H3XA — Operational Evidence

TypeMalware

External ID—

First seen2026-08-14

Last seen2026-08-14

Confidence

—

[PlugX](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0013) is a remote access tool (RAT) with modular plugins that has been used by multiple threat groups.(Citation: Lastline PlugX Analysis)(Citation: FireEye Clandestine Fox Part 2)(Citation: New DragonOK)(Citation: Dell TG-3390)

Labels

malware

65 recorded

Relationships

uses

from APT3

Group

uses

from APT41

Group

uses

from Axiom

Group

uses

from Cinnamon Tempest

Group

uses

Group

uses

Group

uses

Group

uses

Group

uses

from LuminousMoth

Group

uses

Group

uses

from Mustang Panda

Group

uses

to Binary Padding

Technique

uses

to Clear Persistence

Technique

uses

to Dead Drop Resolver

Technique

uses

to Debugger Evasion

Technique

uses

to Deobfuscate/Decode Files or Information

Technique

uses

to Disable or Modify System Firewall

Technique

uses

to DLL

Technique

uses

to DNS

Technique

uses

to Dynamic API Resolution

Technique

uses

to Encrypted/Encoded File

Technique

uses

to Exfiltration Over C2 Channel

Technique

uses

to File and Directory Discovery

Technique

uses

to File Deletion

Technique

uses

to Hidden Files and Directories

Technique

uses

to Hidden Window

Technique

uses

to Ingress Tool Transfer

Technique

uses

Technique

uses

to Local Data Staging

Technique

uses

to Local Storage Discovery

Technique

uses

to Malicious File

Technique

uses

to Masquerade Task or Service

Technique

uses

to Match Legitimate Resource Name or Location

Technique

uses

to Modify Registry

Technique

uses

Technique

uses

to Mutual Exclusion

Technique

uses

Technique

uses

to Network Share Discovery

Technique

uses

to Non-Application Layer Protocol

Technique

uses

to Non-Standard Port

Technique

uses

to Obfuscated Files or Information

Technique

uses

to Peripheral Device Discovery

Technique

uses

to Process Discovery

Technique

uses

to Query Registry

Technique

uses

to Reflective Code Loading

Technique

uses

to Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder

Technique

uses

to Replication Through Removable Media

Technique

uses

to Scheduled Task

Technique

uses

to Screen Capture

Technique

uses

to Symmetric Cryptography

Technique

uses

to System Checks

Technique

uses

to System Information Discovery

Technique

uses

to System Location Discovery

Technique

uses

to System Network Configuration Discovery

Technique

uses

to System Network Connections Discovery

Technique

uses

to System Owner/User Discovery

Technique

uses

to System Time Discovery

Technique

uses

to Web Protocols

Technique

uses

to Windows Command Shell

Technique

uses

to Windows Service

Technique

uses

from RedDelta Modified PlugX Infection Chain Operations

Campaign

uses

from TA459

Group

uses

from Threat Group-3390

Group

uses

from Velvet Ant

Group

uses

from Winnti Group

Group

14 external

References

mitre-attack

S0013

DestroyRAT

—

Kaba

—

PlugX

—

Korplug

—

Sogu

—

Thoper

—

TVT

—

CIRCL PlugX March 2013

http://circl.lu/assets/files/tr-12/tr-12-circl-plugx-analysis-v1.pdf

Dell TG-3390

https://www.secureworks.com/research/threat-group-3390-targets-organizations-for-cyberespionage

New DragonOK

http://researchcenter.paloaltonetworks.com/2015/04/unit-42-identifies-new-dragonok-backdoor-malware-deployed-against-japanese-targets/

Novetta-Axiom

https://web.archive.org/web/20230115144216/http://www.novetta.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Executive_Summary-Final_1.pdf

FireEye Clandestine Fox Part 2

https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2014/06/clandestine-fox-part-deux.html

Lastline PlugX Analysis

https://lastline3.rssing.com/chan-29044929/all_p1.html#c29044929a2