H3XA — Operational Evidence

TypeMalware

External ID—

First seen2026-08-14

Last seen2026-08-14

Confidence

—

[POWERSTATS](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0223) is a PowerShell-based first stage backdoor used by [MuddyWater](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G0069). (Citation: Unit 42 MuddyWater Nov 2017)

Labels

malware

28 recorded

Relationships

uses

from MuddyWater

Group

uses

to Asymmetric Cryptography

Technique

uses

to Command Obfuscation

Technique

uses

to Component Object Model

Technique

uses

to Data from Local System

Technique

uses

to Deobfuscate/Decode Files or Information

Technique

uses

to Disable or Modify Tools

Technique

uses

to Dynamic Data Exchange

Technique

uses

to External Proxy

Technique

uses

to File Deletion

Technique

uses

to Ingress Tool Transfer

Technique

uses

to JavaScript

Technique

uses

to Junk Code Insertion

Technique

uses

to Local Account

Technique

uses

to Masquerade Task or Service

Technique

uses

to Mshta

Technique

uses

to PowerShell

Technique

uses

to Process Discovery

Technique

uses

to Scheduled Task

Technique

uses

to Scheduled Transfer

Technique

uses

to Screen Capture

Technique

uses

to Security Software Discovery

Technique

uses

to Standard Encoding

Technique

uses

to System Information Discovery

Technique

uses

to System Network Configuration Discovery

Technique

uses

to System Owner/User Discovery

Technique

uses

to Visual Basic

Technique

uses

to Windows Management Instrumentation

Technique

6 external

References

mitre-attack

S0223

open

Powermud

—

POWERSTATS

—

ClearSky MuddyWater Nov 2018

https://www.clearskysec.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/MuddyWater-Operations-in-Lebanon-and-Oman.pdf

open

Unit 42 MuddyWater Nov 2017

https://researchcenter.paloaltonetworks.com/2017/11/unit42-muddying-the-water-targeted-attacks-in-the-middle-east/

open

Symantec MuddyWater Dec 2018

https://www.symantec.com/blogs/threat-intelligence/seedworm-espionage-group

open