Threat Actor Profile
Razor Tiger
Razor Tiger, also known as SideWinder, APT-C-17, and Rattlesnake, is a nation-state-sponsored threat actor active since at least 2012. Believed to operate from India, the group specializes in cyber-espionage targeting military, government, and maritime sectors. Razor Tiger employs spear-phishing, fileless malware, and advanced infrastructure to achieve its objectives.
Threat Actor Profile
Razor Tiger
Country of Origin
Razor Tiger is strongly suspected to originate from India, based on linguistic, operational, and geopolitical indicators. However, definitive attribution remains challenging.
Members
The exact size and composition of Razor Tiger are unclear. The group is believed to operate as a tightly-knit unit with access to significant resources, suggesting state sponsorship.
Leadership
The leadership of Razor Tiger remains unknown.
Razor Tiger TTPs
Tactics
The group focuses on intelligence gathering, targeting national defense, diplomatic, and critical infrastructure sectors.
Techniques
Razor Tiger leverages spear-phishing emails, malicious Office documents, and fileless malware to infiltrate targets. Exploited vulnerabilities include CVE-2017-11882 and CVE-2017-0199.
Procedures
The group uses multi-stage loaders, obfuscated JavaScript, and modular implants like StealerBot and WarHawk. Command-and-control (C2) infrastructure includes over 400 domains and dynamic subdomains.
Want to Shut Down Threats Before They Start?
Notable Cyberattacks
-
2013: Phishing attack on the Indian Embassy in Kabul, leading to data exfiltration.
-
2024: Targeted maritime facilities in the Mediterranean using geofenced payloads.
-
2025: Breach of Pakistan's Cabinet Division with kernel-level malware.
Law Enforcement & Arrests
No arrests or direct law enforcement actions against Razor Tiger have been reported.
How to Defend Against Razor Tiger
Monitor IOCs: Regularly update threat intelligence feeds.
Patch Systems: Address vulnerabilities like CVE-2017-11882.
Use Multi-Factor Authentication to Strengthen Access Controls.
References
Detect, Respond, Protect
See how the global Huntress SOC can augment your team
with 24/7 coverage and unmatched human expertise.
Start your free trial today.
