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MalwareRansomwareUsed by 1 actor

Macaw Locker

Macaw Locker is a ransomware variant associated with the Russian cybercrime group Evil Corp, also tracked as GOLD DRAKE. The provided reporting identifies Macaw Locker as one of several ransomware families used by Evil Corp after U.S. Treasury sanctions were imposed in 2019, alongside WastedLocker, Hades, Phoenix CryptoLocker, and other variants. The context indicates Evil Corp repeatedly changed ransomware strains and tooling to hinder attribution and reduce the impact of sanctions on ransom payment collection. Macaw Locker is therefore described in the source material primarily as part of Evil Corp’s post-sanctions ransomware operations rather than through detailed technical behavior. The content does not provide specific infection vectors, encryption mechanics, targeted industries, or indicators of compromise unique to Macaw Locker itself. However, the broader Evil Corp intrusion ecosystem referenced in the material includes heavy use of the FakeUpdate/SocGholish infection chain, compromised WordPress sites serving fake browser updates, and delivery of follow-on payloads used to gain access to victim environments.

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THREAT ACTORS

Groups observed using it

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

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Indrik Spider

The malware has been previously linked to Evil Corp, a Russian cybercrime gang active since 2007 that has been associated with the Zeus and Dridex malware families and was behind the WastedLocker, Hades, Macaw Locker, and Phoenix CryptoLocker ransomware operations.

via bleeping computerbleepingcomputer.com
MITRE ATT&CK

Techniques & procedures

1 distinct technique documented for this family, organized by ATT&CK tactic.

Impact

1 technique
T1486Data Encrypted for ImpactEvidence1

Evil Corp is now using off-the-shelf ransomware, most recently the LockBit ransomware-as-a-service, to cover its tracks and make it easier to get the ransoms they demand from victims paid.

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Threat actor attribution1

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

Exploited vulnerabilities

CVEs this family uses for access and lateral movement.

Detection signatures

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MITRE ATT&CK mapping1

Every documented technique, ranked by evidence weight.

Researcher chatter

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