What public reporting says
Microsoft successfully detected and disabled attack activity abusing OneDrive by a previously undocumented Lebanon-based activity group Microsoft Threat Intelligence Center (MSTIC) tracks as POLONIUM.
POLONIUM threat group
POLONIUM is an espionage group thought to operate from Lebanon, with suspected state backing. Public reporting links it to 7 attack techniques, and to attacks on critical manufacturing, defense industrial base and financial services organisations, with 1 country or victim named. This free profile shows how it works and who it targets, so you can judge the risk to you.
- Attack techniques
- 7
- Countries and victims named
- 1
- Thought to operate from
- Lebanon
- Suspected backing
- Lebanon
- Motive
- Espionage
- Other names
- 3
Built from public reporting, with every source listed below.
Overview
Who is POLONIUM?
POLONIUM has 3 other names in security research. Below is what published reporting says about it, with a link to every report so you can check the detail yourself.
Also known as
Plaid RainUNC4453GREATRIFT
Security companies each give the same group their own name, so one group can have many.
Public reports about POLONIUM (3)
How it works
How does POLONIUM attack? Stage by stage.
Each technique is a known way attackers research, get in, stay hidden or do damage. Here are the 7 linked to POLONIUM, laid out from first look to final blow. Some techniques belong to more than one stage. Pick a stage to see them. Public reporting also lists 4 more specific variations of them, called sub-techniques.
Stage 2 of 15
2 techniquesPreparation
Setting up accounts, servers and tools to use in the attack.
- T1583Acquire Infrastructure
- T1588Obtain Capabilities
Targets
Who does POLONIUM go after?
The sectors and places named in public reporting about this group. If yours is on the list, it is worth knowing how they work and which flaws they use.
Sectors (13)
Critical manufacturingDefense industrial baseFinancial servicesFood and agricultureGovernment agencies and servicesHealthcarePharmaceuticalsInformation technologyTransportation systemsNGOsCivil SocietyMilitaryDefense
See threats by industry →Countries and victims named (1)
- 01Israel
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Is POLONIUM a risk to you?
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POLONIUM is an espionage group thought to operate from Lebanon, with suspected state backing. Public reporting links it to 7 attack techniques, and to attacks on critical manufacturing, defense industrial base and financial services organisations, with 1 country or victim named.
Public reporting places POLONIUM as operating from Lebanon, with suspected state backing. Attribution is never certain: it rests on the tools, infrastructure and targets researchers have seen.
In public reporting, sectors named include critical manufacturing, defense industrial base, financial services, food and agriculture and government agencies and services, and 1 countries and victims are named, including Israel.
Public reporting links POLONIUM to 7 attack techniques. Most of them are about preparing tools and infrastructure, getting in and keeping contact with their servers.
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