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                Research & Intelligence

                COBALT DICKENS Goes Back to School…Again

                The COBALT DICKENS threat group persists despite law enforcement actions and public disclosures, conducting another global campaign targeting universities. By: Counter Threat Unit Research Team

                In March 2018, the U.S. Department of Justice indicted the Mabna Institute and nine Iranian associates for compromising hundreds of universities to steal intellectual property and benefit financially. Secureworks® Counter Threat Unit™ (CTU) researchers assigned the name COBALT DICKENS to this likely Iranian government-directed threat group. Despite this indictment and other disclosures of COBALT DICKENS campaigns, the threat group (also known as Silent Librarian) shows no signs of stopping its activity as of this publication. CTU™ researchers have observed the threat actors using free online services as part of their operations, including free certificates, domains, and publicly available tools.

                In July and August 2019, CTU researchers discovered a new large global phishing operation launched by COBALT DICKENS. This operation is similar to the threat group's August 2018 campaign, using compromised university resources to send library-themed phishing emails. The messages contain links to spoofed login pages for resources associated with the targeted universities. Unlike previous campaigns that contained shortened links to obscure the attackers' infrastructure, these messages contain the spoofed URL (see Figure 1).


                Figure 1. Phishing message containing a link to a COBALT DICKENS domain (circled in red). (Source: Secureworks)

                Recipients who click this link are directed to a web page that looks identical or similar to the spoofed library resource. After the victims enter their credentials, their web browsers are redirected to the next.php file, where the credentials are stored locally in the pass.txt file. The victim's browser is then sent to the legitimate site being spoofed (see Figure 2).


                Figure 2. Lifecycle of a COBALT DICKENS credential-harvesting phishing operation. (Source: Secureworks)

                For this campaign, the threat actors registered at least 20 new domains targeting over 60 universities in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Hong Kong, and Switzerland. These domains were registered using the Freenom domain provider, which administers the following free top-level domains (TLDs) unless the domain is considered "special":

                • .ml
                • .ga
                • .cf
                • .gq
                • .tk

                Many of these domains use valid SSL certificates, likely to make the spoofed pages appear authentic. The overwhelming majority of the certificates observed in 2019 were issued by Let's Encrypt, a nonprofit organization that programmatically issues free certificates. However, past campaigns used certificates issued by the Comodo certificate authority.

                COBALT DICKENS uses publicly available tools, including the SingleFile plugin available on GitHub and the free HTTrack Website Copier standalone application, to copy the login pages of targeted university resources. Metadata in a spoofed login page created on August 1 suggests that COBALT DICKENS sometimes uses older copied versions of target websites. A comment left in the source code indicates it was originally copied on May 1, 2017 (see Figure 3). However, the university was targeted by numerous COBALT DICKENS operations, including the August 2018 and August 2019 campaigns.


                Figure 3. A comment in the source code of a spoofed page created by COBALT DICKENS. (Source: Secureworks)

                Metadata in other spoofed web pages supports the assessment that the threat actors are of Iranian origin. Specifically, a page copied on August 3 reveals an Iranian-related timestamp (see Figure 4).


                Figure 4. Metadata in COBALT DICKENS spoofed web page indicating that an Iran-based threat actor may have copied the legitimate website. (Source: Secureworks)

                As of this publication, CTU researchers observed COBALT DICKENS targeting at least 380 universities in over 30 countries. Many universities have been targeted multiple times. The threat actors have not changed their operations despite law enforcement activity, multiple public disclosures, and takedown activity.

                Some educational institutions have implemented multi-factor authentication (MFA) to specifically address this threat. While implementing additional security controls like MFA could seem burdensome in environments that value user flexibility and innovation, single-password accounts are insecure. CTU researchers recommend that all organizations protect Internet-facing resources with MFA to mitigate credential-focused threats.

                To provide broader awareness of the threat group's campaigns and curtail its activities, CTU researchers listed all known domains associated with COBALT DICKENS operations in Table 1. Several domains used prior to the indictment remain in use as of this publication. CTU researchers recommend that organizations use available controls to review and restrict access to these domains. They may contain malicious content, so consider the risks before opening them in a browser.

                Indicator Type Context
                mlibo.ml Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS for August/July 2019 operations
                blibo.ga Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS for August/July 2019 operations
                azll.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS for August/July 2019 operations
                azlll.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS for August/July 2019 operations
                lzll.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS for August/July 2019 operations
                jlll.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS for August/July 2019 operations
                elll.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS for August/July 2019 operations
                lllib.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS for August/July 2019 operations
                tsll.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS for August/July 2019 operations
                ulll.tk Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS for August/July 2019 operations
                tlll.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS for August/July 2019 operations
                libt.ga Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS for August/July 2019 operations
                libk.ga Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS for August/July 2019 operations
                libf.ga Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS for August/July 2019 operations
                libe.ga Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS for August/July 2019 operations
                liba.gq Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS for August/July 2019 operations
                libver.ml Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS for August/July 2019 operations
                ntll.tk Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS for August/July 2019 operations
                ills.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS for August/July 2019 operations
                vtll.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS for August/July 2019 operations
                clll.tk Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS for August/July 2019 operations
                stll.tk Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS for August/July 2019 operations
                llii.xyz Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                lill.pro Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                eduv.icu Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                univ.red Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                unir.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                unir.gq Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                unisv.xyz Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                unir.ml Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                unin.icu Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                unie.ml Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                unip.gq Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                unie.ga Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                unip.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                nimc.ga Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                nimc.ml Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                savantaz.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                unie.gq Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                unip.ga Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                unip.ml Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                unir.ga Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                untc.me Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                jhbn.me Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                unts.me Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                uncr.me Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                lib-service.com Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                unvc.me Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                untf.me Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                nimc.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                anvc.me Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                ebookfafa.com Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                nicn.gq Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                untc.ir Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                librarylog.in Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                llli.nl Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                lllf.nl Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                libg.tk Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                ttil.nl Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                llil.nl Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                lliv.nl Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                llit.site Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                flil.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                e-library.me Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                cill.ml Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                fill.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                libm.ga Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                eill.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                llib.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                eill.ga Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                nuec.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                illl.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                cnen.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                aill.nl Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                eill.nl Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                mlib.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                ulll.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                nlll.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                clll.nl Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                llii.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                etll.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                1edu.in Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                aill.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                atna.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                atti.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                aztt.tk Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                cave.gq Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                ccli.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                cnma.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                cntt.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                crll.tk Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                csll.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                ctll.tk Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                cvnc.ga Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                cvve.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                czll.tk Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                cztt.tk Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                euca.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                euce.in Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                ezll.tk Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                ezplog.in Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                ezproxy.tk Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                eztt.tk Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                flll.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                iell.tk Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                iull.tk Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                izll.tk Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                lett.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                lib1.bid Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                lib1.pw Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                libb.ga Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                libe.ml Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                libg.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                libg.ga Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                libg.gq Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                libloan.xyz Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                libnicinfo.xyz Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                libraryme.ir Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                libt.ml Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                libu.gq Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                lill.gq Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                llbt.tk Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                llib.ga Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                llic.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                llic.tk Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                llil.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                llit.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                lliv.tk Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                llse.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                ncll.tk Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                ncnc.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                nctt.tk Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                necr.ga Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                nika.ga Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                nsae.ml Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                nuec.ml Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                rill.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                rnva.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                rtll.tk Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                sctt.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                shibboleth.link Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                sitl.tk Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                slli.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                till.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                titt.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                uill.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                uitt.tk Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                ulibe.ml Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                ulibr.ga Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                umlib.ml Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                umll.tk Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                uni-lb.com Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                unll.tk Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                utll.tk Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                vsre.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                web2lib.info Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                xill.tk Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                zedviros.ir Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS
                zill.cf Domain name Hosting phishing website used by COBALT DICKENS

                Table 1. Indicators associated with COBALT DICKENS operations.

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