SYMBOLCOMMON_NAMEaka. SYNONYMS
win.xtunnel (Back to overview)

XTunnel

aka: Shunnael, X-Tunnel, xaps

Actor(s): APT28

VTCollection    

X-Tunnel is a network proxy tool that implements a custom network protocol encapsulated in the TLS protocol.

References
2026-03-10ESET ResearchESET Research
Sednit reloaded: Back in the trenches
BEARDSHELL GRUNT SLIMAGENT X-Agent XTunnel
2020-07-29Kaspersky LabsGReAT
APT trends report Q2 2020
PhantomLance Dacls Penquin Turla elf.wellmess AppleJeus Dacls AcidBox Cobalt Strike Dacls EternalPetya Godlike12 Olympic Destroyer PlugX shadowhammer ShadowPad Sinowal VHD Ransomware Volgmer WellMess X-Agent XTunnel
2020-06-09Kaspersky LabsCostin Raiu
Looking at Big Threats Using Code Similarity. Part 1
Penquin Turla CCleaner Backdoor EternalPetya Regin WannaCryptor XTunnel
2020-01-01SecureworksSecureWorks
IRON TWILIGHT
X-Agent X-Agent X-Agent Computrace HideDRV Sedreco Seduploader X-Agent XTunnel Zebrocy Zebrocy (AutoIT)
2018-10-04SymantecSecurity Response Attack Investigation Team
APT28: New Espionage Operations Target Military and Government Organizations
XTunnel
2018-10-04SymantecCritical Attack Discovery and Intelligence Team
APT28: New Espionage Operations Target Military and Government Organizations
LoJax Seduploader X-Agent XTunnel Zebrocy APT28
2017-02-20Contagio DumpMila Parkour
Part I. Russian APT - APT28 collection of samples including OSX XAgent
X-Agent Komplex Coreshell Downdelph HideDRV SEADADDY Sedreco Seduploader X-Agent XTunnel
2016-10-20ESET ResearchESET Research
En Route with Sednit Part 2: Observing the Comings and Goings
X-Agent Sedreco X-Agent XTunnel
2016-06-15CrowdStrikeDmitri Alperovitch
Bears in the Midst: Intrusion into the Democratic National Committee
X-Agent ATI-Agent SEADADDY Seduploader X-Agent XTunnel APT28
2015-11-20MicrosoftMicrosoft
Microsoft Security Intelligence Report Volume 19
XTunnel
2015-08-01root9broot9b
TECHNICAL FOLLOW UP - APT28
XTunnel
2015-06-19Netzpolitik.orgClaudio Guarnieri
Digital Attack on German Parliament: Investigative Report on the Hack of the Left Party Infrastructure in Bundestag
XTunnel APT28
Yara Rules
[TLP:WHITE] win_xtunnel_auto (20260504 | Detects win.xtunnel.)
rule win_xtunnel_auto {

    meta:
        author = "Felix Bilstein - yara-signator at cocacoding dot com"
        date = "2026-05-04"
        version = "1"
        description = "Detects win.xtunnel."
        info = "autogenerated rule brought to you by yara-signator"
        tool = "yara-signator v0.6.0"
        signator_config = "callsandjumps;datarefs;binvalue"
        malpedia_reference = "https://malpedia.caad.fkie.fraunhofer.de/details/win.xtunnel"
        malpedia_rule_date = "20260422"
        malpedia_hash = "a182e35da64e6d71cb55f125c4d4225196523f14"
        malpedia_version = "20260504"
        malpedia_license = "CC BY-SA 4.0"
        malpedia_sharing = "TLP:WHITE"

    /* DISCLAIMER
     * The strings used in this rule have been automatically selected from the
     * disassembly of memory dumps and unpacked files, using YARA-Signator.
     * The code and documentation is published here:
     * https://github.com/fxb-cocacoding/yara-signator
     * As Malpedia is used as data source, please note that for a given
     * number of families, only single samples are documented.
     * This likely impacts the degree of generalization these rules will offer.
     * Take the described generation method also into consideration when you
     * apply the rules in your use cases and assign them confidence levels.
     */


    strings:
        $sequence_0 = { 8b85c0000000 85c0 0f849f010000 83b8e400000000 0f8492010000 8b98e8000000 85db }
            // n = 7, score = 1200
            //   8b85c0000000         | mov                 eax, dword ptr [ebp + 0xc0]
            //   85c0                 | test                eax, eax
            //   0f849f010000         | je                  0x1a5
            //   83b8e400000000       | cmp                 dword ptr [eax + 0xe4], 0
            //   0f8492010000         | je                  0x198
            //   8b98e8000000         | mov                 ebx, dword ptr [eax + 0xe8]
            //   85db                 | test                ebx, ebx

        $sequence_1 = { 8b7c2424 8b4f58 33c0 89811c040000 83a784010000fc }
            // n = 5, score = 1200
            //   8b7c2424             | mov                 edi, dword ptr [esp + 0x24]
            //   8b4f58               | mov                 ecx, dword ptr [edi + 0x58]
            //   33c0                 | xor                 eax, eax
            //   89811c040000         | mov                 dword ptr [ecx + 0x41c], eax
            //   83a784010000fc       | and                 dword ptr [edi + 0x184], 0xfffffffc

        $sequence_2 = { 8a442430 8b4f58 888778010000 83c40c c7811c04000001000000 eb6d }
            // n = 6, score = 1200
            //   8a442430             | mov                 al, byte ptr [esp + 0x30]
            //   8b4f58               | mov                 ecx, dword ptr [edi + 0x58]
            //   888778010000         | mov                 byte ptr [edi + 0x178], al
            //   83c40c               | add                 esp, 0xc
            //   c7811c04000001000000     | mov    dword ptr [ecx + 0x41c], 1
            //   eb6d                 | jmp                 0x6f

        $sequence_3 = { 8a542410 8a442414 8d7702 6a00 8d7e09 c60601 57 }
            // n = 7, score = 1200
            //   8a542410             | mov                 dl, byte ptr [esp + 0x10]
            //   8a442414             | mov                 al, byte ptr [esp + 0x14]
            //   8d7702               | lea                 esi, [edi + 2]
            //   6a00                 | push                0
            //   8d7e09               | lea                 edi, [esi + 9]
            //   c60601               | mov                 byte ptr [esi], 1
            //   57                   | push                edi

        $sequence_4 = { e8???????? 99 b960000000 f7f9 }
            // n = 4, score = 1200
            //   e8????????           |                     
            //   99                   | cdq                 
            //   b960000000           | mov                 ecx, 0x60
            //   f7f9                 | idiv                ecx

        $sequence_5 = { 8a0c30 84c9 0f84fc010000 0fb6c9 8d440801 }
            // n = 5, score = 1200
            //   8a0c30               | mov                 cl, byte ptr [eax + esi]
            //   84c9                 | test                cl, cl
            //   0f84fc010000         | je                  0x202
            //   0fb6c9               | movzx               ecx, cl
            //   8d440801             | lea                 eax, [eax + ecx + 1]

        $sequence_6 = { 8b11 83c202 52 e8???????? }
            // n = 4, score = 1200
            //   8b11                 | mov                 edx, dword ptr [ecx]
            //   83c202               | add                 edx, 2
            //   52                   | push                edx
            //   e8????????           |                     

        $sequence_7 = { 8a0b 43 84c9 75f9 2bda 81fbff000000 0f8fb7000000 }
            // n = 7, score = 1200
            //   8a0b                 | mov                 cl, byte ptr [ebx]
            //   43                   | inc                 ebx
            //   84c9                 | test                cl, cl
            //   75f9                 | jne                 0xfffffffb
            //   2bda                 | sub                 ebx, edx
            //   81fbff000000         | cmp                 ebx, 0xff
            //   0f8fb7000000         | jg                  0xbd

        $sequence_8 = { eb67 8b7740 0fb60e 8b97c0000000 c1e118 898aec000000 }
            // n = 6, score = 1200
            //   eb67                 | jmp                 0x69
            //   8b7740               | mov                 esi, dword ptr [edi + 0x40]
            //   0fb60e               | movzx               ecx, byte ptr [esi]
            //   8b97c0000000         | mov                 edx, dword ptr [edi + 0xc0]
            //   c1e118               | shl                 ecx, 0x18
            //   898aec000000         | mov                 dword ptr [edx + 0xec], ecx

        $sequence_9 = { 8a4c2410 8a542414 8d5f09 880b 885301 8b7558 }
            // n = 6, score = 1200
            //   8a4c2410             | mov                 cl, byte ptr [esp + 0x10]
            //   8a542414             | mov                 dl, byte ptr [esp + 0x14]
            //   8d5f09               | lea                 ebx, [edi + 9]
            //   880b                 | mov                 byte ptr [ebx], cl
            //   885301               | mov                 byte ptr [ebx + 1], dl
            //   8b7558               | mov                 esi, dword ptr [ebp + 0x58]

        $sequence_10 = { c6421401 8b4654 c6401501 c645fc05 }
            // n = 4, score = 1000
            //   c6421401             | mov                 byte ptr [edx + 0x14], 1
            //   8b4654               | mov                 eax, dword ptr [esi + 0x54]
            //   c6401501             | mov                 byte ptr [eax + 0x15], 1
            //   c645fc05             | mov                 byte ptr [ebp - 4], 5

        $sequence_11 = { 8b08 50 51 8d75f0 8bc3 e8???????? 8b5b04 }
            // n = 7, score = 1000
            //   8b08                 | mov                 ecx, dword ptr [eax]
            //   50                   | push                eax
            //   51                   | push                ecx
            //   8d75f0               | lea                 esi, [ebp - 0x10]
            //   8bc3                 | mov                 eax, ebx
            //   e8????????           |                     
            //   8b5b04               | mov                 ebx, dword ptr [ebx + 4]

        $sequence_12 = { 743a 8b4e04 894804 0fb75608 66895008 8b4e18 894818 }
            // n = 7, score = 1000
            //   743a                 | je                  0x3c
            //   8b4e04               | mov                 ecx, dword ptr [esi + 4]
            //   894804               | mov                 dword ptr [eax + 4], ecx
            //   0fb75608             | movzx               edx, word ptr [esi + 8]
            //   66895008             | mov                 word ptr [eax + 8], dx
            //   8b4e18               | mov                 ecx, dword ptr [esi + 0x18]
            //   894818               | mov                 dword ptr [eax + 0x18], ecx

        $sequence_13 = { 50 ff15???????? 8b4b10 0fb71479 }
            // n = 4, score = 1000
            //   50                   | push                eax
            //   ff15????????         |                     
            //   8b4b10               | mov                 ecx, dword ptr [ebx + 0x10]
            //   0fb71479             | movzx               edx, word ptr [ecx + edi*2]

        $sequence_14 = { 8b4644 894008 8b4644 c6401401 }
            // n = 4, score = 1000
            //   8b4644               | mov                 eax, dword ptr [esi + 0x44]
            //   894008               | mov                 dword ptr [eax + 8], eax
            //   8b4644               | mov                 eax, dword ptr [esi + 0x44]
            //   c6401401             | mov                 byte ptr [eax + 0x14], 1

        $sequence_15 = { 52 51 50 e8???????? 834314fe }
            // n = 5, score = 1000
            //   52                   | push                edx
            //   51                   | push                ecx
            //   50                   | push                eax
            //   e8????????           |                     
            //   834314fe             | add                 dword ptr [ebx + 0x14], -2

        $sequence_16 = { 8d4740 89750c e8???????? 89450c 8d45f0 50 }
            // n = 6, score = 1000
            //   8d4740               | lea                 eax, [edi + 0x40]
            //   89750c               | mov                 dword ptr [ebp + 0xc], esi
            //   e8????????           |                     
            //   89450c               | mov                 dword ptr [ebp + 0xc], eax
            //   8d45f0               | lea                 eax, [ebp - 0x10]
            //   50                   | push                eax

        $sequence_17 = { 8b4744 894004 8b4744 8900 8b4744 }
            // n = 5, score = 1000
            //   8b4744               | mov                 eax, dword ptr [edi + 0x44]
            //   894004               | mov                 dword ptr [eax + 4], eax
            //   8b4744               | mov                 eax, dword ptr [edi + 0x44]
            //   8900                 | mov                 dword ptr [eax], eax
            //   8b4744               | mov                 eax, dword ptr [edi + 0x44]

        $sequence_18 = { e8???????? 83c404 8945b0 8b45b4 50 6a00 }
            // n = 6, score = 500
            //   e8????????           |                     
            //   83c404               | add                 esp, 4
            //   8945b0               | mov                 dword ptr [ebp - 0x50], eax
            //   8b45b4               | mov                 eax, dword ptr [ebp - 0x4c]
            //   50                   | push                eax
            //   6a00                 | push                0

        $sequence_19 = { 51 e8???????? 83c404 8b4dec e8???????? 0fb6c0 }
            // n = 6, score = 300
            //   51                   | push                ecx
            //   e8????????           |                     
            //   83c404               | add                 esp, 4
            //   8b4dec               | mov                 ecx, dword ptr [ebp - 0x14]
            //   e8????????           |                     
            //   0fb6c0               | movzx               eax, al

        $sequence_20 = { 51 e8???????? 83c404 8b55f8 3b10 751d }
            // n = 6, score = 300
            //   51                   | push                ecx
            //   e8????????           |                     
            //   83c404               | add                 esp, 4
            //   8b55f8               | mov                 edx, dword ptr [ebp - 8]
            //   3b10                 | cmp                 edx, dword ptr [eax]
            //   751d                 | jne                 0x1f

        $sequence_21 = { 8b4de4 51 e8???????? 83c40c 6a00 6a01 }
            // n = 6, score = 300
            //   8b4de4               | mov                 ecx, dword ptr [ebp - 0x1c]
            //   51                   | push                ecx
            //   e8????????           |                     
            //   83c40c               | add                 esp, 0xc
            //   6a00                 | push                0
            //   6a01                 | push                1

        $sequence_22 = { 51 e8???????? 83c404 8b55ec 8910 8b45f8 }
            // n = 6, score = 300
            //   51                   | push                ecx
            //   e8????????           |                     
            //   83c404               | add                 esp, 4
            //   8b55ec               | mov                 edx, dword ptr [ebp - 0x14]
            //   8910                 | mov                 dword ptr [eax], edx
            //   8b45f8               | mov                 eax, dword ptr [ebp - 8]

        $sequence_23 = { 51 e8???????? 83c404 8b55ac 668b00 668902 }
            // n = 6, score = 300
            //   51                   | push                ecx
            //   e8????????           |                     
            //   83c404               | add                 esp, 4
            //   8b55ac               | mov                 edx, dword ptr [ebp - 0x54]
            //   668b00               | mov                 ax, word ptr [eax]
            //   668902               | mov                 word ptr [edx], ax

    condition:
        7 of them and filesize < 4634440
}
[TLP:WHITE] win_xtunnel_w0   (20170410 | No description)
rule win_xtunnel_w0 {
  meta:
    author = "Claudio Guarnieri"
    source = "https://netzpolitik.org/2015/digital-attack-on-german-parliament-investigative-report-on-the-hack-of-the-left-party-infrastructure-in-bundestag/"
    malpedia_reference = "https://malpedia.caad.fkie.fraunhofer.de/details/win.xtunnel"
        malpedia_version = "20170410"
    malpedia_license = "CC BY-NC-SA 4.0"
    malpedia_sharing = "TLP:WHITE"

  strings:
    $xaps = ":\\PROJECT\\XAPS_"

    $variant11 = "XAPS_OBJECTIVE.dll"
    $variant12 = "start"

    $variant21 = "User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.3;WOW64; rv:28.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/28.0"
    $variant22 = "is you live?"

    $mix1 = "176.31.112.10"
    $mix2 = "error in select, errno %d"
    $mix3 = "no msg"
    $mix4 = "is you live?"
    $mix5 = "127.0.0.1"
    $mix6 = "err %d"
    $mix7 = "i`m wait"
    $mix8 = "hello"
    $mix9 = "OpenSSL 1.0.1e 11 Feb 2013"
    $mix10 = "Xtunnel.exe"

  condition:
    ((uint16(0) == 0x5A4D) or (uint16(0) == 0xCFD0)) and (($xaps) or (all of ($variant1*)) or (all of ($variant2*)) or (6 of ($mix*)))
}
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