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A Strategic Shift in Global Espionage Tactics
A new report from cybersecurity firm Trellix has revealed a striking turn in the operations of the DoNot Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) group. Previously known for focusing on South Asian geopolitical targets, this group has now taken a bold leap into European cyber territory, aiming directly at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. By impersonating European defense officials and exploiting diplomatic themes in their phishing campaigns, DoNot APT has executed a sophisticated multi-stage espionage operation. This shift signals not just a geographic expansion, but also a deeper intent to infiltrate Western diplomatic communications and infrastructure.
Backed by evidence of custom-built malware, carefully disguised phishing emails, and long-term system persistence mechanisms, the attack highlights a refined and dangerous evolution in cyber espionage. With rising geopolitical tensions and increasing digital vulnerabilities across government entities, this operation is a reminder of how state-aligned threat actors are adapting and escalating their methods to breach fortified defenses.
DoNot APT’s Infiltration Strategy Unfolded
DoNot APT, also known by aliases like APT-C-35, Mint Tempest, and Origami Elephant, has a reputation for persistent espionage operations centered around South Asia. However, its latest campaign represents a shift in both strategy and scope. According to Trellix’s findings, the group targeted the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs by posing as European defense personnel with a narrative involving a visit to Bangladesh. The goal was to bait the recipient into clicking on a malicious Google Drive link, which disguised a trojan-laced archive file.
The initial phishing email was sent from a spoofed Gmail address that mimicked official diplomatic channels. The subject line, “Italian Defence Attaché Visit to Dhaka, Bangladesh,” was designed to add credibility and urgency. The attached RAR file, when opened, launched a hidden executable (notflog.exe), which then triggered a batch script placed in the system’s temporary folder. From there, the malware set up a scheduled task that ran every ten minutes, maintaining a constant line of communication with a remote command-and-control server.
This level of persistence enabled continuous data exfiltration without raising alarms. Trellix analysts linked the attack’s payload to the LoptikMod malware family, a toolkit used exclusively by DoNot APT since at least 2018. This signature confirmed the group’s involvement and showcased their long-term operational consistency. Moreover, the use of a legitimate service like Google Drive made the attack even harder to detect, bypassing conventional email filters and endpoint security protocols.
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Rise of Hybrid Espionage Tactics
DoNot APT’s latest campaign demonstrates a hybrid approach to cyberwarfare. Combining traditional espionage goals with modern digital tactics, the group blends social engineering, malware development, and operational stealth. The impersonation of European defense figures indicates a high level of planning, aimed at exploiting trust and bypassing skepticism among diplomatic personnel.
Expansion into Europe Signals a New Frontier
For years, DoNot APT remained focused on South Asia, particularly India-Pakistan dynamics. This operation signals a deliberate pivot. Italy’s involvement in European Union diplomacy and defense policy makes its foreign ministry a valuable intelligence target. By attacking an EU nation, the group could be testing the resilience of European cybersecurity defenses or gathering intel on regional military and diplomatic coordination.
Technical Sophistication Indicates Long-Term Planning
The payload delivery chain—beginning with a benign-looking email and ending with continuous malware communication—reveals a carefully engineered strategy. The malware’s use of scheduled tasks for persistence, and the deployment of known DoNot tools like LoptikMod, suggests the group had mapped out its infection chain meticulously. This wasn’t an opportunistic attack—it was the culmination of long-term reconnaissance and tooling.
Use of Legitimate Services Escalates Detection Challenges
Leveraging Google Drive for malware distribution highlights a significant trend among APTs: using trusted platforms to camouflage malicious activity. This technique complicates detection, especially in environments where outbound traffic to common services is often unrestricted. Traditional firewalls and email scanners are less effective when attackers piggyback on platforms like Google Workspace or Microsoft OneDrive.
Implications for Global Diplomacy and Cybersecurity
Attacks on ministries of foreign affairs aren’t just about stealing documents—they’re about influence, disruption, and real-time intelligence gathering. The breach raises critical questions: What information was accessed? Were diplomatic negotiations compromised? Could future policy shifts be preempted by the intelligence gathered here?
Attribution Points to Indian Interests—But with Caveats
While several cybersecurity firms have attributed DoNot APT to Indian origins, the motivations behind this specific attack remain speculative. It could be a rogue unit or a state-backed initiative seeking to monitor Italy’s role in EU-Asia relations. Without concrete geopolitical context, such attribution remains a sensitive and debated topic in the intelligence community.
Lessons for Global Institutions
This attack highlights the urgent need for enhanced email hygiene training, robust endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions, and a reevaluation of permissions for cloud-based services. Diplomats and government agencies must treat unexpected links or files—even from seemingly legitimate sources—with extreme caution.
Broader Context: APTs and the Global Espionage Ecosystem
DoNot APT is part of a growing list of actors, alongside groups like APT28, OceanLotus, and Lazarus Group, that are redefining espionage in the digital age. Their campaigns are not standalone events but are part of continuous strategic surveillance efforts. This underscores the fact that cybersecurity is no longer an IT issue—it’s a cornerstone of national security.
🔍 Fact Checker Results:
✅ Attack confirmed by Trellix with technical details verified
✅ Malware linked to known DoNot APT tools such as LoptikMod
❌ No direct confirmation yet on the extent of information stolen
📊 Prediction:
Expect an increase in phishing campaigns targeting European diplomatic institutions, especially those engaged in Asia-Europe relations. As DoNot APT sharpens its tools and expands its reach, other threat actors may follow this blueprint, blending geopolitical manipulation with stealthy malware to gain a foothold in Europe’s cyber terrain.
References:
Reported By: www.infosecurity-magazine.com
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