Iranian group conducting credential harvesting campaigns against 300+ universities in 30+ countries to steal academic research and IP. This profile is mapped to MITRE ATT&CK G0122 and covers attribution, tooling, targeting, and defensive recommendations based on observed campaigns.
Overview & Attribution
Silent Librarian (also tracked as TA407, COBALT DICKENS) is a threat group attributed to Iran. The group primarily targets Universities, academic research globally for intelligence collection and operational objectives aligned with state interests.
This group is tracked as G0122 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 Silent Librarian include:
- Phishing kits
- cloned university portals
Targeting & Operations
Silent Librarian operations focus on Universities, academic research globally. 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 Universities sector should treat Silent Librarian 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 Silent Librarian operations:
| Technique ID | Technique Name | Tactical Context |
|---|---|---|
| T1566.002 | T1566.002 | Observed in Silent Librarian campaigns |
| T1598.003 | T1598.003 | Observed in Silent Librarian campaigns |
| T1078 | T1078 | Observed in Silent Librarian campaigns |
| T1114.002 | T1114.002 | Observed in Silent Librarian campaigns |
Full ATT&CK mapping: https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G0122/
Notable Campaigns
This threat group has been active in operations targeting Universities, academic research globally. Security researchers have documented campaigns involving Phishing kits and other tools deployed against organizations in multiple countries. Attribution confidence varies by campaign, but consistent infrastructure and TTP overlap links activity to Iran-nexus operations.
Detection & Defense
Recommended defensive measures against Silent Librarian:
- Network monitoring: Detect C2 beaconing patterns associated with Phishing kits and related implants
- Endpoint detection: Deploy behavioral rules for the ATT&CK techniques above, particularly T1566.002 and T1598.003
- 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 G0122 in MITRE ATT&CK
How Mjolnir Security Can Help
Defend Against Silent Librarian
Mjolnir Security provides tailored threat intelligence, detection engineering, and incident response services to help organizations defend against Iran-nexus threat actors.
Contact us: mjolnirsecurity.com
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