MalwareUsed by 2 actors

ssf

SSF is a tunneling and proxying tool observed in intrusion activity to establish SOCKS proxy connections and support operator access into victim environments. In the provided content, it is described as one of the tunneling tools used by MuddyWater alongside Chisel and Ligolo, where such tooling was used to create layered reverse tunnels and SOCKS5 access inside victim networks. The content also states that Blue Mockingbird used FRP, ssf, and Venom to establish SOCKS proxy connections. Based on the available information, SSF is associated with proxying/tunneling behavior that enables traffic relaying, internal network access, and operational pivoting. Associated threat actors directly mentioned in the content are MuddyWater, an Iranian state-sponsored actor linked by U.S. Cyber Command to Iran’s MOIS, and Blue Mockingbird. No specific infection vector, platform-specific malware behavior, or standalone indicators of compromise for SSF are provided in the content.

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THREAT ACTORS

Groups observed using it

2 distinct threat actors attributed by public researchers. Open in Mallory to see the full evidence chain and overlapping campaigns.

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MuddyWater

Among the tunneling tools MuddyWater attackers were observed using are Chisel, SSF and Ligolo.

via sentinelone labssentinelone.com

Blue Mockingbird

Blue Mockingbird has used frp, ssf, and Venom to establish SOCKS proxy connections.

via mitre attackattack.mitre.org

MITRE ATT&CK

Techniques & procedures

2 distinct techniques documented for this family, organized by ATT&CK tactic.

Command and Control

2 techniques

T1090.001Internal ProxyEvidence2

"APT41 used a tool called CLASSFON to covertly proxy network communications." / "BADCALL functions as a proxy server between the victim and C2 server." / "Sandworm Team's BCS-server tool can create an internal proxy server to redirect traffic..."

T1572Protocol TunnelingEvidence1

The operators behind MuddyWater activities are very fond of tunneling tools, as described in several recent blog posts (T1572). Among the tunneling tools MuddyWater attackers were observed using are Chisel, SSF and Ligolo.

ACTIVITY FEED

Recent activity

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

4 SOURCESView more in app

sentinelone labsNews

Jun 18, 2025

Wading Through Muddy Waters | Recent Activity of an Iranian State-Sponsored Threat Actor | SentinelOne

A tunneling tool observed in MuddyWater operations, used to facilitate network pivoting and protocol tunneling.

mitre attackNews

Jan 25, 2026

Blue Mockingbird, Group G0108 | MITRE ATT&CK®

Proxy/tunneling tool used to set up SOCKS proxying for internal access and pivoting.

mitre attackNews

Mar 18, 2026

Proxy, Technique T1090 - Enterprise | MITRE ATT&CK®

Tool used to establish SOCKS proxy connections for tunneling/pivoting.

mitre attackNews

Mar 18, 2026

Proxy, Technique T1090 - Enterprise | MITRE ATT&CK®

Tool used to establish SOCKS proxy connections.

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IOC matching

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Threat actor attribution2

Named campaigns wielding this family, with evidence pinned to each claim.

Exploited vulnerabilities

CVEs this family uses for access and lateral movement.

Detection signatures

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

MITRE ATT&CK mapping2

Every documented technique, ranked by evidence weight.

Researcher chatter

Reddit, Mastodon, and CTI community discussion around this family.

ssf