S0663: SysUpdate
SysUpdate is a backdoor written in C++ that has been used by Threat Group-3390 since at least 2020.[1]
Security context for executives and security teams
SysUpdate is a Windows and Linux backdoor associated in ATT&CK with Threat Group-3390 and documented since at least 2020. Its ATT&CK relationships matter because they show a broad post-compromise pattern: discovery of users, services, processes, files, system and network settings; persistence through Linux systemd services and Windows registry modification; stealth through packing, encoding, fileless storage, masqueraded services, and file deletion; and C2/exfiltration activity including DNS and encoded C2 traffic. For leaders, the practical question is not simply whether a named malware family is detected, but whether endpoint, DNS, service, registry, and file activity are observable across both Windows and Linux estates.
Executive priority
Prioritize SysUpdate as a validation case for cross-platform incident readiness. The ATT&CK data links it to backdoor behavior and to a group known to target sectors including aerospace, government, defense, technology, energy, manufacturing, and gambling/betting. Security leaders should use this object to ask whether SOC coverage can connect discovery, persistence, stealth, tool transfer, C2, and exfiltration signals into one investigation, and whether Linux service monitoring receives the same governance and audit attention as Windows registry and WMI monitoring.
Technical view
ATT&CK provides no dedicated detection text for SysUpdate, so defenders should validate coverage from its mapped techniques. On Windows, review telemetry for WMI execution, registry modification, masqueraded services/tasks, process and service discovery, screen capture, file deletion, encoded or packed artifacts, and DNS/encoded C2 patterns. On Linux, validate systemd service creation or modification, process/service/user/system/network discovery, suspicious use of shared or volatile storage consistent with fileless storage, file deletion, tool transfer, and DNS-based C2. Because many mapped behaviors overlap with legitimate administration, detection should correlate sequences: new or modified persistence followed by discovery, encoded communication, file staging, local data access, and possible exfiltration over the same C2 channel.
Likely telemetry
- Endpoint process creation and command-line telemetry on Windows and Linux
- Windows WMI activity and related process lineage
- Windows Registry modification events
- Windows service/task and Linux systemd service creation or modification records
- File creation, deletion, packing/encoding indicators, and artifact metadata
Detection direction
- Do not rely on a SysUpdate signature alone; ATT&CK mapping indicates behaviors that may be packed, encoded, fileless, or masqueraded.
- Tune detections for chained behavior across discovery, persistence, C2, and cleanup rather than isolated administrative commands.
- Baseline legitimate WMI, registry, systemd, service, DNS, and file deletion activity to reduce false positives from normal administration.
- Confirm Linux visibility is sufficient for systemd service changes, process discovery, shared-memory or runtime-directory abuse, and DNS/network activity.
- Review DNS monitoring for C2-style use, including encoded data patterns, while accounting for high-volume legitimate DNS use.
Mitigation priorities
- Establish or verify endpoint logging coverage for Windows and Linux before relying on detection outcomes.
- Harden and monitor persistence surfaces: Windows Registry and services/tasks, plus Linux systemd units.
- Restrict and audit administrative execution paths such as WMI and service management according to least privilege.
- Improve DNS and egress monitoring so encoded C2, tool transfer, and exfiltration over C2 channels can be investigated.
- Add integrity monitoring or change control for critical service definitions, startup locations, and sensitive configuration paths.
Additional notes and limits
The most decision-useful aspect of this ATT&CK object is the breadth of mapped behavior rather than the malware description itself. SysUpdate can serve as a control-validation scenario spanning endpoint detection, Linux monitoring, Windows management-plane abuse, DNS visibility, persistence governance, and exfiltration investigation. Local prioritization should consider whether the organization operates Windows and Linux assets in business-critical environments and whether existing telemetry can preserve evidence after file deletion or stealth techniques.
MITRE does not provide official detection guidance for SysUpdate in the supplied object, and tactics are not specified directly on the malware object. This take is derived from the official description, external references, platform fields, and ATT&CK relationships only. It does not assert current activity, customer exposure, guaranteed detection, or attribution for any incident without local evidence.
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
SysUpdate
SysUpdate is a backdoor written in C++ that has been used by Threat Group-3390 since at least 2020.[1]
How security teams should use this page
Treat this object as behavior context, not an attribution claim. Validate the related groups, software, data sources, and mitigations against official ATT&CK relationships and your own telemetry before making control-coverage decisions.
Techniques used
This mirrors the MITRE pattern of making group, software, campaign, and technique relationships scannable. Relationship notes come from mirrored ATT&CK relationship text when available.
Groups, software, and campaigns
G0027: Threat Group-3390
Threat Group-3390 is a Chinese threat group that has extensively used strategic Web compromises to target victims.[1] The group has been active since at least 2010 and has targeted organizations in the aerospace, government, defense, technology, energy, manufacturing and gambling/betting sectors.[2][3][4]
All related ATT&CK context
Object version and sync metadata
The fields below describe the current mirrored snapshot. When Glexia retains multiple ATT&CK source imports, you can open the table to compare the same object across releases (hashes and MITRE timestamps). For MITRE’s own release notes and roadmap, see ATT&CK resources — Updates.
Imported snapshots across ATT&CK releases(1)
| Release | Bundle imported | Object version | Modified | Status | Raw hash |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19.1 | 1.3 | Current bundle | c6a12330e34c… |
Mirrored ATT&CK source object
The raw object is retained through the mirrored ATT&CK source bundle and object hash. The raw endpoint returns the exact object from the mirrored bundle when available.
External references and citations
MITRE external references are preserved separately from Glexia analysis so citations remain traceable to their original source records.
- [1]Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021
Lunghi, D. and Lu, K. (2021, April 9). Iron Tiger APT Updates Toolkit With Evolved SysUpdate Malware. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
Open source URL - [2]Lunghi Iron Tiger Linux
Daniel Lunghi. (2023, March 1). Iron Tiger’s SysUpdate Reappears, Adds Linux Targeting. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
Open source URL - [3]FOCUSFJORD
(Citation: Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021)
- [4]FOCUSFJORD
(Citation: Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021)
- [5]FOCUSFJORD
(Citation: Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021)
- [6]HyperSSL
(Citation: Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021)
- [7]HyperSSL
(Citation: Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021)
- [8]HyperSSL
(Citation: Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021)
- [9]Soldier
(Citation: Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021)
- [10]Soldier
(Citation: Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021)
- [11]Soldier
(Citation: Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021)
- [12]Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021
Lunghi, D. and Lu, K. (2021, April 9). Iron Tiger APT Updates Toolkit With Evolved SysUpdate Malware. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
Open source URL - [13]Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021
Lunghi, D. and Lu, K. (2021, April 9). Iron Tiger APT Updates Toolkit With Evolved SysUpdate Malware. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
Open source URL - [14]mitre-attackS0663Open source URL
- [15]mitre-attackS0663Open source URL
- [16]mitre-attackS0663Open source URL
- [17]Lunghi Iron Tiger Linux
Daniel Lunghi. (2023, March 1). Iron Tiger’s SysUpdate Reappears, Adds Linux Targeting. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
Open source URL - [18]Lunghi Iron Tiger Linux
Daniel Lunghi. (2023, March 1). Iron Tiger’s SysUpdate Reappears, Adds Linux Targeting. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
Open source URL - [19]Lunghi Iron Tiger Linux
Daniel Lunghi. (2023, March 1). Iron Tiger’s SysUpdate Reappears, Adds Linux Targeting. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
Open source URL - [20]Lunghi Iron Tiger Linux
Daniel Lunghi. (2023, March 1). Iron Tiger’s SysUpdate Reappears, Adds Linux Targeting. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
Open source URL - [21]Lunghi Iron Tiger Linux
Daniel Lunghi. (2023, March 1). Iron Tiger’s SysUpdate Reappears, Adds Linux Targeting. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
Open source URL - [22]Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021
Lunghi, D. and Lu, K. (2021, April 9). Iron Tiger APT Updates Toolkit With Evolved SysUpdate Malware. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
Open source URL - [23]Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021
Lunghi, D. and Lu, K. (2021, April 9). Iron Tiger APT Updates Toolkit With Evolved SysUpdate Malware. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
Open source URL - [24]Lunghi Iron Tiger Linux
Daniel Lunghi. (2023, March 1). Iron Tiger’s SysUpdate Reappears, Adds Linux Targeting. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
Open source URL - [25]Lunghi Iron Tiger Linux
Daniel Lunghi. (2023, March 1). Iron Tiger’s SysUpdate Reappears, Adds Linux Targeting. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
Open source URL - [26]Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021
Lunghi, D. and Lu, K. (2021, April 9). Iron Tiger APT Updates Toolkit With Evolved SysUpdate Malware. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
Open source URL - [27]Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021
Lunghi, D. and Lu, K. (2021, April 9). Iron Tiger APT Updates Toolkit With Evolved SysUpdate Malware. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
Open source URL - [28]Lunghi Iron Tiger Linux
Daniel Lunghi. (2023, March 1). Iron Tiger’s SysUpdate Reappears, Adds Linux Targeting. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
Open source URL - [29]Lunghi Iron Tiger Linux
Daniel Lunghi. (2023, March 1). Iron Tiger’s SysUpdate Reappears, Adds Linux Targeting. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
Open source URL - [30]Lunghi Iron Tiger Linux
Daniel Lunghi. (2023, March 1). Iron Tiger’s SysUpdate Reappears, Adds Linux Targeting. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
Open source URL - [31]Lunghi Iron Tiger Linux
Daniel Lunghi. (2023, March 1). Iron Tiger’s SysUpdate Reappears, Adds Linux Targeting. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
Open source URL - [32]Lunghi Iron Tiger Linux
Daniel Lunghi. (2023, March 1). Iron Tiger’s SysUpdate Reappears, Adds Linux Targeting. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
Open source URL - [33]Lunghi Iron Tiger Linux
Daniel Lunghi. (2023, March 1). Iron Tiger’s SysUpdate Reappears, Adds Linux Targeting. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
Open source URL - [34]Lunghi Iron Tiger Linux
Daniel Lunghi. (2023, March 1). Iron Tiger’s SysUpdate Reappears, Adds Linux Targeting. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
Open source URL - [35]Lunghi Iron Tiger Linux
Daniel Lunghi. (2023, March 1). Iron Tiger’s SysUpdate Reappears, Adds Linux Targeting. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
Open source URL - [36]Lunghi Iron Tiger Linux
Daniel Lunghi. (2023, March 1). Iron Tiger’s SysUpdate Reappears, Adds Linux Targeting. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
Open source URL - [37]Lunghi Iron Tiger Linux
Daniel Lunghi. (2023, March 1). Iron Tiger’s SysUpdate Reappears, Adds Linux Targeting. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
Open source URL - [38]Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021
Lunghi, D. and Lu, K. (2021, April 9). Iron Tiger APT Updates Toolkit With Evolved SysUpdate Malware. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
Open source URL - [39]Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021
Lunghi, D. and Lu, K. (2021, April 9). Iron Tiger APT Updates Toolkit With Evolved SysUpdate Malware. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
Open source URL - [40]Lunghi Iron Tiger Linux
Daniel Lunghi. (2023, March 1). Iron Tiger’s SysUpdate Reappears, Adds Linux Targeting. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
Open source URL - [41]Lunghi Iron Tiger Linux
Daniel Lunghi. (2023, March 1). Iron Tiger’s SysUpdate Reappears, Adds Linux Targeting. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
Open source URL - [42]Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021
Lunghi, D. and Lu, K. (2021, April 9). Iron Tiger APT Updates Toolkit With Evolved SysUpdate Malware. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
Open source URL - [43]Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021
Lunghi, D. and Lu, K. (2021, April 9). Iron Tiger APT Updates Toolkit With Evolved SysUpdate Malware. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
Open source URL - [44]Lunghi Iron Tiger Linux
Daniel Lunghi. (2023, March 1). Iron Tiger’s SysUpdate Reappears, Adds Linux Targeting. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
Open source URL - [45]Lunghi Iron Tiger Linux
Daniel Lunghi. (2023, March 1). Iron Tiger’s SysUpdate Reappears, Adds Linux Targeting. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
Open source URL - [46]Lunghi Iron Tiger Linux
Daniel Lunghi. (2023, March 1). Iron Tiger’s SysUpdate Reappears, Adds Linux Targeting. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
Open source URL - [47]Lunghi Iron Tiger Linux
Daniel Lunghi. (2023, March 1). Iron Tiger’s SysUpdate Reappears, Adds Linux Targeting. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
Open source URL - [48]Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021
Lunghi, D. and Lu, K. (2021, April 9). Iron Tiger APT Updates Toolkit With Evolved SysUpdate Malware. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
Open source URL - [49]Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021
Lunghi, D. and Lu, K. (2021, April 9). Iron Tiger APT Updates Toolkit With Evolved SysUpdate Malware. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
Open source URL - [50]Lunghi Iron Tiger Linux
Daniel Lunghi. (2023, March 1). Iron Tiger’s SysUpdate Reappears, Adds Linux Targeting. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
Open source URL - [51]Lunghi Iron Tiger Linux
Daniel Lunghi. (2023, March 1). Iron Tiger’s SysUpdate Reappears, Adds Linux Targeting. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
Open source URL - [52]Lunghi Iron Tiger Linux
Daniel Lunghi. (2023, March 1). Iron Tiger’s SysUpdate Reappears, Adds Linux Targeting. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
Open source URL - [53]Lunghi Iron Tiger Linux
Daniel Lunghi. (2023, March 1). Iron Tiger’s SysUpdate Reappears, Adds Linux Targeting. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
Open source URL - [54]Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021
Lunghi, D. and Lu, K. (2021, April 9). Iron Tiger APT Updates Toolkit With Evolved SysUpdate Malware. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
Open source URL - [55]Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021
Lunghi, D. and Lu, K. (2021, April 9). Iron Tiger APT Updates Toolkit With Evolved SysUpdate Malware. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
Open source URL - [56]Lunghi Iron Tiger Linux
Daniel Lunghi. (2023, March 1). Iron Tiger’s SysUpdate Reappears, Adds Linux Targeting. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
Open source URL - [57]Lunghi Iron Tiger Linux
Daniel Lunghi. (2023, March 1). Iron Tiger’s SysUpdate Reappears, Adds Linux Targeting. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
Open source URL - [58]Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021
Lunghi, D. and Lu, K. (2021, April 9). Iron Tiger APT Updates Toolkit With Evolved SysUpdate Malware. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
Open source URL - [59]Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021
Lunghi, D. and Lu, K. (2021, April 9). Iron Tiger APT Updates Toolkit With Evolved SysUpdate Malware. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
Open source URL - [60]Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021
Lunghi, D. and Lu, K. (2021, April 9). Iron Tiger APT Updates Toolkit With Evolved SysUpdate Malware. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
Open source URL - [61]Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021
Lunghi, D. and Lu, K. (2021, April 9). Iron Tiger APT Updates Toolkit With Evolved SysUpdate Malware. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
Open source URL - [62]Lunghi Iron Tiger Linux
Daniel Lunghi. (2023, March 1). Iron Tiger’s SysUpdate Reappears, Adds Linux Targeting. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
Open source URL - [63]Lunghi Iron Tiger Linux
Daniel Lunghi. (2023, March 1). Iron Tiger’s SysUpdate Reappears, Adds Linux Targeting. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
Open source URL - [64]Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021
Lunghi, D. and Lu, K. (2021, April 9). Iron Tiger APT Updates Toolkit With Evolved SysUpdate Malware. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
Open source URL - [65]Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021
Lunghi, D. and Lu, K. (2021, April 9). Iron Tiger APT Updates Toolkit With Evolved SysUpdate Malware. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
Open source URL - [66]Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021
Lunghi, D. and Lu, K. (2021, April 9). Iron Tiger APT Updates Toolkit With Evolved SysUpdate Malware. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
Open source URL - [67]Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021
Lunghi, D. and Lu, K. (2021, April 9). Iron Tiger APT Updates Toolkit With Evolved SysUpdate Malware. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
Open source URL - [68]Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021
Lunghi, D. and Lu, K. (2021, April 9). Iron Tiger APT Updates Toolkit With Evolved SysUpdate Malware. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
Open source URL - [69]Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021
Lunghi, D. and Lu, K. (2021, April 9). Iron Tiger APT Updates Toolkit With Evolved SysUpdate Malware. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
Open source URL - [70]Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021
Lunghi, D. and Lu, K. (2021, April 9). Iron Tiger APT Updates Toolkit With Evolved SysUpdate Malware. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
Open source URL - [71]Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021
Lunghi, D. and Lu, K. (2021, April 9). Iron Tiger APT Updates Toolkit With Evolved SysUpdate Malware. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
Open source URL - [72]Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021
Lunghi, D. and Lu, K. (2021, April 9). Iron Tiger APT Updates Toolkit With Evolved SysUpdate Malware. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
Open source URL - [73]Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021
Lunghi, D. and Lu, K. (2021, April 9). Iron Tiger APT Updates Toolkit With Evolved SysUpdate Malware. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
Open source URL - [74]Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021
Lunghi, D. and Lu, K. (2021, April 9). Iron Tiger APT Updates Toolkit With Evolved SysUpdate Malware. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
Open source URL - [75]Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021
Lunghi, D. and Lu, K. (2021, April 9). Iron Tiger APT Updates Toolkit With Evolved SysUpdate Malware. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
Open source URL - [76]Lunghi Iron Tiger Linux
Daniel Lunghi. (2023, March 1). Iron Tiger’s SysUpdate Reappears, Adds Linux Targeting. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
Open source URL - [77]Lunghi Iron Tiger Linux
Daniel Lunghi. (2023, March 1). Iron Tiger’s SysUpdate Reappears, Adds Linux Targeting. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
Open source URL - [78]Lunghi Iron Tiger Linux
Daniel Lunghi. (2023, March 1). Iron Tiger’s SysUpdate Reappears, Adds Linux Targeting. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
Open source URL - [79]Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021
Lunghi, D. and Lu, K. (2021, April 9). Iron Tiger APT Updates Toolkit With Evolved SysUpdate Malware. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
Open source URL - [80]Lunghi Iron Tiger Linux
Daniel Lunghi. (2023, March 1). Iron Tiger’s SysUpdate Reappears, Adds Linux Targeting. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
Open source URL - [81]Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021
Lunghi, D. and Lu, K. (2021, April 9). Iron Tiger APT Updates Toolkit With Evolved SysUpdate Malware. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
Open source URL - [82]Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021
Lunghi, D. and Lu, K. (2021, April 9). Iron Tiger APT Updates Toolkit With Evolved SysUpdate Malware. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
Open source URL - [83]Trend Micro Iron Tiger April 2021
Lunghi, D. and Lu, K. (2021, April 9). Iron Tiger APT Updates Toolkit With Evolved SysUpdate Malware. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
Open source URL
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