Pisloader

MITRE ATT&CK: S0124 View on attack.mitre.org

Aliases: Pisloader

First seen
2013-01-01 00:00:00
Malware type
backdoor, rat, loader
Family
Malware family
Operating systems
windows
Profile updated
2026-07-07 15:18:34

Targeted industries: defense-and-aerospace healthcare-and-pharmaceutical technology-and-telecommunications government-and-public-sector

Context

Pisloader is a malware family that is notable due to its use of DNS as a C2 protocol as well as its use of anti-analysis tactics. It has been used by APT18 and is similar to another malware family, HTTPBrowser, that has been used by the group.

Detection coverage

  • 291 Sigma rules

Malware & tools used

  • Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder (attack-pattern)
  • Windows Command Shell (attack-pattern)
  • Standard Encoding (attack-pattern)
  • System Network Configuration Discovery (attack-pattern)
  • DNS (attack-pattern)
  • Obfuscated Files or Information (attack-pattern)
  • Ingress Tool Transfer (attack-pattern)
  • System Information Discovery (attack-pattern)
  • File and Directory Discovery (attack-pattern)

Used by threat actors

Reports & references

  • researchcenter.paloaltonetworks.com — Unit42 New Wekby Attacks Use Dns Requests As Command And Control Mechanism (report)
  • MITRE ATT&CK — S0124 (report)

External references