CANONSTAGER - S1237 (3d1f234e-6c60-43c1-b1f1-6bbc9e5b8e44)

CANONSTAGER is a loader known to be leveraged by Mustang Panda and was first observed utilized in 2025. Mustang Panda utilizes DLL side-loading to execute within the victim environment prior to delivering a follow-on malicious encrypted payload. CANONSTAGER leverages Thread Local Storage (TLS) and Native Windows APIs within the victim environment to elude detections. CANONSTAGER also hides its code utilizing window procedures and message queues.(Citation: Google Threat Intelligence Group MUSTANG PANDA PLUGX August 2025)

Cluster A	Galaxy A	Cluster B	Galaxy B	Level
CANONSTAGER - S1237 (3d1f234e-6c60-43c1-b1f1-6bbc9e5b8e44)	Malware	Thread Local Storage - T1055.005 (e49ee9d2-0d98-44ef-85e5-5d3100065744)	Attack Pattern	1
DLL - T1574.001 (2fee9321-3e71-4cf4-af24-d4d40d355b34)	Attack Pattern	CANONSTAGER - S1237 (3d1f234e-6c60-43c1-b1f1-6bbc9e5b8e44)	Malware	1
Dynamic API Resolution - T1027.007 (ea4c2f9c-9df1-477c-8c42-6da1118f2ac4)	Attack Pattern	CANONSTAGER - S1237 (3d1f234e-6c60-43c1-b1f1-6bbc9e5b8e44)	Malware	1
CANONSTAGER - S1237 (3d1f234e-6c60-43c1-b1f1-6bbc9e5b8e44)	Malware	Native API - T1106 (391d824f-0ef1-47a0-b0ee-c59a75e27670)	Attack Pattern	1
Hidden Window - T1564.003 (cbb66055-0325-4111-aca0-40547b6ad5b0)	Attack Pattern	CANONSTAGER - S1237 (3d1f234e-6c60-43c1-b1f1-6bbc9e5b8e44)	Malware	1
CANONSTAGER - S1237 (3d1f234e-6c60-43c1-b1f1-6bbc9e5b8e44)	Malware	Match Legitimate Resource Name or Location - T1036.005 (1c4e5d32-1fe9-4116-9d9d-59e3925bd6a2)	Attack Pattern	1
Process Injection - T1055 (43e7dc91-05b2-474c-b9ac-2ed4fe101f4d)	Attack Pattern	Thread Local Storage - T1055.005 (e49ee9d2-0d98-44ef-85e5-5d3100065744)	Attack Pattern	2
DLL - T1574.001 (2fee9321-3e71-4cf4-af24-d4d40d355b34)	Attack Pattern	Hijack Execution Flow - T1574 (aedfca76-3b30-4866-b2aa-0f1d7fd1e4b6)	Attack Pattern	2
Obfuscated Files or Information - T1027 (b3d682b6-98f2-4fb0-aa3b-b4df007ca70a)	Attack Pattern	Dynamic API Resolution - T1027.007 (ea4c2f9c-9df1-477c-8c42-6da1118f2ac4)	Attack Pattern	2
Hidden Window - T1564.003 (cbb66055-0325-4111-aca0-40547b6ad5b0)	Attack Pattern	Hide Artifacts - T1564 (22905430-4901-4c2a-84f6-98243cb173f8)	Attack Pattern	2
Masquerading - T1036 (42e8de7b-37b2-4258-905a-6897815e58e0)	Attack Pattern	Match Legitimate Resource Name or Location - T1036.005 (1c4e5d32-1fe9-4116-9d9d-59e3925bd6a2)	Attack Pattern	2