# Tortoiseshell: threat group profile

> Tortoiseshell is an espionage group thought to operate from Iran, 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. It lists the other names the group goes by and links to every public report behind it.

Canonical page: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/threat-actors/tortoiseshell
Breadcrumb: [Home](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/) > [Threat groups](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/threat-actors) > Tortoiseshell

## At a glance

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Attack techniques | 0 |
| Countries and victims named | 4 |
| Thought to operate from | Iran |
| Suspected backing | Iran |
| Motive | Espionage |
| Other names | 6 |
| Public reports | 6 |

## Who is Tortoiseshell?

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

### Also known as

IMPERIAL KITTEN, Yellow Liderc, Imperial Kitten, TA456, DUSTYCAVE, Crimson Sandstorm

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

### What public reporting says

> A previously undocumented attack group is using both custom and off-the-shelf malware to target IT providers in Saudi Arabia in what appear to be supply chain attacks with the end goal of compromising the IT providers’ customers. The group, which we are calling Tortoiseshell, has been active since at least July 2018. Symantec has identified a total of 11 organizations hit by the group, the majority of which are based in Saudi Arabia. In at least two organizations, evidence suggests that the attackers gained domain admin-level access.

## Who does Tortoiseshell go after?

**Sectors:** Defense, Government, Military, Finance, Energy, Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, Telecoms, High-Tech, Media, NGOs, Civil Society, Legal, Rail, Transportation

**Countries and victims named:** United States, Israel, Middle East, Europe

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

## Public reports about Tortoiseshell

- https://www.symantec.com/blogs/threat-intelligence/tortoiseshell-apt-supply-chain
- https://www.darkreading.com/threat-intelligence/iranian-government-hackers-target-us-veterans/d/d-id/1335897
- https://ctoatncsc.substack.com/p/cto-at-ncsc-summary-week-ending-october
- https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/issues/cybersecurity/cyber-threat-intelligence/yellow-liderc-ships-its-scripts-delivers-imaploader-malware.html
- https://ics-cert.kaspersky.com/publications/reports/2023/09/25/apt-and-financial-attacks-on-industrial-organizations-in-h1-2023/
- https://services.google.com/fh/files/misc/tool-of-first-resort-israel-hamas-war-cyber.pdf

## Frequently asked questions

### Who is Tortoiseshell?

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

### Where is Tortoiseshell thought to be based?

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

### Who does Tortoiseshell target?

In public reporting, sectors named include defense, government, military, finance and energy, and 4 countries and victims are named, including United States, Israel, Middle East and Europe.

### How do I know if Tortoiseshell 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.

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