VIRTUALPIE is a Python-based backdoor malware.23
tool
VIRTUALPIE S1218
- Type
- malware
- Platform
- ESXi
- Created
- 4 June 2025
- Last modified
- 4 June 2025
VIRTUALPIE is a lightweight backdoor written in Python that spawns an IPv6 listener on a VMware ESXi server and features command line execution, file transfer, and reverse shell capabilities. VIRTUALPIE has been in use since at least 2022 including by UNC3886 who installed it via malicious vSphere Installation Bundles (VIBs).[1]
6
Techniques29th pct
4
Tactics32nd pct
1
Threat groupunranked
0
CampaignsNone recorded
Enterprise ATT&CK only. Any Mobile or ICS rows on the same ATT&CK page are not carried.
MITRE reference S1218
VIRTUALPIE is capable of command line execution on compromised ESXi servers.4
VIRTUALPIE has been installed on VMware ESXi servers through malicious vSphere Installation Bundles (VIBs).5
VIRTUALPIE has file transfer capabilities.6
VIRTUALPIE has created listeners on hard coded TCP port 546.7
VIRTUALPIE can use a custom RC4 encrypted protocol for C2 communications.89
Standing S1218
Reach is how much of ATT&CK this tool touches. Coverage is how well defended each thing it does is, as a median per technique rather than a total — a total would just restate the reach. Each figure is ranked against all 825 ATT&CK software entries only where that population actually spreads. Where most of the population shares one value, a percentile would rank the tie instead of the entity, so the raw value is shown and no rank is claimed.
Reach
Techniques629th pct
29th percentile · 71% of 825 ATT&CK software entries have more Enterprise techniques.
Tactics432nd pct
32nd percentile · 68% of 825 ATT&CK software entries have more tactics spanned.
Threat group161% tie · 22 values
61% of the population shares a single value across only 22 distinct values, so a percentile here would rank the tie, not the entity.
Campaigns085% tie · 8 values
85% of the population shares a single value across only 8 distinct values, so a percentile here would rank the tie, not the entity.
Coverage
Rules / technique8medBottom 11%
11th percentile · 89% of 825 ATT&CK software entries have more detection rules per technique.
Tests / technique1med
Detection coverage S1218
41 distinct rules cover the 6 techniques recorded for this tool. 35 Sigma · 6 Splunk.
5 covered by at least one rule1 with no coverage41 distinct rules in total
tf
Loading...Drag headers to reorder | Drag edges to resize
tf
Loading detections...
| Select | Title | Description | Category | Status | Event | Product | MITRE ATT&CK | CVEs | Severity | Author | Created | Updated | ID | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
© 2026 The MITRE Corporation. ATT&CK® and D3FEND™ data reproduced with permission. SigmaHQ detection rules licensed under DRL 1.1. attack.mitre.org · d3fend.mitre.org · CAR analytics licensed under Apache 2.0 · car.mitre.org