OceanLotus (APT-C-00) Payload Staging in Fake NVIDIA Setup Temp Directory (via file_event)

ATT&CK techniques

Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1036.005Match Legitimate Resource Name or Location
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects files being written into a fake NVIDIA setup directory under the user Temp folder, a staging behavior observed by the 360 Threat Intelligence Center in the OceanLotus double-loader campaign where the loader created a NVidiaSetup working directory to host encrypted host data and the reflectively loaded Cobalt Strike beacon. Adversaries masquerade attacker directories as trusted vendor installers to blend payload staging into ordinary Temp activity.

Reporting behind it

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OceanLotus (APT-C-00) Payload Staging in Fake NVIDIA Setup Temp Directory (via file_event)

Pivot detection · T1036.005 · 9 related

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