine.[1][2]
Enterprise T1036 .004 Masquerading: Masquerade Task or Service

OSX_OCEANLOTUS.D has disguised its app bundle by adding special characters to the filename and using the icon for legitimate Word documents.[2]
Enterprise T1027 Obfuscated Files or Information

OSX_OCEANLOTUS.D encrypts its strings in RSA256 and encodes them in a custom base64 scheme and XOR.[1]
.002 Software Packing

OSX_OCEANLOTUS.D has a variant that is packed with UPX.[5]
Enterprise T1553 .001 Subvert Trust Controls: Gatekeeper Bypass

OSX_OCEANLOTUS.D uses the command xattr -d com.apple.quarantine to remove the quarantine file attribute used by Gatekeeper and Notarization checks.[2][4]
Enterprise T1082 System Information Discovery

OSX_OCEANLOTUS.D collects processor information, memory information, computer name, hardware UUID, serial number, and operating system version. OSX_OCEANLOTUS.D has used the ioreg command to gather some of this information.[1][2][4]
Enterprise T1016 System Network Configuration Discovery

OSX_OCEANLOTUS.D can collect the network interface MAC address on the infected host.[1][2]
Enterprise T1497 .001 Virtualization/Sandbox Evasion: System Checks

OSX_OCEANLOTUS.D has variants that check a number of system parameters to see if it is being run on real hardware or in a virtual machine environment, such as sysctl hw.model.[5][4]

Groups That Use This Software

ID Name References
G0050 APT32

[1][6]

References

  1. Horejsi, J. (2018, April 04). New MacOS Backdoor Linked to OceanLotus Found. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  2. Magisa, L. (2020, November 27). New MacOS Backdoor Connected to OceanLotus Surfaces. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  3. Phil Stokes. (2020, December 2). APT32 Multi-stage macOS Trojan Innovates on Crimeware Scripting Technique. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  1. Phil Stokes. (2021, February 16). 20 Common Tools & Techniques Used by macOS Threat Actors & Malware. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  2. Dumont, R.. (2019, April 9). OceanLotus: macOS malware update. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  3. Amnesty International. (2021, February 24). Vietnamese activists targeted by notorious hacking group. Retrieved March 1, 2021.