Pioneer Kitten
aka Fox Kitten, Lemon Sandstorm, UNC757, Parisite, RUBIDIUM
An Iranian group that breaks in through VPN and firewall flaws, then rents that access to ransomware criminals for a cut. It also runs government-directed espionage.
- Alert level
- 3/ 5
- Reports & advisories (90 days)
- 0
- Known exploited CVEs
- 6
- Personal data leaked (disclosed)
- None confirmed
Attribution
- Assessed as tied to the Government of Iran — US FBI, CISA and DC3
Exploited vulnerabilities and targeted products
CVE-2019-19781 CVE-2023-3519 CVE-2022-1388 CVE-2024-21887 CVE-2024-3400 CVE-2024-24919
If you run any of these products, first make sure they are updated to a fixed version.
How they attack
Entry
Exploiting internet-facing devices
Like finding a broken lock on the company's front gate (VPN or firewall) and walking in.
Goal
Renting access to ransomware gangs
Like a locksmith who sells copies of a forced back-door key to a gang of burglars for a share.
Goal
Quietly stealing information
Like a spy who stays for months, copying files from the cabinet a little at a time.
Sources
Attributions are quoted as assessed by governments and security vendors. VulnPulse does not make attributions itself.
Leak counts only add up figures disclosed by the affected companies or authorities, never the attackers' own claims. We do not list victim names or link to leak sites.
The alert level is calculated automatically from reports and advisories in the last 90 days, known exploited vulnerabilities, and whether the group has targeted Japan.
Updated 2026-10-23 · daily