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
Native API - T1106 (391d824f-0ef1-47a0-b0ee-c59a75e27670)	Attack Pattern	CANONSTAGER - S1237 (3d1f234e-6c60-43c1-b1f1-6bbc9e5b8e44)	Malware	1
Hidden Window - T1564.003 (cbb66055-0325-4111-aca0-40547b6ad5b0)	Attack Pattern	CANONSTAGER - S1237 (3d1f234e-6c60-43c1-b1f1-6bbc9e5b8e44)	Malware	1
DLL - T1574.001 (2fee9321-3e71-4cf4-af24-d4d40d355b34)	Attack Pattern	CANONSTAGER - S1237 (3d1f234e-6c60-43c1-b1f1-6bbc9e5b8e44)	Malware	1
Thread Local Storage - T1055.005 (e49ee9d2-0d98-44ef-85e5-5d3100065744)	Attack Pattern	CANONSTAGER - S1237 (3d1f234e-6c60-43c1-b1f1-6bbc9e5b8e44)	Malware	1
CANONSTAGER - S1237 (3d1f234e-6c60-43c1-b1f1-6bbc9e5b8e44)	Malware	Dynamic API Resolution - T1027.007 (ea4c2f9c-9df1-477c-8c42-6da1118f2ac4)	Attack Pattern	1
Match Legitimate Resource Name or Location - T1036.005 (1c4e5d32-1fe9-4116-9d9d-59e3925bd6a2)	Attack Pattern	CANONSTAGER - S1237 (3d1f234e-6c60-43c1-b1f1-6bbc9e5b8e44)	Malware	1
Hidden Window - T1564.003 (cbb66055-0325-4111-aca0-40547b6ad5b0)	Attack Pattern	Hide Artifacts - T1564 (22905430-4901-4c2a-84f6-98243cb173f8)	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
Process Injection - T1055 (43e7dc91-05b2-474c-b9ac-2ed4fe101f4d)	Attack Pattern	Thread Local Storage - T1055.005 (e49ee9d2-0d98-44ef-85e5-5d3100065744)	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
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