VOID MANTICORE

Overview

VOID MANTICORE is a threat group assessed to operate on behalf of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS). Active since at least mid-2022, VOID MANTICORE has targeted government entities, critical infrastructure, and private sector organizations across Albania, Israel, and the United States. VOID MANTICORE conducts destructive cyber operations, combining wiper attacks with hack-and-leak campaigns. The group has operated under multiple public-facing personas, including HomeLand Justice in operations against Albania, Karma and Karma Below in campaigns targeting Israeli organizations, and Handala Hack, its current primary persona, which has claimed activity against Israeli and U.S. entities, including a March 2026 attack against Stryker Corporation. VOID MANTICORE has been observed collaborating with Scarred Manticore, which has been linked to initial access operations preceding VOID MANTICORE’s activity.

Targets

Civil society · Education · Government · Healthcare · High-Tech · Media · NGOs · Pharmaceuticals · Telecommunications

Regions

Europe · Israel · Middle East · United States

Capabilities

• Destructive / data-wiping operations — ATT&CK T1485, T1561.001, T1561.002
• Exploitation of public-facing / client applications — ATT&CK T1190

TTPs — 63 techniques across 14 tactics

Reporting (3)

• Iran COBALT MYSTIQUE — Sophos
• Handala: MOIS Linked Cyber Influence Ecosystem Threat Intelligence Assessment — DomainTools Investigations
• Case 1:26-mj-00683-CDA: Affidavit in Support of Seizure Warrant: In the Matter of the Seizure of Domain Names Justicehomeland[.]org; karmabelow80[.]org; handala-hack[.]to; and handala-redwatned[.]to — DOJ/FBI