Pen testing
C2
A PlugX Malleable C2 profile is a custom configuration for Cobalt Strike that mimics the network traffic of the PlugX malware. This allows you to simulate PlugX’s behavior during a test, making your tests more realistic.
Malleable C2 profiles in Cobalt Strike allow you to modify the command and control (C2) traffic to look like other malware families. By configuring a profile to look like PlugX, you can test your organization’s detection and response against threats that behave like this.
Cobalt Strike Implementation
To use a PlugX Malleable C2 profile, you must load the custom profile into the team server during initialization. This profile controls how the beacon payload communicates, including HTTP headers, URIs, and data encoding so the simulated traffic looks like actual PlugX infections.
Benefits for Security Testing
Using a PlugX Malleable C2 profile allows red teamers to create realistic attack scenarios, and test your organization’s defenses against threats that use similar C2. This helps you find detection gaps and improve your security posture.
PlugX has evolved across versions, with v1.0 focusing on basic C2 and file exfiltration, v2.0 adding encrypted data transmission for stealth, and v3.0 introducing modular capabilities for greater adaptability and functionality.
Update your intrusion detection systems to detect known PlugX traffic.
Segment your network to limit the spread of an infection.
Run regular security tests with Cobalt Strike and Malleable C2 profiles.
Train your security team to recognize and respond to simulated attack scenarios.
PlugX has targeted government, defense and research organizations. Using a PlugX Malleable C2 profile in your security tests can be especially useful for those in these industries to test their defenses against these types of threats.
PlugX has been linked to several APT groups, APT41 and APT27. Simulating PlugX’s C2 traffic will help you understand and prepare for their tactics.
