Menu

  • Alerts
  • Incidents
  • News
  • APTs
  • Cyber Decoded
  • Cyber Hygiene
  • Cyber Review
  • Cyber Tips
  • Definitions
  • Malware
  • Threat Actors
  • Tutorials

Useful Tools

  • Password generator
  • Report an incident
  • Report to authorities
No Result
View All Result
CTF Hack Havoc
CyberMaterial
  • Education
    • Cyber Decoded
    • Definitions
  • Information
    • Alerts
    • Incidents
    • News
  • Insights
    • Cyber Hygiene
    • Cyber Review
    • Tips
    • Tutorials
  • Support
    • Contact Us
    • Report an incident
  • About
    • About Us
    • Advertise with us
Get Help
Hall of Hacks
  • Education
    • Cyber Decoded
    • Definitions
  • Information
    • Alerts
    • Incidents
    • News
  • Insights
    • Cyber Hygiene
    • Cyber Review
    • Tips
    • Tutorials
  • Support
    • Contact Us
    • Report an incident
  • About
    • About Us
    • Advertise with us
Get Help
No Result
View All Result
Hall of Hacks
CyberMaterial
No Result
View All Result
Home Alerts

China’s DNS Intrigue Muddling Meerkat Probe

May 1, 2024
Reading Time: 3 mins read
in Alerts
China’s DNS Intrigue Muddling Meerkat Probe

Muddling Meerkat is a newly identified cluster of cyber activity that researchers from Infoblox believe is linked to a Chinese state-sponsored threat actor. Since October 2019, this actor has been manipulating DNS systems globally, with a notable uptick in activity observed in September 2023. This operation is characterized by its unique approach to DNS manipulation, specifically targeting MX (Mail Exchange) records. By injecting false responses through China’s Great Firewall, Muddling Meerkat is able to distort and potentially misdirect email communications, an ability previously unseen in the operations managed through the Great Firewall.

The primary method of DNS manipulation employed by Muddling Meerkat involves causing the Great Firewall to issue fake responses to DNS queries. This manipulation does not just block or filter content, which is the typical function of the Great Firewall, but actively poisons DNS caches with incorrect information. This poisoning can mislead networks about the IP addresses of email servers, thereby disturbing email routing. The Great Firewall operates by inserting these responses into a race condition with legitimate DNS replies, taking advantage of being able to respond first and thus influence the DNS cache of the requester.

In their detailed analysis, Infoblox notes that Muddling Meerkat also employs techniques that resemble the “Slow Drip DDoS” attack, though on a smaller scale that suggests the goal is testing rather than disruption. The attackers make DNS requests for non-existent subdomains of targeted domains, which serves to test the resilience and security of network DNS configurations. These requests are designed to create noise and potentially mask more sinister activities or set the stage for larger attacks.

Infoblox also highlighted the sophisticated nature of the Muddling Meerkat operation, noting that the attackers specifically choose target domains that are older and shorter, which are less likely to be on DNS blocklists. This choice indicates a high level of strategic planning and understanding of DNS management and security practices. The ongoing DNS manipulation and testing by Muddling Meerkat suggest a broader objective to map out network defenses and possibly prepare for future, more disruptive cyber operations. The report from Infoblox includes a list of indicators of compromise and tactics, aiming to aid network administrators in identifying and mitigating these DNS manipulation tactics.

Reference:
  • Muddling Meerkat Hackers Use China’s Great Firewall to Manipulate DNS

Tags: ChinaChina's Great FirewallChineseCyber AlertCyber Alerts 2024Cyber RiskCyber threatDNSMay 2024Muddling Meerkat
ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

VexTrio TDS Uses Adtech To Spread Malware

Simple Typo Breaks AI Safety Via TokenBreak

June 13, 2025
VexTrio TDS Uses Adtech To Spread Malware

VexTrio TDS Uses Adtech To Spread Malware

June 13, 2025
VexTrio TDS Uses Adtech To Spread Malware

Old Discord Links Now Lead To Malware

June 13, 2025
SmartAttack Uses Sound To Steal PC Data

SmartAttack Uses Sound To Steal PC Data

June 13, 2025
SmartAttack Uses Sound To Steal PC Data

Coordinated Brute Force Hits Tomcat Manager

June 13, 2025
SmartAttack Uses Sound To Steal PC Data

Pentest Tool TeamFiltration Hits Entra ID

June 12, 2025

Latest Alerts

Old Discord Links Now Lead To Malware

VexTrio TDS Uses Adtech To Spread Malware

Simple Typo Breaks AI Safety Via TokenBreak

Coordinated Brute Force Hits Tomcat Manager

SmartAttack Uses Sound To Steal PC Data

Pentest Tool TeamFiltration Hits Entra ID

Subscribe to our newsletter

    Latest Incidents

    Cyberattack On Brussels Parliament Continues

    Swedish Broadcaster SVT Hit By DDoS

    Major Google Cloud Outage Disrupts Web

    AI Spam Hijacks Official US Vaccine Site

    DragonForce Ransomware Hits Philly Schools

    Erie Insurance Cyberattack Halts Operations

    CyberMaterial Logo
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Jobs
    • Legal and Privacy Policy
    • Site Map

    © 2025 | CyberMaterial | All rights reserved

    Welcome Back!

    Login to your account below

    Forgotten Password?

    Retrieve your password

    Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

    Log In

    Add New Playlist

    No Result
    View All Result
    • Alerts
    • Incidents
    • News
    • Cyber Decoded
    • Cyber Hygiene
    • Cyber Review
    • Definitions
    • Malware
    • Cyber Tips
    • Tutorials
    • Advanced Persistent Threats
    • Threat Actors
    • Report an incident
    • Password Generator
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise with us

    Copyright © 2025 CyberMaterial