LESLIELOADER
LeslieLoader is a Go-based malware loader used by the China-linked espionage group RedNovember, also referred to in reporting as TAG100 and overlapping with Storm-2077. Reporting states that RedNovember uses LeslieLoader to download and deploy SparkRAT, and some reporting further notes a LeslieLoader variant used to deploy both SparkRAT and Cobalt Strike Beacons. Insikt Group identified two LeslieLoader samples used by RedNovember to load SparkRAT. The associated Go-based tooling is reported as supporting Windows, Linux, and macOS, with related post-compromise capabilities in the deployed tooling including file transfer, system fingerprinting, and direct command-line interaction. LeslieLoader appears in campaigns targeting government and private-sector organizations across the U.S., Panama, Asia, and Europe, including defense, aerospace, space, legal, technology, and government entities. These operations commonly followed compromise of internet-facing edge devices and exposed services such as VPN appliances, firewalls, Outlook Web Access, 3CX, and Zimbra. High-confidence associations in the content link LeslieLoader specifically to RedNovember operations and to delivery of SparkRAT; no standalone indicators of compromise for LeslieLoader are provided in the source content.
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Groups observed using it
1 distinct threat actor attributed by public researchers. Open in Mallory to see the full evidence chain and overlapping campaigns.
The group also relies on a Go payload called Leslieloader that downloads a backdoor dubbed SparkRAT
Techniques & procedures
1 distinct technique documented for this family, organized by ATT&CK tactic.
Initial Access
1 techniqueKey initial access vectors include vulnerabilities in internet-facing perimeter devices: SonicWall, Cisco ASA, Fortinet, F5 BIG-IP, and Palo Alto Networks appliances ... Exposed Outlook Web Access (OWA) and VPN infrastructure
Recent activity
6 sources tracked across advisories, community write-ups, and news. New activity surfaces here as Mallory finds it.
Loader mentioned as part of RedNovember’s toolset, likely used to stage and deliver additional payloads during intrusions.
Loader used (in a variant form) to deploy follow-on payloads, specifically Spark RAT and Cobalt Strike beacons.
Go-based loader/downloader used to fetch and deploy the SparkRAT backdoor on compromised systems.
Go-based loader/downloader used to fetch and deploy the SparkRAT backdoor on compromised systems.
The version that knows your environment.
Match every observed IP, domain, and hash against your live telemetry.
Named campaigns wielding this family, with evidence pinned to each claim.
CVEs this family uses for access and lateral movement.
YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.
Every documented technique, ranked by evidence weight.
Reddit, Mastodon, and CTI community discussion around this family.