Russian FSB group targeting Western energy and nuclear facilities since 2011, gaining operational access to ICS/SCADA systems. This profile is mapped to MITRE ATT&CK G0035 and covers attribution, tooling, targeting, and defensive recommendations based on observed campaigns.
Overview & Attribution
Dragonfly (also tracked as Energetic Bear, Berserk Bear, Crouching Yeti, Ghost Blizzard) is a threat group attributed to Russia. The group primarily targets Energy, ICS, nuclear, water utilities for intelligence collection and operational objectives aligned with state interests.
This group is tracked as G0035 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 Dragonfly include:
- Havex
- Backdoor.Oldrea
- Karagany
- Heriplor
Targeting & Operations
Dragonfly operations focus on Energy, ICS, nuclear, water utilities. 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 Energy sector should treat Dragonfly 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 Dragonfly operations:
| Technique ID | Technique Name | Tactical Context |
|---|---|---|
| T1189 | T1189 | Observed in Dragonfly campaigns |
| T1566.001 | T1566.001 | Observed in Dragonfly campaigns |
| T1059.001 | T1059.001 | Observed in Dragonfly campaigns |
| T1078 | T1078 | Observed in Dragonfly campaigns |
| T1133 | T1133 | Observed in Dragonfly campaigns |
Full ATT&CK mapping: https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G0035/
Notable Campaigns
This threat group has been active in operations targeting Energy, ICS, nuclear, water utilities. Security researchers have documented campaigns involving Havex and other tools deployed against organizations in multiple countries. Attribution confidence varies by campaign, but consistent infrastructure and TTP overlap links activity to Russia-nexus operations.
Detection & Defense
Recommended defensive measures against Dragonfly:
- Network monitoring: Detect C2 beaconing patterns associated with Havex and related implants
- Endpoint detection: Deploy behavioral rules for the ATT&CK techniques above, particularly T1189 and T1566.001
- 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 G0035 in MITRE ATT&CK
How Mjolnir Security Can Help
Defend Against Dragonfly
Mjolnir Security provides tailored threat intelligence, detection engineering, and incident response services to help organizations defend against Russia-nexus threat actors.
Contact us: mjolnirsecurity.com
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