Threat Intelligence Directory

Storm Cloud is a Chinese espionage threat actor known for targeting organizations across Asia, particularly Tibetan organizations and individuals. They use a variety of malware families, including GIMMICK and GOSLU, which are feature-rich and multi-platform. Storm Cloud leverages public cloud hosting services like Google Drive for command-and-control channels, making it difficult to detect their activities.

Storm-2657 is a financially motivated threat actor targeting US-based organizations, particularly in higher education, to compromise employee accounts and redirect salary payments to attacker-controlled accounts. They employ tactics such as creating inbox rules to delete warning notifications from HR platforms like Workday and using phishing emails that impersonate legitimate university communications to gain access. The actor modifies employee salary payment configurations to facilitate financial theft. Mitigation efforts include implementing phishing-resistant MFA methods to secure user identities against such attacks.

The group Microsoft tracks as Storm-2603 is assessed with medium confidence to be a China-based threat actor. Microsoft has not identified links between Storm-2603 and other known Chinese threat actors. Microsoft tracks this threat actor in association with attempts to steal MachineKeys via the on-premises SharePoint vulnerabilities. Although Microsoft has observed this threat actor deploying Warlock and Lockbit ransomware in the past, Microsoft is currently unable to confidently assess the threat actor’s objectives. Additional actors may use these exploits to target unpatched on-premises SharePoint systems, further emphasizing the need for organizations to implement mitigations and security updates immediately.

Storm-2460 is a threat actor that has exploited elevation of privilege vulnerabilities to deploy PipeMagic malware and ransomware, enabling them to escalate access within compromised environments. They have been observed using the certutil utility to download malware from compromised legitimate third-party websites. Ransomware activity associated with Storm-2460 includes file encryption and the deployment of a ransom note named !_READ_ME_REXX2_!.txt. Microsoft recommends prioritizing security updates for elevation of privilege vulnerabilities to mitigate the impact of this actor's activities.

Storm-2372 is a suspected nation-state actor aligned with Russian interests, engaging in device code phishing campaigns targeting governments, NGOs, and various industries across Europe, North America, Africa, and the Middle East. The actor employs tactics that involve impersonating prominent individuals through third-party messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal to gain rapport before sending phishing invitations. These invitations lure users into completing device code authentication requests, granting Storm-2372 initial access to victim accounts and enabling Graph API data collection activities, including email harvesting. Microsoft has observed the actor utilizing keyword searches within compromised accounts to exfiltrate sensitive information.

Storm-2139 is a cybercrime group that exploited stolen API keys from compromised Azure OpenAI Service accounts to generate harmful content, including non-consensual intimate imagery, using the DALL-E model. The group utilized reverse proxy infrastructure and custom software to bypass guardrails in Microsoft’s GenAI services. Microsoft has filed a lawsuit against four individuals associated with Storm-2139, alleging they modified customer systems and resold access to these capabilities. The group systematically harvested authentication tokens from U.S.-based enterprises and is linked to a broader network of illicit AI tool development and distribution.

TAG-100 is a cyber-espionage APT that targets government and private sector organizations globally, exploiting vulnerabilities in internet-facing devices such as Citrix NetScaler and F5 BIG-IP for initial access. The group employs open-source tools like Pantegana and SparkRAT for persistence and post-exploitation activities, including credential theft and email data exfiltration. TAG-100 has compromised entities in at least ten countries, including two Asia-Pacific intergovernmental organizations, and focuses on sectors like education, finance, and local government. Their operations highlight the challenges of attribution due to the use of off-the-shelf tools and techniques that overlap with other state-sponsored groups.

Storm-1977 is a sophisticated threat actor that conducts password-spraying attacks targeting cloud tenants, particularly in the education sector, utilizing the AzureChecker.exe CLI tool as their primary infection vector. They have successfully compromised over 200 containers, repurposing them for cryptocurrency mining operations by leveraging guest accounts to create new resource groups within compromised subscriptions. Microsoft Threat Intelligence researchers have identified unique operational patterns that distinguish Storm-1977 from other cryptomining threat actors. The group exploits compromised accounts as a primary attack surface in their operations.

UAT4356 is a state-sponsored threat actor that targeted government networks globally through a campaign named ArcaneDoor. They exploited two zero-day vulnerabilities in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliances to deploy custom malware implants called "Line Runner" and "Line Dancer." The actor demonstrated a deep understanding of Cisco systems, utilized anti-forensic measures, and took deliberate steps to evade detection. UAT4356's sophisticated attack chain allowed them to conduct malicious actions such as configuration modification, reconnaissance, network traffic capture/exfiltration, and potentially lateral movement on compromised devices.

Storm-1747 is an intrusion set that develops and operates the Tycoon 2FA phishing kit, which has been active since at least mid-2023 and is known for its sophisticated obfuscation and exfiltration techniques. The kit has been sold and distributed under the PhaaS model, making it one of the most widespread phishing kits by early 2025.

Storm-1679 is a Russian disinformation group believed to be a spinoff of the Internet Research Agency, actively engaged in influence operations targeting the International Olympic Committee and the 2024 Olympic Games. The group has employed AI-generated content, including deepfake videos and fabricated narratives about violence, to discredit the IOC and instill fear among potential attendees. Their campaigns have been identified across multiple languages and platforms, utilizing techniques such as impersonation of media outlets and the creation of disinformation websites. Microsoft attributes significant disinformation activities related to the Olympics to Storm-1679, highlighting their focus on spreading falsehoods and promoting anti-Olympics messaging.

Storm-1674 is an access broker known for using tools based on the publicly available TeamsPhisher tool to distribute DarkGate malware. Storm-1674 campaigns have typically relied on phishing lures sent over Teams with malicious attachments, such as ZIP files containing a LNK file that ultimately drops DarkGate and Pikabot. In September 2023, Microsoft observed handoffs from Storm-1674 to ransomware operators that have led to Black Basta ransomware deployment.

Storm-1575 is a threat actor identified by Microsoft as being involved in phishing campaigns using the Dadsec platform. They utilize hundreds of Domain Generated Algorithm domains to host credential harvesting pages and target global organizations to steal Microsoft 365 credentials.

CopyCop is a Russian covert influence network that has established over 300 fictional media websites targeting the US, France, Canada, and other countries, primarily to disseminate pro-Russian and anti-Ukrainian narratives. The network employs TTPs such as deepfakes, fake interviews, and self-hosted LLMs for content generation, while also impersonating local media outlets and fact-checking organizations. Its operations are supported by the Moscow-based Center for Geopolitical Expertise and the GRU, aiming to undermine support for Ukraine and exacerbate political fragmentation in Western nations. CopyCop's influence content is amplified by a network of pro-Russian social media influencers and other Russian influence networks.

Storm-1295 is a threat actor group that operates the Greatness phishing-as-a-service platform. They utilize synchronous relay servers to present targets with a replica of a sign-in page, resembling traditional phishing attacks. Their adversary-in-the-middle capability allows Storm-1295 to offer their services to other attackers. Active since mid-2022, Storm-1295 is tracked by Microsoft and is known for their involvement in the Greatness PhaaS platform.

Storm-1286 is a threat actor that engages in large-scale spamming activities, primarily targeting user accounts without multifactor authentication enabled. They employ password spraying attacks to compromise these accounts and utilize legacy authentication protocols like IMAP and SMTP. In the past, they have attempted to compromise admin accounts and create new LOB applications with high administrative permissions to spread spam. Despite previous actions taken by Microsoft Threat Intelligence, Storm-1286 continues to explore new methods to establish a high-scale spamming platform within victim organizations using non-privileged users.

Storm-1283 is a threat actor that targeted Microsoft Azure cloud platform. They gained access to user accounts and created OAuth applications using stolen credentials, allowing them to control resources and deploy virtual machines for cryptomining. The targeted organizations incurred significant financial losses ranging from $10,000 to $1.5 million. Storm-1283 utilized compromised accounts and subscriptions to carry out their illicit activities.

Storm-1175 is a cybercriminal group known for deploying Medusa ransomware and exploiting public-facing applications for initial access. They have been observed exploiting a critical deserialization vulnerability in GoAnywhere MFT, tracked as CVE-2025-10035, which could lead to command injection and potential RCE. Microsoft Defender researchers identified exploitation activity aligned with TTPs attributed to Storm-1175, including the use of post-compromise techniques that involve creating a group named “ESX Admins” in the domain.

Storm-1167 is a threat actor tracked by Microsoft, known for their use of an AiTM phishing kit. They were responsible for launching an attack that led to Business Email Compromise activity.

Storm-1152, a cybercriminal group, was recently taken down by Microsoft for illegally reselling Outlook accounts. They operated by creating approximately 750 million fraudulent Microsoft accounts and earned millions of dollars in illicit revenue. Storm-1152 also offered CAPTCHA-solving services and was connected to ransomware and extortion groups. Microsoft obtained a court order to seize their infrastructure and domains, disrupting their operations.

In early 2023, Microsoft In early 2023, observed a wave of activity from a Gaza-based group that we track as Storm-1133 targeting Israeli private sector energy, defense, and telecommunications organizations.

Storm-1113 is a threat actor that acts both as an access broker focused on malware distribution through search advertisements and as an “as-a-service” entity providing malicious installers and landing page frameworks. In Storm-1113 malware distribution campaigns, users are directed to landing pages mimicking well-known software that host installers, often MSI files, that lead to the installation of malicious payloads. Storm-1113 is also the developer of EugenLoader, a commodity malware first observed around November 2022.

DEV-1101 is a threat actor tracked by Microsoft who is responsible for developing and advertising phishing kits, specifically AiTM phishing kits. These kits are capable of bypassing multifactor authentication and are available for purchase or rent by other cybercriminals. DEV-1101 offers an open-source kit with various enhancements, such as mobile device management and CAPTCHA evasion. Their tool has been used in high-volume phishing campaigns by multiple actors, including DEV-0928, and is sold for $300 with VIP licenses available for $1,000.

Storm-1099 is a sophisticated Russia-affiliated influence actor that has been conducting pro-Russia influence operations targeting international supporters of Ukraine since Spring 2022. They are known for their website forgery operation called "Doppelganger" and have been actively spreading false information. They have been involved in pushing the claim that Hamas acquired Ukrainian weapons for an attack on Israel. Storm-1099 has also been implicated in amplifying images of graffiti in Paris, suggesting possible Russian involvement and aligning with Russia's Active Measures playbook.

Storm-1084 is a threat actor that has been observed collaborating with the MuddyWater group. They have used the DarkBit persona to mask their involvement in targeted attacks. Storm-1084 has been linked to destructive actions, including the encryption of on-premise devices and deletion of cloud resources. They have been observed using tools such as Rport, Ligolo, and a customized PowerShell backdoor. The extent of their autonomy or collaboration with other Iranian threat actors is currently unclear.

Storm-1044 has been identified as part of a cyber campaign in collaboration with Twisted Spider. They employ a strategic approach, targeting specific endpoints using an initial access trojan called DanaBot. Once they gain access, Storm-1044 initiates lateral movement through Remote Desktop Protocol sign-in attempts, passing control to Twisted Spider. Twisted Spider then compromises the endpoints by introducing the CACTUS ransomware. Microsoft has detected ongoing malvertising attacks involving Storm-1044, leading to the deployment of CACTUS ransomware.

Storm-0940 is a Chinese threat actor active since at least 2021, known for gaining initial access through password spray and brute-force attacks, as well as exploiting network edge applications. Microsoft has observed Storm-0940 utilizing valid credentials obtained from CovertNetwork-1658's password spray operations, indicating a close operational relationship between the two. Once inside a victim environment, Storm-0940 has been seen leveraging compromised credentials for further malicious activities. Additionally, Storm-0940 has employed botnets, such as Quad7, to facilitate password spraying attacks.

Storm-0867 is a threat actor that has been active since 2012 and has targeted various industries and regions. They employ sophisticated phishing campaigns, utilizing social engineering techniques and a phishing as a service platform called Caffeine. Their attacks involve intercepting and manipulating communication between users and legitimate services, allowing them to steal passwords, hijack sign-in sessions, bypass multifactor authentication, and modify authentication methods.

Cybercriminals have launched a phishing campaign targeting senior executives in U.S. firms, using the EvilProxy phishing toolkit for credential harvesting and account takeover attacks. This campaign, initiated in July 2023, primarily targets sectors such as banking, financial services, insurance, property management, real estate, and manufacturing. The attackers exploit an open redirection vulnerability on the job search platform "indeed.com," redirecting victims to malicious phishing pages impersonating Microsoft. EvilProxy functions as a reverse proxy, intercepting credentials, two-factor authentication codes, and session cookies to hijack accounts. The threat actors, known as Storm-0835 by Microsoft, have hundreds of customers who pay monthly fees for their services, making attribution difficult. The attacks involve sending phishing emails with deceptive links to Indeed, redirecting victims to EvilProxy pages for credential harvesting.

Nwgen is a group that focuses on data exfiltration and ransomware activities. They have been found to share techniques with other threat groups such as Karakurt, Lapsus$, and Yanluowang. Nwgen has been observed carrying out attacks and deploying ransomware, encrypting files and demanding a ransom of $150,000 in Monero cryptocurrency for the decryption software.

Storm-0826 is a financially motivated cybercriminal group operating as an affiliate within the Black Basta ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) ecosystem. This actor's primary known method of obtaining initial access is through handoffs from Storm-0464, a known distributor of the Qakbot malware

Storm-0558 is a China-based threat actor with espionage objectives. While there are some minimal overlaps with other Chinese groups such as Violet Typhoon (ZIRCONIUM, APT31), Microsoft maintain high confidence that Storm-0558 operates as its own distinct group

Storm-0539 is a financially motivated threat actor that has been active since at least 2021. They primarily target retail organizations for gift card fraud and theft. Their tactics include phishing via emails or SMS to distribute malicious links that redirect users to phishing pages designed to steal credentials and session tokens. Once access is gained, Storm-0539 registers a device for secondary authentication prompts, bypassing multi-factor authentication and gaining persistence in the environment. They also collect emails, contact lists, and network configurations for further attacks against the same organizations.

H0lyGh0st is a North Korean threat actor that has been active since June 2021. They are responsible for developing and deploying the H0lyGh0st ransomware, which targets small-to-medium businesses in various sectors. The group employs "double extortion" tactics, encrypting data and threatening to publish it if the ransom is not paid. There are connections between H0lyGh0st and the PLUTONIUM APT group, indicating a possible affiliation.

Storm-0506 (DEV-0506) is a financially motivated cybercriminal group operating as a core affiliate within the Black Basta ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) ecosystem, having switched from deploying Conti ransomware around April 2022. This actor's operational model is distinguished by its strategic reliance on a dynamic network of initial access brokers, showcasing a division of labor common in RaaS operations. Throughout its history, Storm-0506 has leveraged access obtained through various brokers: initially Storm-0450/0464 via Qakbot infections (pre-September 2023), then expanding to include Storm-1674 delivering DarkGate, Pikabot, and IcedID (September 2023), and later employing Storm-1674's Microsoft Teams vishing campaigns (October 2024) and Storm-0569's SEO poisoning leading to BATLOADER and Cobalt Strike (December 2023). Following successful initial compromise, Storm-0506 employs a range of post-exploitation tools, including Cobalt Strike Beacon, SystemBC, and Brute Ratel C4 backdoors, and notably, often utilizes command-and-control (C2) infrastructure established by Storm-0365, indicating close collaboration or shared resources. This actor is characterized by hands-on-keyboard activity, culminating in the deployment of Black Basta ransomware. A resurgence in activity observed in October 2024, directly linked to Storm-1674's vishing, underscores the ongoing and adaptive threat that Storm-0506 represents within the ransomware landscape.

[Storm-0501](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G1053) is a financially motivated cyber criminal group that uses commodity and open-source tools to conduct ransomware operations. [Storm-0501](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G1053) has been active since 2021 and has previously been affiliated with Sabbath Ransomware and other Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) variants such as Hive, [BlackCat](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S1068), Hunters International, [LockBit 3.0](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S1202), and [Embargo](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S1247) ransomware.(Citation: Avertium Storm-0501 Sabbath Ransomware Arcane January 2022)(Citation: Microsoft Storm-501 Sabbath Ransomware Embargo September 2024)(Citation: Microsoft Storm-0501 Embargo Ransomware August 2025)(Citation: Google Mandiant Storm-0501 Sabbath Ransomware November 2021)

Storm-0494 is a threat actor that facilitates Gootloader infections, which are then exploited by groups like Vice Society to deploy tools such as the Supper backdoor, AnyDesk, and MEGA. They utilize RDP for lateral movement and employ the WMI Provider Host to deploy the INC ransomware payload. Microsoft has identified their activities as part of a campaign targeting the U.S. health sector. Their operations are characterized by financially motivated tactics.

Storm-0473 (Tomiris) is a threat actor that has been active since at least 2019. They primarily target government and diplomatic entities in the Commonwealth of Independent States region, with occasional victims in other regions being foreign representations of CIS countries. Tomiris uses a wide variety of malware implants, including downloaders, backdoors, and file stealers, developed in different programming languages. They employ various attack vectors such as spear-phishing, DNS hijacking, and exploitation of vulnerabilities. There are potential ties between Tomiris and Turla, but they are considered separate threat actors with distinct targeting and tradecraft by Kaspersky.

Storm-0381 is a threat actor identified by Microsoft as a Russian cybercrime group. They are known for their use of malvertising to deploy Magniber, a type of ransomware.

The threat actor that Microsoft tracks as Storm-0324 is a financially motivated group known to gain initial access using email-based initial infection vectors and then hand off access to compromised networks to other threat actors. These handoffs frequently lead to ransomware deployment.