GINC-APT-0734 · Targeted, sponsor unknown

GopherWhisper

Category
Targeted, sponsor unknown · Targeted intrusions with no sponsor attributed.
Origin
China(high confidence)
Sources
3 sources carry it
Identifier
GINC-APT-0734 · gopherwhisper

What it is

GopherWhisper is a China-aligned APT that routes C2 traffic through legitimate enterprise platforms like Slack, Discord, and Microsoft 365 Outlook to evade detection. Its toolkit includes the LaxGopher backdoor for Slack, RatGopher for Discord, and CompactGopher for data exfiltration via file.io. The group employs DLL side-loading via JabGopher and uses raw OpenSSL socket C2 on port 443 with the SSLORDoor backdoor. GopherWhisper has targeted Mongolian government entities and is assessed to have additional unidentified victims in Central Asia.

Attribution

Each attribution is a claim: who makes it, and to whom. Western and Eastern sources are kept apart, as they often disagree.

Tools

The tools and malware families the sources tie to it.

  • Backdoor.Oldrea
  • China Chopper
  • Socket23
  • SocketPlayer

Sources

  • Malpedia malpedia.caad.fkie.fraunhofer.de