# MuddyWater

> As of 2026-08-28, MuddyWater is a Iran-nexus threat actor tracked by Threadlinqs Intelligence across 19 threats spanning threat actor, campaign, threat intel. Also known as MuddyWater - G0069, Seedworm, Mango Sandstorm, Static Kitten. ATT&CK coverage spans 179 techniques across 15 tactics in 19 of 19 tracked threats. Most-observed techniques: T1027 (Obfuscated Files or Information), T1041 (Exfiltration Over C2 Channel), T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter).

- **Nation:** Iran
- **Tracked threats:** 19
- **Categories:** THREAT_ACTOR, CAMPAIGN, THREAT_INTEL, MALWARE, APT, VULNERABILITY, ICS_SCADA
- **Also known as:** MuddyWater - G0069, Seedworm, Mango Sandstorm, Static Kitten, MERCURY, TA450, ATK51, Boggy Serpens, COBALT ULSTER, Earth Vetala, G0069, MuddyKrill
- **As of:** 2026-08-28

## ATT&CK techniques observed

179 techniques observed across 19 of 19 tracked threats. Tactics: Stealth (formerly Defense Evasion) (28), Command and Control (18), Discovery (17), Execution (17), Resource Development (17), Credential Access (16).

- [T1027](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1027) Obfuscated Files or Information — Stealth (formerly Defense Evasion) — observed in 16 of 19 tracked threats
- [T1041](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1041) Exfiltration Over C2 Channel — Exfiltration — observed in 14 of 19 tracked threats
- [T1059](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1059) Command and Scripting Interpreter — Execution — observed in 14 of 19 tracked threats
- [T1082](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1082) System Information Discovery — Discovery — observed in 14 of 19 tracked threats
- [T1071](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1071) Application Layer Protocol — Command and Control — observed in 13 of 19 tracked threats
- [T1105](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1105) Ingress Tool Transfer — Command and Control — observed in 13 of 19 tracked threats
- [T1566](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1566) Phishing — Initial Access — observed in 13 of 19 tracked threats
- [T1547](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1547) Boot or Logon Autostart Execution — Persistence — observed in 12 of 19 tracked threats
- [T1140](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1140) Deobfuscate/Decode Files or Information — Stealth (formerly Defense Evasion) — observed in 11 of 19 tracked threats
- [T1555](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1555) Credentials from Password Stores — Credential Access — observed in 11 of 19 tracked threats
- [T1005](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1005) Data from Local System — Collection — observed in 10 of 19 tracked threats
- [T1036](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1036) Masquerading — Stealth (formerly Defense Evasion) — observed in 10 of 19 tracked threats
- [T1102](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1102) Web Service — Command and Control — observed in 10 of 19 tracked threats
- [T1567](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1567) Exfiltration Over Web Service — Exfiltration — observed in 10 of 19 tracked threats
- [T1016](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1016) System Network Configuration Discovery — Discovery — observed in 9 of 19 tracked threats

## Tracked threats

- [MuddyWater APT (Iran MOIS-linked, G0069) abuses legitimate RMM tools, VBA macro loaders, and Rust-compiled payloads in ongoing global espionage campaign](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-1530) — HIGH
- [ASEC June 2026 APT Trend Report: Nation-State Actors Pivot to Cloud/OAuth Abuse, MaaS, and Supply-Chain Compromise](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-1287) — MEDIUM
- [ClickFix / KongTuke Clipboard-Hijacking Social-Engineering Technique (MITRE T1204.004) — Fake-CAPTCHA Lures Delivering Infostealers, RATs, and Ransomware](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-1130) — HIGH
- [ClickFix Campaigns Evolve API-Driven Payload Delivery: Analysis of 3,000 Live Payloads Reveals New Evasion Techniques](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-1027) — HIGH
- [Deno-Based Modular RAT & Internal Proxy Delivered via Mailbombing + Microsoft Teams Vishing ("DenoJSEnv")](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0889) — HIGH
- [Seedworm (MuddyWater) Iranian MOIS APT Deploys Dindoor and Fakeset Backdoors Against U.S. Bank, Airport, and Defense Software Company](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0757) — CRITICAL
- [DinDoor Deno-Based RAT — Fake AI/Audio Software on GitHub & SourceForge (ChatGPT/Claude/AutoTune/Kontakt) via Compromised YouTube Channels](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0590) — HIGH
- [Seedworm (MuddyWater) Q1 2026 Global Espionage Campaign — DLL Sideloading via Signed Fortemedia and SentinelOne Binaries, ChromElevator Browser Theft, Node.js/PowerShell Implant Chain](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0500) — HIGH
- [MuddyWater (Seedworm) Iranian APT Masquerades as Chaos Ransomware — Microsoft Teams Social Engineering, DWAgent Persistence, Game.exe RAT Trojanizing Microsoft WebView2APISample (Operation Olalampo Link)](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0468) — HIGH
- [Laravel Livewire Unauthenticated RCE via Synthesizer Smuggling — MuddyWater Active Exploitation (CVE-2025-54068)](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0265) — CRITICAL
- [Iran Conflict Cyber Operations: MuddyWater (Seedworm) Deploys New Dindoor and Fakeset Backdoors Against US Banks, Airports, Non-Profits, and Defense/Aerospace Software Providers (Feb-Mar 2026)](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-2114) — HIGH
- [Iranian State-Aligned Global Cyber Operations Surge Amid Iran Conflict (MuddyWater/Seedworm Dindoor & Fakeset Campaign)](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0748) — HIGH
- [Boggy Serpens (MuddyWater) AI-Enhanced Cyberespionage Campaign Deploying Nuso, LampoRAT, BlackBeard, Phoenix, and UDPGangster Malware](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0238) — HIGH
- [Iranian MOIS Actors Leveraging Cybercrime Ecosystem — Void Manticore & MuddyWater Campaign](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0215) — CRITICAL
- [Iranian APT MuddyWater (Seedworm) Deploys Novel Dindoor & Fakeset Backdoors Against U.S. Critical Infrastructure](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0198) — CRITICAL
- [Iranian-Aligned Cyber Mobilization — 60+ Groups Targeting US Critical Infrastructure ICS/SCADA with AI-Assisted Reconnaissance Post Iran-US Escalation (Feb 28, 2026)](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0183) — CRITICAL
- [Seedworm (MuddyWater) Iranian MOIS APT Campaign Targeting U.S. Critical Infrastructure with Dindoor and Fakeset Backdoors](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0176) — CRITICAL
- [CHAR Rust Backdoor + GhostFetch/GhostBackDoor/HTTP_VIP — Iran MOIS-Linked MuddyWater AI-Assisted Malware Suite with Telegram Bot C2](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0160) — CRITICAL
- [MuddyWater Operation Olalampo — Iran MOIS-Nexus APT Deploys New Malware Variants with Telegram Bot C2 Targeting Middle Eastern Governments and Critical Infrastructure](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0158) — HIGH

## Related CVEs

7 CVEs referenced by tracked MuddyWater activity.

- [CVE-2026-21509](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2026-21509)
- [CVE-2025-54068](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2025-54068)
- [CVE-2023-6895](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2023-6895)
- [CVE-2020-1472](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2020-1472)
- [CVE-2020-0688](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2020-0688)
- [CVE-2017-7921](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2017-7921)
- [CVE-2017-0199](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2017-0199)

## Full data

Infrastructure, IOC values and detection queries (Splunk SPL / Microsoft KQL / Sigma) require the Threadlinqs MCP server (Purple tier): https://intel.threadlinqs.com/mcp

Canonical: https://intel.threadlinqs.com/actor/MuddyWater