Threat Actor

MirrorFace

Also known as: MirrorFace, Earth Kasha

[MirrorFace](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G1054) is a People's Republic of China (PRC)-aligned cyberespionage actor believed to be a subgroup under the [menuPass](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G0045) umbrella based on targeting, tools, and infrastructure overlaps. [MirrorFace](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G1054) has been active since at least 2019, at first exclusively targeting Japanese organizations across the media, defense, diplomatic, financial, manufacturing, and academic sectors. Subsequent [MirrorFace](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G1054) operations included targets in Central Europe and featured use of [LODEINFO](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S9020), [HiddenFace](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S9023), and [UPPERCUT](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0275) malware.(Citation: Kaspersky LODEINFO OCT 2022)(Citation: Kaspersky LODEINFO Part II OCT 2022)(Citation: ESET MirrorFace DEC 2022)(Citation: JPCERT MirrorFace JUL 2024)(Citation: Trend Micro Earth Kasha NOV 2024)(Citation: Trend Micro Earth Kasha Updates APR 2025)

43
Techniques
16
Software
1
Campaigns

Properties

stix_id
intrusion-set--8cf6e33b-b6ef-4a1f-a77c-0ecdde93161f
type
intrusion-set

MITRE ATT&CK Techniques (43)

Archive via Utility

Adversaries may use utilities to compress and/or encrypt collected data prior to exfiltration. Many utilities include functionalities to compress, enc

Clear Windows Event Logs

Adversaries may clear Windows Event Logs to hide the activity of an intrusion. Windows Event Logs are a record of a computer's alerts and notification

Code Signing

Adversaries may create, acquire, or steal code signing materials to sign their malware or tools. Code signing provides a level of authenticity on a bi

DLL

Adversaries may abuse dynamic-link library files (DLLs) in order to achieve persistence, escalate privileges, and evade defenses. DLLs are libraries t

Data from Local System

Adversaries may search local system sources, such as file systems, configuration files, local databases, virtual machine files, or process memory, to

Disable or Modify Tools

Adversaries may disable, degrade, or tamper with security tools or applications (e.g., endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools, intrusion detectio

Domain Account

Adversaries may attempt to get a listing of domain accounts. This information can help adversaries determine which domain accounts exist to aid in fol

Domain Trust Discovery

Adversaries may attempt to gather information on domain trust relationships that may be used to identify lateral movement opportunities in Windows mul

Encrypted/Encoded File

Adversaries may encrypt or encode files to obfuscate strings, bytes, and other specific patterns to impede detection. Encrypting and/or encoding file

Exfiltration Over Asymmetric Encrypted Non-C2 Protocol

Adversaries may steal data by exfiltrating it over an asymmetrically encrypted network protocol other than that of the existing command and control ch

Exploit Public-Facing Application

Adversaries may attempt to exploit a weakness in an Internet-facing host or system to initially access a network. The weakness in the system can be a

File Deletion

Adversaries may delete files left behind by the actions of their intrusion activity. Malware, tools, or other non-native files dropped or created on a

File Transfer Protocols

Adversaries may communicate using application layer protocols associated with transferring files to avoid detection/network filtering by blending in w

File and Directory Discovery

Adversaries may enumerate files and directories or may search in specific locations of a host or network share for certain information within a file s

Gather Victim Org Information

Adversaries may gather information about the victim's organization that can be used during targeting. Information about an organization may include a

Impersonation

Adversaries may impersonate a trusted person or organization in order to persuade and trick a target into performing some action on their behalf. For

LSASS Memory

Adversaries may attempt to access credential material stored in the process memory of the Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS). After a

Local Email Collection

Adversaries may target user email on local systems to collect sensitive information. Files containing email data can be acquired from a user’s local s

Malicious File

An adversary may rely upon a user opening a malicious file in order to gain execution. Users may be subjected to social engineering to get them to ope

Malware

Adversaries may develop malware and malware components that can be used during targeting. Building malicious software can include the development of p

Masquerade File Type

Adversaries may masquerade malicious payloads as legitimate files through changes to the payload's formatting, including the file’s signature, extensi

NTDS

Adversaries may attempt to access or create a copy of the Active Directory domain database in order to steal credential information, as well as obtain

Password Filter DLL

Adversaries may register malicious password filter dynamic link libraries (DLLs) into the authentication process to acquire user credentials as they a

Process Discovery

Adversaries may attempt to get information about running processes on a system. Information obtained could be used to gain an understanding of common

Proxy

Adversaries may use a connection proxy to direct network traffic between systems or act as an intermediary for network communications to a command and

Remote Data Staging

Adversaries may stage data collected from multiple systems in a central location or directory on one system prior to Exfiltration. Data may be kept in

Remote Desktop Protocol

Adversaries may use [Valid Accounts](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1078) to log into a computer using the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). The ad

Remote System Discovery

Adversaries may attempt to get a listing of other systems by IP address, hostname, or other logical identifier on a network that may be used for Later

SMB/Windows Admin Shares

Adversaries may use [Valid Accounts](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1078) to interact with a remote network share using Server Message Block (SM

Security Account Manager

Adversaries may attempt to extract credential material from the Security Account Manager (SAM) database either through in-memory techniques or through

Software & Tools (16)

BITSAdmin [tool]

[BITSAdmin](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0190) is a command line tool used to create and manage [BITS Jobs](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/

Cobalt Strike [tool]

[Cobalt Strike](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0154) is a commercial, full-featured, remote access tool that bills itself as “adversary simulation

DOWNIISSA [malware]

[DOWNIISSA](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S9021) is a shellcode downloader that has been used by [MirrorFace](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G105

HiddenFace [malware]

[HiddenFace](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S9023) is a modular backdoor developed and used exclusively by [MirrorFace](https://attack.mitre.org/gr

LODEINFO [malware]

[LODEINFO](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S9020) is a fileless backdoor malware first identified in 2020 that has been used by actors including [Mi

MirrorStealer [malware]

[MirrorStealer](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S9022) is a credential stealer that has been used by [MirrorFace](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G1

NOOPLDR [malware]

[NOOPLDR](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S9025) is a shellcode loader with XML/C# and DLL versions that has been used by [MirrorFace](https://attac

Net [tool]

The [Net](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0039) utility is a component of the Windows operating system. It is used in command-line operations for c

Nltest [tool]

[Nltest](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0359) is a Windows command-line utility used to list domain controllers and enumerate domain trusts.(Citat

Ping [tool]

[Ping](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0097) is an operating system utility commonly used to troubleshoot and verify network connections. (Citation

ROAMINGHOUSE [malware]

[ROAMINGHOUSE](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S9026) is a dropper malware used by [MirrorFace](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G1054) to extract an

Tasklist [tool]

The [Tasklist](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0057) utility displays a list of applications and services with their Process IDs (PID) for all task

UPPERCUT [malware]

[UPPERCUT](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0275) is a 32-bit HTTP-based backdoor that has been used by [menuPass](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G

Wevtutil [tool]

[Wevtutil](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0645) is a Windows command-line utility that enables administrators to retrieve information about event

ipconfig [tool]

[ipconfig](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0100) is a Windows utility that can be used to find information about a system's TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, and

nbtstat [tool]

[nbtstat](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0102) is a utility used to troubleshoot NetBIOS name resolution. (Citation: TechNet Nbtstat)

Campaigns (1)

Operation AkaiRyū

[Operation AkaiRyū](https://attack.mitre.org/campaigns/C0060) (Japanese for RedDragon) was a cyberespionage spearphishing campaign conducted by [Mirro

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