defection.io

malware

HIUPAN S1230

Type: malware
Platform: Windows
Created: 6 August 2025
Last modified: 21 October 2025

HIUPAN (aka U2DiskWatch) is a is a worm that propagates through removable drives known to be leveraged by Mustang Panda and was first observed utilized in 2024. [1][2]

Techniques44th pct

TacticsTop 20%

Threat groupunranked

CampaignsNone recorded

Enterprise ATT&CK only. Any Mobile or ICS rows on the same ATT&CK page are not carried.

defection.io

malware

HIUPAN S1230

Type: malware
Platform: Windows
Created: 6 August 2025
Last modified: 21 October 2025

HIUPAN (aka U2DiskWatch) is a is a worm that propagates through removable drives known to be leveraged by Mustang Panda and was first observed utilized in 2024. [1][2]

Techniques44th pct

TacticsTop 20%

Threat groupunranked

CampaignsNone recorded

Enterprise ATT&CK only. Any Mobile or ICS rows on the same ATT&CK page are not carried.

HIUPAN MITRE reference S1230

Process Discovery T1057 ↗

HIUPAN has conducted process discovery to identify the PUBLOAD malware under the process WCBrowserWatcher.exe and will launch it from an install directory if it is not found.3

Discovery10 detection rules

Replication Through Removable Media T1091 ↗

HIUPAN has periodically checked for removable and hot-plugged drives connected to the infected machine, should one be found HIUPAN will propagate to the removeable drives by copying itself and accompanying malware components to a directory to the new drive in a hidden subdirectory <Drive_Letter>:\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ and hides any other existing files to ensure UsbConfig.exe is the only visible file on the device.4 5

Initial Access · Lateral Movement5 detection rules

Modify Registry T1112 ↗

HIUPAN has modified registry keys to ensure hidden files and extensions are not visible through the modification of HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced.6 7

Persistence · Defense Impairment177 detection rules

Peripheral Device Discovery T1120 ↗

HIUPAN has checked periodically for removable drives and installs itself when a drive is detected.8 9

Discovery2 detection rules

Malicious File T1204.002 ↗

HIUPAN has lured victims into executing malicious files from USBs including the use of files such as USBconfig.exe.10 11

Execution66 detection rules

Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder T1547.001 ↗

HIUPAN has added Registry Run keys to achieve persistence using HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run.12 13

Persistence · Privilege Escalation46 detection rules

Standing S1230

Reach is how much of ATT&CK this malware 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

Techniques944th pct

44th percentile · 56% of 825 ATT&CK software entries have more Enterprise techniques.

Tactics8Top 20%

80th percentile · 80% of 825 ATT&CK software entries have this many tactics spanned or fewer.

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 / technique11medBottom 19%

19th percentile · 81% of 825 ATT&CK software entries have more detection rules per technique.

Tests / technique10medTop 9%

91st percentile · 91% of 825 ATT&CK software entries have this many atomic tests per technique or fewer.

Data comps / technique4med54% tie · 11 values

54% of the population shares a single value across only 11 distinct values, so a percentile here would rank the tie, not the entity.

Mitigations / technique0medBottom 17%

17th percentile · 83% of 825 ATT&CK software entries have more mitigations per technique.

5 of 8 axes carry an honest rank on this page. Coverage medians are taken across this malware’s 9 Enterprise techniques.

Range

Technique Campaign use over its cumulative rule count.

Campaigns · 0Sigma rules (cumulative) · 283Splunk ESCU (cumulative) · 134