CopyKittens

Overview

CopyKittens is an Iranian cyber espionage group that has been operating since at least 2013. It has targeted countries including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the U.S., Jordan, and Germany. The group is responsible for the campaign known as Operation Wilted Tulip.

Naming & attribution

It uses 8 documented ATT&CK techniques — more than 24% of the 174 groups tracked here. Activity attributed since at least 2013.

Closest groups by technique overlap

Computed from shared ATT&CK techniques. Overlap is not attribution — distinct actors converge on the same tradecraft — but a high share is a useful pivot.

• DarkHydrus — 3 shared techniques (25% overlap)
• APT19 China — 4 shared techniques (16% overlap)
• Blue Mockingbird — 4 shared techniques (15% overlap)
• Daggerfly China — 3 shared techniques (14% overlap)
• Gorgon Group Pakistan — 3 shared techniques (14% overlap)
• Cinnamon Tempest China — 3 shared techniques (13% overlap)

Targets

Civil society · Government · Private sector

Regions

Germany · Israel · Jordan · Saudi Arabia · United States

Capabilities

• Custom malware/implant development — ATT&CK: 3 attributed custom malware families

TTPs — 8 techniques across 6 tactics

Tools & malware (4)

Cobalt Strike · Empire · TDTESS · Matryoshka

Reporting (3)

• Operation Wilted Tulip: Exposing a cyber espionage apparatus — ClearSky Cyber Security and Trend Micro
• Jerusalem Post and other Israeli websites compromised by Iranian threat agent CopyKitten — ClearSky Cyber Security
• CopyKittens Attack Group — Minerva Labs LTD and ClearSky Cyber Security