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CyberIran

MuddyWater

State-sponsored cyber threat groupTrackedPending verification

Also known as: Earth Vetala, MERCURY, Static Kitten, Seedworm, TEMP.Zagros, Mango Sandstorm, TA450, MuddyKrill

CyberIRN
Identification silhouette. Not drawn to scale between entries.
Fact cardConfidence · Source
System
TypeState-sponsored cyber threat group
Alternative designationsEarth Vetala, MERCURY, Static Kitten, Seedworm, TEMP.Zagros, Mango Sandstorm, TA450, MuddyKrill
ProliferationOrigin country only
MITRE ATT&CK IDG0069High[1]
Capabilities
ATT&CK techniques used68ATT&CK v20.1High[1]
Malware and toolsConnectWise, CrackMapExec, Empire, Fooder, Koadic, LaZagne, LP-Notes, Mimikatz, Mori, MuddyViper, Out1, PowerSploit, POWERSTATS, PowGoop, Rclone, RemoteUtilities, RustyWater, SHARPSTATS, Small Sieve, STARWHALE and 1 more21 malware and tool entries linked in ATT&CKHigh[1]
Attribution and activity
Attributed sponsorIran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS)High[1]
TargetsSince at least 2017, MuddyWater has targeted a range of government and private organizations across sectors, including telecommunications, local government, finance, defense, and oil and natural gas organizations, in the Middle East (specifically the UAE and Saudi Arabia), Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America.Med[1]
Notes
MuddyWater is a cyber espionage group assessed to be a subordinate element within Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS). Since at least 2017, MuddyWater has targeted a range of government and private organizations across sectors, including telecommunications, local government, finance, defense, and oil and natural gas organizations, in the Middle East (specifically the UAE and Saudi Arabia), Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America. MuddyWater has reused domains dating back to October 2025, and has a preference for NameCheap and Hosterdaddy Private Limited (AS136557). In late 2025 and early 2026, MuddyWater used commercial satellite internet (i.e., Starlink) for command and control (C2) communication. Description adapted from MITRE ATT&CK®, © The MITRE Corporation, used under the ATT&CK Terms of Use.
Summary

MuddyWater is a cyber espionage group assessed to be a subordinate element within Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS). Since at least 2017, MuddyWater has targeted a range of government and private organizations across sectors, including telecommunications, local government, finance, defense, and oil and natural gas organizations, in the Middle East (specifically the UAE and Saudi Arabia), Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America.

Draft entry. Values come from the cited public sources and are awaiting editor verification.
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Operators
Iran
Sources
  1. MuddyWater, Group G0069, MITRE ATT&CK
    Published/updated 2026-07-31 · Tier 2 · checked 2026-11-08
Change log
  • 2026-11-08 Entry created from MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v20.1 (group G0069)