North Korean group focused on financial theft, responsible for the $81M Bangladesh Bank heist and attacks on banks across 11+ countries via SWIFT. This profile is mapped to MITRE ATT&CK G0082 and covers attribution, tooling, targeting, and defensive recommendations based on observed campaigns.
Overview & Attribution
APT38 (also tracked as Bluenoroff, Sapphire Sleet, Stardust Chollima) is a threat group attributed to North Korea. The group primarily targets Banks, cryptocurrency, SWIFT network for intelligence collection and operational objectives aligned with state interests.
This group is tracked as G0082 in the MITRE ATT&CK framework. All techniques referenced in this report are mapped to ATT&CK for consistent threat modeling and detection engineering.
Arsenal & Tools
Known tools and malware associated with APT38 include:
- DYEPACK
- HERMES
- NESTEGG
- FASTCash
Targeting & Operations
APT38 operations focus on Banks, cryptocurrency, SWIFT network. The group typically gains initial access through spear-phishing, exploitation of public-facing applications, or strategic web compromises before deploying custom implants for persistent access and data exfiltration.
Organizations in the Banks sector should treat APT38 as a relevant threat and validate their detection coverage against the MITRE ATT&CK techniques listed below.
MITRE ATT&CK Mapping
Key techniques observed in APT38 operations:
| Technique ID | Technique Name | Tactical Context |
|---|---|---|
| T1059.001 | T1059.001 | Observed in APT38 campaigns |
| T1486 | T1486 | Observed in APT38 campaigns |
| T1565.001 | T1565.001 | Observed in APT38 campaigns |
| T1071.001 | T1071.001 | Observed in APT38 campaigns |
Full ATT&CK mapping: https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G0082/
Notable Campaigns
This threat group has been active in operations targeting Banks, cryptocurrency, SWIFT network. Security researchers have documented campaigns involving DYEPACK and other tools deployed against organizations in multiple countries. Attribution confidence varies by campaign, but consistent infrastructure and TTP overlap links activity to North Korea-nexus operations.
Detection & Defense
Recommended defensive measures against APT38:
- Network monitoring: Detect C2 beaconing patterns associated with DYEPACK and related implants
- Endpoint detection: Deploy behavioral rules for the ATT&CK techniques above, particularly T1059.001 and T1486
- Email security: Implement robust phishing defenses including URL sandboxing and attachment detonation
- Patch management: Prioritize patching of internet-facing applications exploited by this group
- Threat hunting: Proactively hunt for IOCs and behavioral indicators mapped to G0082 in MITRE ATT&CK
How Mjolnir Security Can Help
Defend Against APT38
Mjolnir Security provides tailored threat intelligence, detection engineering, and incident response services to help organizations defend against North Korea-nexus threat actors.
Contact us: mjolnirsecurity.com
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