{
	"id": "7d9d0023-24ed-4cea-a799-62eeb95a69f0",
	"created_at": "2026-04-06T00:08:52.804966Z",
	"updated_at": "2026-04-10T13:12:57.166156Z",
	"deleted_at": null,
	"sha1_hash": "a98ce080d3ab17c16bc764c227e4f6217e3b18f4",
	"title": "Microsoft: North Korean hackers join Qilin ransomware gang",
	"llm_title": "",
	"authors": "",
	"file_creation_date": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
	"file_modification_date": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
	"file_size": 2003982,
	"plain_text": "Microsoft: North Korean hackers join Qilin ransomware gang\r\nBy Sergiu Gatlan\r\nPublished: 2025-03-07 · Archived: 2026-04-05 13:45:15 UTC\r\nMicrosoft says a North Korean hacking group tracked as Moonstone Sleet has deployed Qilin ransomware payloads in a\r\nlimited number of recent attacks.\r\n\"Since late February 2025, Microsoft has observed Moonstone Sleet, a North Korean state actor, deploying Qilin\r\nransomware at a limited number of orgs,\" the company's threat intelligence experts said this week\r\n\"Moonstone Sleet has previously exclusively deployed their own custom ransomware in their attacks, and this represents the\r\nfirst instance they are deploying ransomware developed by a RaaS operator.\"\r\nhttps://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/microsoft-north-korean-hackers-now-deploying-qilin-ransomware/\r\nPage 1 of 4\n\n0:00\r\nhttps://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/microsoft-north-korean-hackers-now-deploying-qilin-ransomware/\r\nPage 2 of 4\n\nVisit Advertiser websiteGO TO PAGE\r\nPreviously tracked as Storm-1789, this threat group's activity initially overlapped with other North Korean attackers like\r\nDiamond Sleet and Onyx Sleet. However, it has since switched to its own tactics and custom tooling and attack\r\ninfrastructure.\r\nMicrosoft says Moonstone Sleet hackers are targeting both financial and cyberespionage targets using trojanized software\r\n(e.g., PuTTY), custom malware loaders, malicious games and npm packages, and fake software development companies\r\n(e.g., C.C. Waterfall, StarGlow Ventures) set up to interact with potential victims on LinkedIn, various freelancing networks,\r\nTelegram, or via email.\r\nMoonstone Sleet PuTTY attack flow (Microsoft)\r\nSince it surfaced in August 2022 under the \"Agenda\" name, the Qilin ransomware gang has claimed over 300 victims on its\r\ndark web leak site. However, the Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) operation was barely active until attacks peaked towards\r\nthe end of 2023. In December 2023, Qilin affiliates began deploying one of the most advanced Linux encryptors to target\r\nVMware ESXi virtual machines.\r\nSo far, BleepingComputer has seen Qilin ransom demands ranging from $25,000 to millions, depending on the victims' size.\r\nQilin has claimed over 310 victims since it emerged, including automotive giant Yangfeng, American newspaper publisher\r\nLee Enterprises, Australia's Court Services Victoria, and pathology services provider Synnovis.\r\nThe latter led to an outage that impacted several major NHS hospitals in London, which forced them to cancel hundreds of\r\noperations and appointments.\r\nIn May 2024, Microsoft also linked Moonstone Sleet to a custom FakePenny ransomware variant. After a successful\r\nFakePenny ransomware attack, the North Korean hackers were observed asking for a ransom demand of $6.6 million in\r\nBTC.\r\nMoonstone Sleet is not the first North Korean-backed threat group linked to ransomware attacks in recent years. In May\r\n2017, the U.S. and U.K. governments blamed the Lazarus Group for the WannaCry ransomware outbreak, which brought\r\ndown hundreds of thousands of computers worldwide.\r\nYears later, in July 2022, Microsoft and the FBI linked North Korean hackers to the Holy Ghost ransomware operation and\r\nMaui ransomware attacks targeting healthcare orgs.\r\nhttps://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/microsoft-north-korean-hackers-now-deploying-qilin-ransomware/\r\nPage 3 of 4\n\nAutomated Pentesting Covers Only 1 of 6 Surfaces.\r\nAutomated pentesting proves the path exists. BAS proves whether your controls stop it. Most teams run one without the\r\nother.\r\nThis whitepaper maps six validation surfaces, shows where coverage ends, and provides practitioners with three diagnostic\r\nquestions for any tool evaluation.\r\nSource: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/microsoft-north-korean-hackers-now-deploying-qilin-ransomware/\r\nhttps://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/microsoft-north-korean-hackers-now-deploying-qilin-ransomware/\r\nPage 4 of 4",
	"extraction_quality": 1,
	"language": "EN",
	"sources": [
		"ETDA"
	],
	"origins": [
		"web"
	],
	"references": [
		"https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/microsoft-north-korean-hackers-now-deploying-qilin-ransomware/"
	],
	"report_names": [
		"microsoft-north-korean-hackers-now-deploying-qilin-ransomware"
	],
	"threat_actors": [
		{
			"id": "838f6ced-12a4-4893-991a-36d231d96efd",
			"created_at": "2022-10-25T15:50:23.347455Z",
			"updated_at": "2026-04-10T02:00:05.295717Z",
			"deleted_at": null,
			"main_name": "Andariel",
			"aliases": [
				"Andariel",
				"Silent Chollima",
				"PLUTONIUM",
				"Onyx Sleet"
			],
			"source_name": "MITRE:Andariel",
			"tools": [
				"Rifdoor",
				"gh0st RAT"
			],
			"source_id": "MITRE",
			"reports": null
		},
		{
			"id": "34eea331-d052-4096-ae03-a22f1d090bd4",
			"created_at": "2025-08-07T02:03:25.073494Z",
			"updated_at": "2026-04-10T02:00:03.709243Z",
			"deleted_at": null,
			"main_name": "NICKEL ACADEMY",
			"aliases": [
				"ATK3 ",
				"Black Artemis ",
				"COVELLITE ",
				"CTG-2460 ",
				"Citrine Sleet ",
				"Diamond Sleet ",
				"Guardians of Peace",
				"HIDDEN COBRA ",
				"High Anonymous",
				"Labyrinth Chollima ",
				"Lazarus Group ",
				"NNPT Group",
				"New Romanic Cyber Army Team",
				"Temp.Hermit ",
				"UNC577 ",
				"Who Am I?",
				"Whois Team",
				"ZINC "
			],
			"source_name": "Secureworks:NICKEL ACADEMY",
			"tools": [
				"Destover",
				"KorHigh",
				"Volgmer"
			],
			"source_id": "Secureworks",
			"reports": null
		},
		{
			"id": "110e7160-a8cc-4a66-8550-f19f7d418117",
			"created_at": "2023-01-06T13:46:38.427592Z",
			"updated_at": "2026-04-10T02:00:02.969896Z",
			"deleted_at": null,
			"main_name": "Silent Chollima",
			"aliases": [
				"Onyx Sleet",
				"PLUTONIUM",
				"OperationTroy",
				"Guardian of Peace",
				"GOP",
				"WHOis Team",
				"Andariel",
				"Subgroup: Andariel"
			],
			"source_name": "MISPGALAXY:Silent Chollima",
			"tools": [],
			"source_id": "MISPGALAXY",
			"reports": null
		},
		{
			"id": "45e6e2b3-43fe-44cd-8025-aea18a7f488f",
			"created_at": "2024-06-20T02:02:09.897489Z",
			"updated_at": "2026-04-10T02:00:04.769917Z",
			"deleted_at": null,
			"main_name": "Moonstone Sleet",
			"aliases": [
				"Storm-1789",
				"Stressed Pungsan"
			],
			"source_name": "ETDA:Moonstone Sleet",
			"tools": [],
			"source_id": "ETDA",
			"reports": null
		},
		{
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			"created_at": "2022-10-25T16:07:23.760559Z",
			"updated_at": "2026-04-10T02:00:04.741239Z",
			"deleted_at": null,
			"main_name": "Andariel",
			"aliases": [
				"APT 45",
				"Andariel",
				"G0138",
				"Jumpy Pisces",
				"Onyx Sleet",
				"Operation BLACKMINE",
				"Operation BLACKSHEEP/Phase 3.",
				"Operation Blacksmith",
				"Operation DESERTWOLF/Phase 3",
				"Operation GHOSTRAT",
				"Operation GoldenAxe",
				"Operation INITROY/Phase 1",
				"Operation INITROY/Phase 2",
				"Operation Mayday",
				"Operation VANXATM",
				"Operation XEDA",
				"Plutonium",
				"Silent Chollima",
				"Stonefly"
			],
			"source_name": "ETDA:Andariel",
			"tools": [],
			"source_id": "ETDA",
			"reports": null
		},
		{
			"id": "28523c53-1944-4ff0-bbdc-89b06e4e3c84",
			"created_at": "2024-11-01T02:00:52.752463Z",
			"updated_at": "2026-04-10T02:00:05.359782Z",
			"deleted_at": null,
			"main_name": "Moonstone Sleet",
			"aliases": [
				"Moonstone Sleet",
				"Storm-1789"
			],
			"source_name": "MITRE:Moonstone Sleet",
			"tools": [
				"Qilin"
			],
			"source_id": "MITRE",
			"reports": null
		},
		{
			"id": "732597b1-40a8-474c-88cc-eb8a421c29f1",
			"created_at": "2025-08-07T02:03:25.087732Z",
			"updated_at": "2026-04-10T02:00:03.776007Z",
			"deleted_at": null,
			"main_name": "NICKEL GLADSTONE",
			"aliases": [
				"APT38 ",
				"ATK 117 ",
				"Alluring Pisces ",
				"Black Alicanto ",
				"Bluenoroff ",
				"CTG-6459 ",
				"Citrine Sleet ",
				"HIDDEN COBRA ",
				"Lazarus Group",
				"Sapphire Sleet ",
				"Selective Pisces ",
				"Stardust Chollima ",
				"T-APT-15 ",
				"TA444 ",
				"TAG-71 "
			],
			"source_name": "Secureworks:NICKEL GLADSTONE",
			"tools": [
				"AlphaNC",
				"Bankshot",
				"CCGC_Proxy",
				"Ratankba",
				"RustBucket",
				"SUGARLOADER",
				"SwiftLoader",
				"Wcry"
			],
			"source_id": "Secureworks",
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		},
		{
			"id": "a2b92056-9378-4749-926b-7e10c4500dac",
			"created_at": "2023-01-06T13:46:38.430595Z",
			"updated_at": "2026-04-10T02:00:02.971571Z",
			"deleted_at": null,
			"main_name": "Lazarus Group",
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				"Bureau 121",
				"Group 77",
				"APT38",
				"NICKEL GLADSTONE",
				"G0082",
				"COPERNICIUM",
				"Moonstone Sleet",
				"Operation GhostSecret",
				"APT 38",
				"Appleworm",
				"Unit 121",
				"ATK3",
				"G0032",
				"ATK117",
				"NewRomanic Cyber Army Team",
				"Nickel Academy",
				"Sapphire Sleet",
				"Lazarus group",
				"Hastati Group",
				"Subgroup: Bluenoroff",
				"Operation Troy",
				"Black Artemis",
				"Dark Seoul",
				"Andariel",
				"Labyrinth Chollima",
				"Operation AppleJeus",
				"COVELLITE",
				"Citrine Sleet",
				"DEV-0139",
				"DEV-1222",
				"Hidden Cobra",
				"Bluenoroff",
				"Stardust Chollima",
				"Whois Hacking Team",
				"Diamond Sleet",
				"TA404",
				"BeagleBoyz",
				"APT-C-26"
			],
			"source_name": "MISPGALAXY:Lazarus Group",
			"tools": [],
			"source_id": "MISPGALAXY",
			"reports": null
		},
		{
			"id": "771d9263-076e-4b6e-bd58-92b6555eb739",
			"created_at": "2025-08-07T02:03:25.092436Z",
			"updated_at": "2026-04-10T02:00:03.758541Z",
			"deleted_at": null,
			"main_name": "NICKEL HYATT",
			"aliases": [
				"APT45 ",
				"Andariel",
				"Dark Seoul",
				"Jumpy Pisces ",
				"Onyx Sleet ",
				"RIFLE Campaign",
				"Silent Chollima ",
				"Stonefly ",
				"UN614 "
			],
			"source_name": "Secureworks:NICKEL HYATT",
			"tools": [
				"ActiveX 0-day",
				"DTrack",
				"HazyLoad",
				"HotCriossant",
				"Rifle",
				"UnitBot",
				"Valefor"
			],
			"source_id": "Secureworks",
			"reports": null
		},
		{
			"id": "32a223a8-3c79-4146-87c5-8557d38662ae",
			"created_at": "2022-10-25T15:50:23.703698Z",
			"updated_at": "2026-04-10T02:00:05.261989Z",
			"deleted_at": null,
			"main_name": "Lazarus Group",
			"aliases": [
				"Lazarus Group",
				"Labyrinth Chollima",
				"HIDDEN COBRA",
				"Guardians of Peace",
				"NICKEL ACADEMY",
				"Diamond Sleet"
			],
			"source_name": "MITRE:Lazarus Group",
			"tools": [
				"RawDisk",
				"Proxysvc",
				"BADCALL",
				"FALLCHILL",
				"WannaCry",
				"MagicRAT",
				"HOPLIGHT",
				"TYPEFRAME",
				"Dtrack",
				"HotCroissant",
				"HARDRAIN",
				"Dacls",
				"KEYMARBLE",
				"TAINTEDSCRIBE",
				"AuditCred",
				"netsh",
				"ECCENTRICBANDWAGON",
				"AppleJeus",
				"BLINDINGCAN",
				"ThreatNeedle",
				"Volgmer",
				"Cryptoistic",
				"RATANKBA",
				"Bankshot"
			],
			"source_id": "MITRE",
			"reports": null
		},
		{
			"id": "f32df445-9fb4-4234-99e0-3561f6498e4e",
			"created_at": "2022-10-25T16:07:23.756373Z",
			"updated_at": "2026-04-10T02:00:04.739611Z",
			"deleted_at": null,
			"main_name": "Lazarus Group",
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				"ATK 3",
				"Appleworm",
				"Citrine Sleet",
				"DEV-0139",
				"Diamond Sleet",
				"G0032",
				"Gleaming Pisces",
				"Gods Apostles",
				"Gods Disciples",
				"Group 77",
				"Guardians of Peace",
				"Hastati Group",
				"Hidden Cobra",
				"ITG03",
				"Jade Sleet",
				"Labyrinth Chollima",
				"Lazarus Group",
				"NewRomanic Cyber Army Team",
				"Operation 99",
				"Operation AppleJeus",
				"Operation AppleJeus sequel",
				"Operation Blockbuster: Breach of Sony Pictures Entertainment",
				"Operation CryptoCore",
				"Operation Dream Job",
				"Operation Dream Magic",
				"Operation Flame",
				"Operation GhostSecret",
				"Operation In(ter)caption",
				"Operation LolZarus",
				"Operation Marstech Mayhem",
				"Operation No Pineapple!",
				"Operation North Star",
				"Operation Phantom Circuit",
				"Operation Sharpshooter",
				"Operation SyncHole",
				"Operation Ten Days of Rain / DarkSeoul",
				"Operation Troy",
				"SectorA01",
				"Slow Pisces",
				"TA404",
				"TraderTraitor",
				"UNC2970",
				"UNC4034",
				"UNC4736",
				"UNC4899",
				"UNC577",
				"Whois Hacking Team"
			],
			"source_name": "ETDA:Lazarus Group",
			"tools": [
				"3CX Backdoor",
				"3Rat Client",
				"3proxy",
				"AIRDRY",
				"ARTFULPIE",
				"ATMDtrack",
				"AlphaNC",
				"Alreay",
				"Andaratm",
				"AngryRebel",
				"AppleJeus",
				"Aryan",
				"AuditCred",
				"BADCALL",
				"BISTROMATH",
				"BLINDINGCAN",
				"BTC Changer",
				"BUFFETLINE",
				"BanSwift",
				"Bankshot",
				"Bitrep",
				"Bitsran",
				"BlindToad",
				"Bookcode",
				"BootWreck",
				"BottomLoader",
				"Brambul",
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				"Breut",
				"COLDCAT",
				"COPPERHEDGE",
				"CROWDEDFLOUNDER",
				"Castov",
				"CheeseTray",
				"CleanToad",
				"ClientTraficForwarder",
				"CollectionRAT",
				"Concealment Troy",
				"Contopee",
				"CookieTime",
				"Cyruslish",
				"DAVESHELL",
				"DBLL Dropper",
				"DLRAT",
				"DRATzarus",
				"DRATzarus RAT",
				"Dacls",
				"Dacls RAT",
				"DarkComet",
				"DarkKomet",
				"DeltaCharlie",
				"DeltaNC",
				"Dembr",
				"Destover",
				"DoublePulsar",
				"Dozer",
				"Dtrack",
				"Duuzer",
				"DyePack",
				"ECCENTRICBANDWAGON",
				"ELECTRICFISH",
				"Escad",
				"EternalBlue",
				"FALLCHILL",
				"FYNLOS",
				"FallChill RAT",
				"Farfli",
				"Fimlis",
				"FoggyBrass",
				"FudModule",
				"Fynloski",
				"Gh0st RAT",
				"Ghost RAT",
				"Gopuram",
				"HARDRAIN",
				"HIDDEN COBRA RAT/Worm",
				"HLOADER",
				"HOOKSHOT",
				"HOPLIGHT",
				"HOTCROISSANT",
				"HOTWAX",
				"HTTP Troy",
				"Hawup",
				"Hawup RAT",
				"Hermes",
				"HotCroissant",
				"HotelAlfa",
				"Hotwax",
				"HtDnDownLoader",
				"Http Dr0pper",
				"ICONICSTEALER",
				"Joanap",
				"Jokra",
				"KANDYKORN",
				"KEYMARBLE",
				"Kaos",
				"KillDisk",
				"KillMBR",
				"Koredos",
				"Krademok",
				"LIGHTSHIFT",
				"LIGHTSHOW",
				"LOLBAS",
				"LOLBins",
				"Lazarus",
				"LightlessCan",
				"Living off the Land",
				"MATA",
				"MBRkiller",
				"MagicRAT",
				"Manuscrypt",
				"Mimail",
				"Mimikatz",
				"Moudour",
				"Mydoom",
				"Mydoor",
				"Mytob",
				"NACHOCHEESE",
				"NachoCheese",
				"NestEgg",
				"NickelLoader",
				"NineRAT",
				"Novarg",
				"NukeSped",
				"OpBlockBuster",
				"PCRat",
				"PEBBLEDASH",
				"PLANKWALK",
				"POOLRAT",
				"PSLogger",
				"PhanDoor",
				"Plink",
				"PondRAT",
				"PowerBrace",
				"PowerRatankba",
				"PowerShell RAT",
				"PowerSpritz",
				"PowerTask",
				"Preft",
				"ProcDump",
				"Proxysvc",
				"PuTTY Link",
				"QUICKRIDE",
				"QUICKRIDE.POWER",
				"Quickcafe",
				"QuiteRAT",
				"R-C1",
				"ROptimizer",
				"Ratabanka",
				"RatabankaPOS",
				"Ratankba",
				"RatankbaPOS",
				"RawDisk",
				"RedShawl",
				"Rifdoor",
				"Rising Sun",
				"Romeo-CoreOne",
				"RomeoAlfa",
				"RomeoBravo",
				"RomeoCharlie",
				"RomeoCore",
				"RomeoDelta",
				"RomeoEcho",
				"RomeoFoxtrot",
				"RomeoGolf",
				"RomeoHotel",
				"RomeoMike",
				"RomeoNovember",
				"RomeoWhiskey",
				"Romeos",
				"RustBucket",
				"SHADYCAT",
				"SHARPKNOT",
				"SIGFLIP",
				"SIMPLESEA",
				"SLICKSHOES",
				"SORRYBRUTE",
				"SUDDENICON",
				"SUGARLOADER",
				"SheepRAT",
				"SierraAlfa",
				"SierraBravo",
				"SierraCharlie",
				"SierraJuliett-MikeOne",
				"SierraJuliett-MikeTwo",
				"SimpleTea",
				"SimplexTea",
				"SmallTiger",
				"Stunnel",
				"TAINTEDSCRIBE",
				"TAXHAUL",
				"TFlower",
				"TOUCHKEY",
				"TOUCHMOVE",
				"TOUCHSHIFT",
				"TOUCHSHOT",
				"TWOPENCE",
				"TYPEFRAME",
				"Tdrop",
				"Tdrop2",
				"ThreatNeedle",
				"Tiger RAT",
				"TigerRAT",
				"Trojan Manuscript",
				"Troy",
				"TroyRAT",
				"VEILEDSIGNAL",
				"VHD",
				"VHD Ransomware",
				"VIVACIOUSGIFT",
				"VSingle",
				"ValeforBeta",
				"Volgmer",
				"Vyveva",
				"W1_RAT",
				"Wana Decrypt0r",
				"WanaCry",
				"WanaCrypt",
				"WanaCrypt0r",
				"WannaCry",
				"WannaCrypt",
				"WannaCryptor",
				"WbBot",
				"Wcry",
				"Win32/KillDisk.NBB",
				"Win32/KillDisk.NBC",
				"Win32/KillDisk.NBD",
				"Win32/KillDisk.NBH",
				"Win32/KillDisk.NBI",
				"WinorDLL64",
				"Winsec",
				"WolfRAT",
				"Wormhole",
				"YamaBot",
				"Yort",
				"ZetaNile",
				"concealment_troy",
				"http_troy",
				"httpdr0pper",
				"httpdropper",
				"klovbot",
				"sRDI"
			],
			"source_id": "ETDA",
			"reports": null
		}
	],
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