# Inception Framework: threat group profile

> Inception Framework is an espionage group thought to operate from Russia, with suspected state backing. Public reporting about it is still limited. This free profile brings together what is known about it, so you can judge the risk to you.

Canonical page: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/threat-actors/inception-framework
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## At a glance

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Attack techniques | 0 |
| Countries and victims named | 21 |
| Thought to operate from | Russia |
| Suspected backing | Russia |
| Motive | Espionage |
| Other names | 6 |
| Public reports | 21 |

## Who is Inception Framework?

Inception Framework is an espionage group thought to operate from Russia, with suspected state backing. Public reporting about it is still limited.

### Also known as

Clean Ursa, Cloud Atlas, OXYGEN, G0100, ATK116, Blue Odin

Security companies each give the same group their own name, so one group can have many.

### What public reporting says

> This threat actor uses spear-phishing techniques to target private-sector energy, defense, aerospace, research, and media organizations and embassies in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, for the purpose of espionage.

## Who does Inception Framework go after?

**Sectors:** Government, Private sector

**Countries and victims named:** Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, India, Iran, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Malaysia, Russia, South Africa, Suriname, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Vietnam

See threats by industry: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/industries

## Public reports about Inception Framework

- https://www.cfr.org/interactive/cyber-operations/inception-framework
- https://web.archive.org/web/20160710180729/https://www.bluecoat.com/security-blog/2014-12-09/blue-coat-exposes-%E2%80%9C-inception-framework%E2%80%9D-very-sophisticated-layered-malware
- https://paper.seebug.org/papers/APT/APT_CyberCriminal_Campagin/2015/Inception_APT_Analysis_Bluecoat.pdf
- https://logrhythm.com/blog/catching-the-inception-framework-phishing-attack
- https://paper.seebug.org/papers/APT/APT_CyberCriminal_Campagin/2014/bcs_wp_InceptionReport_EN_v12914.pdf
- https://securelist.com/the-red-october-campaign/57647
- https://securelist.com/red-october-diplomatic-cyber-attacks-investigation/36740
- https://securelist.com/red-october-part-two-the-modules/57645
- https://securelist.com/cloud-atlas-redoctober-apt-is-back-in-style/68083
- https://securelist.com/an-undocumented-word-feature-abused-by-attackers/81899
- https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42-inception-attackers-target-europe-year-old-office-vulnerability
- https://securelist.com/recent-cloud-atlas-activity/92016
- https://www.symantec.com/blogs/threat-intelligence/inception-framework-hiding-behind-proxies
- https://www.akamai.com/uk/en/multimedia/documents/white-paper/upnproxy-blackhat-proxies-via-nat-injections-white-paper.pdf
- https://www.pwc.co.uk/cyber-security/pdf/pwc-cyber-threats-2020-a-year-in-retrospect.pdf
- https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/issues/cybersecurity/cyber-threat-intelligence/cyber-year-in-retrospect/yir-cyber-threats-annex-download.pdf
- https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/issues/cybersecurity/cyber-threat-intelligence/cyber-year-in-retrospect/yir-cyber-threats-report-download.pdf
- https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/atoms/clean-ursa
- https://www.cfr.org/interactive/cyber-operations/cloud-atlas
- https://www.cfr.org/cyber-operations/red-october
- https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G0100

## Frequently asked questions

### Who is Inception Framework?

Inception Framework is an espionage group thought to operate from Russia, with suspected state backing. Public reporting about it is still limited.

### Where is Inception Framework thought to be based?

Public reporting places Inception Framework as operating from Russia, with suspected state backing. Attribution is never certain: it rests on the tools, infrastructure and targets researchers have seen.

### Who does Inception Framework target?

In public reporting, sectors named include government and private sector, and 21 countries and victims are named, including Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus.

### How do I know if Inception Framework is a risk to my business?

Create an account and tell us the software you run. We match it against known flaws, including those linked to threat groups, rank each one from 0 to 100 and tell you as soon as we spot something that affects you.

## Check whether it matters to your business

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