Financially motivated group conducting slow, stealthy intrusions in Latin American banks to manipulate financial transactions over months. This profile is mapped to MITRE ATT&CK G1016 and covers attribution, tooling, targeting, and defensive recommendations based on observed campaigns.
Overview & Attribution
FIN13 (also tracked as Elephant Beetle) is a threat group attributed to Latin America. The group primarily targets Latin American financial sector for intelligence collection and operational objectives aligned with state interests.
This group is tracked as G1016 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 FIN13 include:
- Custom web shells
- Cobalt Strike
- YOURWORD
Targeting & Operations
FIN13 operations focus on Latin American financial sector. 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 Latin American financial sector sector should treat FIN13 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 FIN13 operations:
| Technique ID | Technique Name | Tactical Context |
|---|---|---|
| T1190 | T1190 | Observed in FIN13 campaigns |
| T1059.001 | T1059.001 | Observed in FIN13 campaigns |
| T1059.005 | T1059.005 | Observed in FIN13 campaigns |
| T1565.001 | T1565.001 | Observed in FIN13 campaigns |
Full ATT&CK mapping: https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G1016/
Notable Campaigns
This threat group has been active in operations targeting Latin American financial sector. Security researchers have documented campaigns involving Custom web shells and other tools deployed against organizations in multiple countries. Attribution confidence varies by campaign, but consistent infrastructure and TTP overlap links activity to Latin America-nexus operations.
Detection & Defense
Recommended defensive measures against FIN13:
- Network monitoring: Detect C2 beaconing patterns associated with Custom web shells and related implants
- Endpoint detection: Deploy behavioral rules for the ATT&CK techniques above, particularly T1190 and T1059.001
- 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 G1016 in MITRE ATT&CK
How Mjolnir Security Can Help
Defend Against FIN13
Mjolnir Security provides tailored threat intelligence, detection engineering, and incident response services to help organizations defend against Latin America-nexus threat actors.
Contact us: mjolnirsecurity.com
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