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Mallory
12 malware families

NSA

Also known asnsa

The National Security Agency (NSA) is referenced in the content in the context of sophisticated hardware implant capabilities, specifically the NSA’s COTTONMOUTH devices, which are cited as inspiration for advanced USB-based hardware implants enabling covert access. No additional NSA targeting, operational details, sub-groups, or TTPs beyond this hardware-implant reference are directly provided in the content.

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MITRE ATT&CK

Tradecraft

56 distinct techniques observed across reporting, grouped by tactic. Hover any cell for the evidence excerpt; click through for MITRE's full description.

15 of 15 tactics64 techniques×N= number of intelligence reports citing this technique
MITRE ATT&CK
TA0043
Reconnaissance
6 techniques
T1589×5
Gather Victim Identity Information
T1590×5
Gather Victim Network Information
T1591
Gather Victim Org Information
T1595
Active Scanning
T1596
Search Open Technical Databases
T1598
Phishing for Information
TA0042
Resource Development
4 techniques
T1583
Acquire Infrastructure
T1583.005
Botnet
T1584×2
Compromise Infrastructure
T1584.001
Domains
T1585
Establish Accounts
T1587
Develop Capabilities
T1587.001
Malware
TA0001
Initial Access
6 techniques
T1189×3
Drive-by Compromise
T1190×2
Exploit Public-Facing Application
T1195×3
Supply Chain Compromise
T1200
Hardware Additions
T1566
Phishing
T1566.002
Spearphishing Link
T1659
Content Injection
TA0002
Execution
3 techniques
T1059
Command and Scripting Interpreter
T1203×2
Exploitation for Client Execution
T1574×2
Hijack Execution Flow
TA0003
Persistence
3 techniques
T1205×2
Traffic Signaling
T1525
Implant Internal Image
T1542
Pre-OS Boot
TA0004
Privilege Escalation
1 technique
T1068
Exploitation for Privilege Escalation
TA0005
Stealth
6 techniques
T1027
Obfuscated Files or Information
T1036
Masquerading
T1070
Indicator Removal
T1205×2
Traffic Signaling
T1542
Pre-OS Boot
T1574×2
Hijack Execution Flow
TA0112
Defense Impairment
3 techniques
T1553×2
Subvert Trust Controls
T1600×5
Weaken Encryption
T1601
Modify System Image
TA0006
Credential Access
6 techniques
T1040×8
Network Sniffing
T1110
Brute Force
T1212
Exploitation for Credential Access
T1555
Credentials from Password Stores
T1557×8
Adversary-in-the-Middle
T1649×2
Steal or Forge Authentication Certificates
TA0007
Discovery
3 techniques
T1040×8
Network Sniffing
T1082
System Information Discovery
T1614
System Location Discovery
TA0008
Lateral Movement
1 technique
T1210×2
Exploitation of Remote Services
TA0009
Collection
9 techniques
T1025
Data from Removable Media
T1113
Screen Capture
T1114
Email Collection
T1119
Automated Collection
T1123×4
Audio Capture
T1125
Video Capture
T1185
Browser Session Hijacking
T1213×4
Data from Information Repositories
T1557×8
Adversary-in-the-Middle
TA0011
Command and Control
5 techniques
T1090
Proxy
T1105
Ingress Tool Transfer
T1205×2
Traffic Signaling
T1573
Encrypted Channel
T1659
Content Injection
TA0010
Exfiltration
2 techniques
T1020
Automated Exfiltration
T1020.001
Traffic Duplication
T1041
Exfiltration Over C2 Channel
TA0040
Impact
1 technique
T1565
Data Manipulation
ACTIVITY FEED

Recent activity

6 sources tracked across advisories, community write-ups, and news. New activity surfaces here as Mallory finds it.

resilient cyber blogNews
Oct 22, 2025
Resilient Cyber Newsletter #70

Alleged to have exploited vulnerabilities in messaging services of a foreign mobile phone brand to steal sensitive information from the Chinese National Time Center.

Read more
techrepublic com securityNews
Oct 21, 2025
China Alleges US Hacked National Time Center

Allegedly conducting long-term, highly covert cyber operations against China’s National Time Service Center, including compromising staff mobile devices, stealing sensitive data, and attempting to infiltrate internal networks. The operations reportedly escalated in 2023 with the deployment of a new cyberwarfare platform targeting high-precision timing networks.

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securityaffairsNews
Oct 20, 2025
China finds “irrefutable evidence” of US NSA cyberattacks on time Authority

The NSA is accused of conducting cyber-espionage operations against China’s National Time Service Center, targeting sensitive data and critical infrastructure related to national timekeeping. The operations reportedly involved exploiting mobile phone vulnerabilities, credential theft, network infiltration, and deployment of a cyber warfare platform with multiple tools for data theft and disruption.

Read more
cso onlineNews
Oct 20, 2025
US NSA alleged to have launched a cyber attack on a Chinese agency

Allegedly conducted a cyber attack against China's National Time Service Center, targeting critical timekeeping infrastructure that supports communications, finance, power, transportation, defense, and other sectors. The operation reportedly involved exploiting an SMS vulnerability to compromise mobile devices of staff and steal sensitive data, with the potential to disrupt national and international time services.

Read more
What this page doesn’t show

The version that knows your environment.

This page is what’s public. Mallory adds the parts that aren’t: sector and geo overlap with your footprint, the IOCs they’re burning right now, detection coverage, and what to do next.
Target overlap

Match sector + geo + tech-stack targeting against your real footprint.

Tradecraft mapping56

Every observed MITRE ATT&CK technique, grouped by tactic.

Malware arsenal12

Families this actor is known to deploy, with IOCs and behavior.

Exploited CVEs

CVEs this actor has used in known campaigns.

Detection signatures

YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.

Observables

Domains, IPs, and hashes tied to this actor, refreshed continuously.

NSA | Mallory