Suspicious Safari-Masquerading LaunchAgent Loaded via launchctl on macOS

ATT&CK techniques

Persistence → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
- T1543.001Launch Agent
Priv Esc
- T1543.001Launch Agent
Defense Evasion
- T1647Plist File Modification
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects launchctl loading or unloading a LaunchAgent that masquerades as a Safari component such as com.applet.safari. The BlueNoroff GhostCall campaign installed persistence through fake Safari LaunchAgent plists and toggled them with launchctl. A LaunchAgent using an Apple-like label but not shipped by Apple indicates masqueraded persistence on macOS.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1543.001 — drag to rearrange

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Suspicious ClickLock LaunchAgent Persistence Plist Creation (via file_event)

Suspicious osascript LaunchAgent Plist Persistence for PhantomPulse on macOS

LaunchAgent or LaunchDaemon Persistence File Creation on macOS (via file_event)

Suspicious Persistence Load via Launchctl (via process_creation)

Masquerading Cuckoo Stealer LaunchAgent Masquerading as Homebrew Updater (via file_event)

Suspicious Safari-Masquerading LaunchAgent Loaded via launchctl on macOS

Pivot detection · T1543.001 · 9 related

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.

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