Bianlian

MITRE ATT&CK does not currently catalogue Bianlian, so this is our assessment of the techniques it uses, drawn from public reporting. The techniques themselves, and every "what that means" definition below, come from MITRE ATT&CK v19.2. Confidence: medium. Treat it as orientation, not attribution.

1. T1059.001 PowerShell Execution

   What they do: bianlian uses PowerShell scripts to execute malicious commands and deploy ransomware payloads across compromised systems.

   What that means: Adversaries may abuse PowerShell commands and scripts for execution.

2. T1547.001 Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder PersistencePrivilege Escalation

   What they do: bianlian modifies registry run keys to ensure ransomware reactivation after system reboots for persistence.

   What that means: Adversaries may achieve persistence by adding a program to a startup folder or referencing it with a Registry run key.

3. T1685 Disable or Modify Tools Defense Impairment

   What they do: bianlian disables antivirus tools and security software to evade detection during initial compromise and execution.

   What that means: Adversaries may disable, degrade, or tamper with security tools or applications (e.g., endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools, intrusion detection systems (IDS), antivirus, logging agents, sensors, etc.) to impair or reduce visibility of defensive capabilities.

4. T1070.004 File Deletion Stealth

   What they do: bianlian deletes Volume Shadow Copies and backup directories via command-line tools to prevent data recovery.

   What that means: Adversaries may delete files left behind by the actions of their intrusion activity.

5. T1018 Remote System Discovery Discovery

   What they do: bianlian uses remote system discovery to map victim infrastructure and identify high-value targets for encryption.

   What that means: Adversaries may attempt to get a listing of other systems by IP address, hostname, or other logical identifier on a network that may be used for Lateral Movement from the current system.

6. T1049 System Network Connections Discovery Discovery

   What they do: bianlian queries system network connections to identify active services and communication paths for exfiltration or command channels.

   What that means: Adversaries may attempt to get a listing of network connections to or from the compromised system they are currently accessing or from remote systems by querying for information over the network.

7. T1135 Network Share Discovery Discovery

   What they do: bianlian performs network share discovery to identify victim file shares and target data for encryption.

   What that means: Adversaries may look for folders and drives shared on remote systems as a means of identifying sources of information to gather as a precursor for Collection and to identify potential systems of interest for Lateral Movement.

8. T1021.002 SMB/Windows Admin Shares Lateral Movement

   What they do: bianlian exploits SMB/Windows Admin Shares to move laterally within victim networks to additional hosts.

   What that means: Adversaries may use Valid Accounts to interact with a remote network share using Server Message Block (SMB).

9. T1567.002 Exfiltration to Cloud Storage Exfiltration

   What they do: bianlian exfiltrates stolen data using encrypted channels to enable double extortion against victims.

   What that means: Adversaries may exfiltrate data to a cloud storage service rather than over their primary command and control channel.

10. T1486 Data Encrypted for Impact Impact

    What they do: bianlian encrypts victim files using custom ransomware binaries to maximize impact and pressure for payment.

    What that means: Adversaries may encrypt data on target systems or on large numbers of systems in a network to interrupt availability to system and network resources.

Software Bianlian has been seen using, grouped by what it is used for. Legitimate administration tools appear here because these actors routinely abuse them — presence in this list is not itself malicious.

Tool data from Ransomware Tool Matrix by BushidoUK, licensed CC BY 4.0. Grouped by purpose and matched to this group by Breach House.

The note this group leaves on a compromised machine. Click a filename to read it.

Your network systems were attacked and encrypted. Contact us in order to restore your data. Don't make any changes in your file structure: touch no files, don't try to recover by yourself, that may lead to it's complete loss.

To contact us you have to download "tox" messenger: https://qtox.github.io/

Add user with the following ID to get your instructions:
A4B3B0845DA242A64BF17E0DB4278EDF85855739667D3E2AE8B89D5439015F07E81D12D767FC

Alternative way: [email protected]

Your ID: [snip]

You should know that we have been downloading data from your network for a significant time before the attack: financial, client, business, post, technical and personal files.
In 10 days - it will be posted at our site http://bianlianlbc5an4kgnay3opdemgcryg2kpfcbgczopmm3dnbz3uaunad.onion / http://bianlivemqbawcco4cx4a672k2fip3guyxudzurfqvdszafam3ofqgqd.onion with links send to your clients, partners, competitors and news agencies, that will lead to a negative impact on your company: potential financial, business and reputational loses.
   ---!!!---

Ransom-note text from RansomLook, licensed CC BY 4.0.