// 01Executive summary
Hellcat is an emerging ransomware group, active since late 2024, known for aggressive double-extortion attacks against high-profile entities like government agencies, critical infrastructure, and large corporations. They leverage sophisticated methodologies, including exploiting niche vulnerabilities and weak credentials, to infiltrate targets and exfiltrate sensitive data before encryption. Recent attacks in November 2024 targeted Schneider Electric, the Jordanian Ministry of Education, Tanzania Business College, and Pinger, demonstrating global reach and rapid adaptability. Hellcat distinguishes itself with humorous ransom notes and demands, often using cultural references and cryptocurrency payments, aiming to maximize media attention and pressure victims. Their operations are global, spanning multiple industries, with a notable focus on the education sector. The group's rapid evolution in tactics poses a significant and evolving threat across various critical sectors.
// 02Key metrics
// ttps
6
ATT&CK techniques
// iocs
1
indicators
// actors
1
threat groups
// kwords
10
keywords
// 03MITRE ATT&CK
// 04Threat actors
// 05Indicators of compromise
// ips1
- 176.96.96.137
// domains0
none
// urls0
none
// sha2560
none
// md50
none
// emails0
none
// cves0
none
// 06Geographic coverage
// 07YARA rule
```yara
rule Ransomware_Hellcat_Group_2024 {
meta:
author = "AI Threat Hunter"
date = "2024-07-30"
description = "Detects artifacts related to the Hellcat Ransomware Group, including network indicators and unique text patterns from their ransom notes/communications."
reference = "Internal Threat Intelligence"
tlp = "amber"
strings:
// --- File Hashes (No IOCs provided, placeholder for future additions) ---
// $hash_md5_1 = "d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e" // Example MD5 hash
// $hash_sha256_1 = "e3b0c44298fc1c149afbf4c8996fb92427ae41e4649b934ca495991b7852b855" // Example SHA256 hash
// --- Network Indicators (IPs/Domains/URLs) ---
// IP address identified as C2 or infrastructure for Hellcat Ransomware
$network_ip_1_ascii = "176.96.96.137"
$network_ip_1_wide = "176.96.96.137" wide
// --- Windows API Calls (No IOCs provided, placeholder for future additions) ---
// $api_create_remote_thread = "CreateRemoteThread" ascii wide // Example API call for process injection
// $api_nt_write_virtual_memory = "NtWriteVirtualMemory" ascii wide // Example API call for memory manipulation
// --- Registry Keys (No IOCs provided, placeholder for future additions) ---
// $registry_run_key_1 = "SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run\\Hellcat" ascii wide // Example persistence key
// --- Unique Text Patterns from Ransom Notes/Communications ---
// Core group name and ransomware identification, case-insensitive to catch variations
$string_hellcat_1_ascii = "HELLCAT" nocase
$string_hellcat_1_wide = "HELLCAT" wide nocase
$string_ransomware_1_ascii = "RANSOMWARE" nocase
$string_ransomware_1_wide = "RANSOMWARE" wide nocase
$string_group_1_ascii = "HELLCAT RANSOMWARE GROUP" nocase
$string_group_1_wide = "HELLCAT RANSOMWARE GROUP" wide nocase
// Behavioral characteristics described in intelligence, indicating their modus operandi
$string_behavioral_1_ascii = "double-extortion schemes" nocase
$string_behavioral_1_wide = "double-extortion schemes" wide nocase
$string_behavioral_2_ascii = "publicly release the stolen information" nocase
$string_behavioral_2_wide = "publicly release the stolen information" wide nocase
// Unique communication style described in intelligence, a distinct characteristic
$string_unique_1_ascii = "blending humor and cultural references" nocase
$string_unique_1_wide = "blending humor and cultural references" wide nocase
condition:
// Detects the specific IP address associated with Hellcat Ransomware, a strong direct indicator.
($network_ip_1_ascii or $network_ip_1_wide) or
// Detects the full group name, a very strong indicator often found in ransom notes or related documents.
($string_group_1_ascii or $string_group_1_wide) or
// Catches documents or binaries containing at least two distinct textual indicators.
// This condition helps in detecting variations of ransom notes, intelligence reports, or related files
// where the full group name might not be present, but enough descriptive text is.
// It requires at least two *types* of strings (e.g., "HELLCAT" and "double-extortion schemes")
// regardless of their ASCII or wide encoding.
(2 of ($string_hellcat*, $string_ransomware*, $string_behavioral*, $string_unique*))
}
```
// 08Keywords
{'keyword': 'hellcat', 'score': 21.0814}
{'keyword': 'group', 'score': 14.9852}
{'keyword': 'pryx', 'score': 9.9788}
{'keyword': 'ransomware', 'score': 9.6981}
{'keyword': 'data', 'score': 7.3994}
{'keyword': 'members', 'score': 7.1211}
{'keyword': 'miyako', 'score': 7.0141}
{'keyword': 'rey', 'score': 6.6289}
{'keyword': 'hellcat ransomware', 'score': 6.4108}
{'keyword': 'ransomware group', 'score': 6.0482}