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APT36 leverages Linux .desktop files for malware deployment in ongoing espionage campaign

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📰 2 unique sources, 2 articles

Summary

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APT36, a Pakistani threat actor also known as Transparent Tribe, is exploiting Linux .desktop files to install malware in attacks targeting government and defense entities in India. The campaign, active since August 1, 2025, aims at data exfiltration and maintaining persistent access. The attacks use phishing emails to deliver ZIP archives containing malicious .desktop files disguised as PDFs. The malware, a Go-based ELF executable, establishes persistence and communicates via a WebSocket channel for command and control. The campaign also targets Windows and BOSS Linux systems, using decoy PDFs and anti-debugging techniques to evade detection.

Timeline

  1. 25.08.2025 11:13 📰 1 articles · ⏱ 22d ago

    APT36 targets Indian government entities with Poseidon backdoor

    APT36, also known as Transparent Tribe, targets Indian government entities with the Poseidon backdoor. The malware performs system reconnaissance and anti-debugging checks to evade detection. The campaign uses spoofed domains and infrastructure hosted on Pakistan-based servers, aiming to steal credentials and 2FA codes. The malware establishes persistence using a cron job and communicates with a command-and-control server at modgovindia[.]space:4000.

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  2. 22.08.2025 21:35 📰 2 articles · ⏱ 25d ago

    APT36 initiates Linux .desktop file malware campaign targeting Indian entities

    On August 1, 2025, APT36 began a campaign using Linux .desktop files to deliver malware to government and defense entities in India. The campaign involves phishing emails delivering ZIP archives containing malicious .desktop files disguised as PDFs. The malware establishes persistence and communicates via a WebSocket channel. The campaign targets both Windows and BOSS Linux systems, using decoy PDFs and anti-debugging techniques to evade detection. The malware deploys a known backdoor called Poseidon, enabling data collection, long-term access, credential harvesting, and potentially lateral movement.

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