North Korean group using fake companies, trojanized software, and custom ransomware (FakePenny) to fund DPRK operations. This profile is mapped to MITRE ATT&CK G1036 and covers attribution, tooling, targeting, and defensive recommendations based on observed campaigns.
Overview & Attribution
Moonstone Sleet (also tracked as Storm-1789) is a threat group attributed to North Korea. The group primarily targets IT, software, defense, education for intelligence collection and operational objectives aligned with state interests.
This group is tracked as G1036 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 Moonstone Sleet include:
- FakePenny ransomware
- custom tank game trojan
Targeting & Operations
Moonstone Sleet operations focus on IT, software, defense, education. 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 IT sector should treat Moonstone Sleet 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 Moonstone Sleet operations:
| Technique ID | Technique Name | Tactical Context |
|---|---|---|
| T1566.003 | T1566.003 | Observed in Moonstone Sleet campaigns |
| T1204.002 | T1204.002 | Observed in Moonstone Sleet campaigns |
| T1486 | T1486 | Observed in Moonstone Sleet campaigns |
| T1059.001 | T1059.001 | Observed in Moonstone Sleet campaigns |
Full ATT&CK mapping: https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G1036/
Notable Campaigns
This threat group has been active in operations targeting IT, software, defense, education. Security researchers have documented campaigns involving FakePenny ransomware 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 Moonstone Sleet:
- Network monitoring: Detect C2 beaconing patterns associated with FakePenny ransomware and related implants
- Endpoint detection: Deploy behavioral rules for the ATT&CK techniques above, particularly T1566.003 and T1204.002
- 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 G1036 in MITRE ATT&CK
How Mjolnir Security Can Help
Defend Against Moonstone Sleet
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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