Legacy Malmon Modernization Guide

Understanding Legacy vs Contemporary Malmons

Classification System

Legacy Malmons require modernization guidance because their original technical implementation is largely obsolete, but their core educational concepts remain highly relevant.

Contemporary Malmons can be used directly as contemporary threats without significant modernization.

Legacy Classification Criteria

A malmon is classified as Legacy when it meets one or more of these criteria:

Technical Obsolescence

Specific vulnerabilities are largely patched or rare in modern systems
Attack vectors rely on outdated protocols or technologies
Original implementation methods are no longer common

Infrastructure Evolution

Target systems have fundamentally changed since the original threat
Modern equivalents exist but work differently
Original organizational context no longer typical

Educational Value Shift

More valuable as historical lesson + modern abstraction than direct simulation
Core concepts transfer but specific details need updating
Historical significance enhances learning when properly contextualized

Current Legacy Malmon Classifications

Malmon	Year	Legacy Status	Primary Reason
Code Red	2001	✅ Legacy	IIS buffer overflows largely obsolete
Stuxnet	2010	✅ Legacy	Specific SCADA systems evolved significantly
Gh0st RAT	2008	✅ Legacy	RAT landscape and detection evolved
Poison Ivy	2005	✅ Legacy	Implementation methods outdated
WannaCry	2017	⚡ Contemporary	SMB vulnerabilities still relevant
Wire Lurker	2014	⚡ Contemporary	Cross-platform concepts still applicable
Raspberry Robin	2022	⚡ Contemporary	Recent discovery, methods contemporary
Noodle RAT	2022+	⚡ Contemporary	Contemporary fileless techniques
LitterDrifter	2023+	⚡ Contemporary	Very recent, geopolitically relevant
LockBit	Ongoing	⚡ Contemporary	Active ransomware family
FakeBat	2022+	⚡ Contemporary	Contemporary malvertising techniques

Facilitation Framework for Legacy Malmons

The “Historical Foundation, Modern Application” Approach

Phase 1: Historical Context (5-10 minutes)

Establish the historical significance:

“Code Red was significant because it was one of the first automated internet worms…”
“Stuxnet changed how we think about nation-state cyber operations…”
“This attack happened during a very different technological era…”

Phase 2: Collaborative Modernization (15-20 minutes)

Facilitate group discovery of modern equivalents:

Historical Framing Questions:

“What made this attack effective in [year]?”
“What was the technological landscape like when this happened?”
“What vulnerabilities existed then that might not exist now?”

Modernization Discovery Questions:

“If this attack happened today, what would it target instead?”
“What are the modern equivalents of [historical technology]?”
“How would attackers achieve the same goals using current technology?”

Abstraction Questions:

“What core principles made this attack successful?”
“Which aspects are timeless vs. which are outdated?”
“What patterns do we see repeated in modern threats?”

Phase 3: Modern Application (Remainder of session)

Apply the modernized threat to current scenario:

Use participant-generated modern context
Focus on current detection and response methods
Connect to contemporary threat landscape

Specific Legacy Malmon Guidance

Code Red Modernization

Historical Context:

2001 IIS buffer overflow worm
Automated scanning and exploitation
Defaced websites, caused widespread disruption

Modernization Questions:

“What would mass automated exploitation look like today?”
“Instead of IIS servers, what would a modern Code Red target?”
“How would web application worms propagate in cloud environments?”

Modern Abstractions:

API vulnerabilities in microservices
Container escape and lateral movement
Cloud infrastructure exploitation
DevOps pipeline compromise

Stuxnet Modernization

Historical Context:

2010 nation-state attack on Iranian nuclear facilities
Air-gapped network penetration
SCADA/PLC manipulation

Modernization Questions:

“How would nation-states target critical infrastructure today?”
“What are modern equivalents of air-gapped networks?”
“How would attackers target modern industrial systems?”

Modern Abstractions:

Cloud infrastructure targeting
IoT/IIoT device manipulation
CI/CD pipeline compromise
Modern OT/IT convergence attacks

Gh0st RAT Modernization

Historical Context:

2008 remote access trojan
Basic C2 communication
Common in early APT campaigns

Modernization Questions:

“How have RATs evolved since 2008?”
“What detection methods exist now that didn’t exist then?”
“How do modern RATs evade detection?”

Modern Abstractions:

Living-off-the-land techniques
Cloud-based C2 infrastructure
Fileless execution methods
Advanced evasion techniques

Poison Ivy Modernization

Historical Context:

2005 RAT used in targeted attacks
Basic persistence mechanisms
Simple command and control

Modernization Questions:

“How would persistence work in modern environments?”
“What would C2 look like using current technology?”
“How would this adapt to current security measures?”

Modern Abstractions:

PowerShell and WMI abuse
Cloud storage for C2
Registry-less persistence
Advanced obfuscation techniques

Two Approaches for Legacy Malmons

Legacy malmons can be used in two different ways, depending on your educational objectives:

Approach 1: Historical Foundation + Collaborative Modernization

Best for: Groups wanting to learn cybersecurity evolution, threat landscape changes, and historical context Time required: Standard session + 25-40 minutes for modernization Educational focus: History, pattern recognition, collaborative discovery

Approach 2: Pre-Modernized Contemporary Play

Best for: Groups focused purely on current threat response and modern techniques
Time required: Standard session time Educational focus: Current detection, response, and prevention methods

Preparation Methods

Standard Malmon Preparation (Contemporary Threats)

Select scenario card based on group and objectives
Master NPCs and organizational context
Prepare context-driven discovery questions
Session flows as direct threat simulation

Legacy Malmon Preparation: Historical + Modernization Approach

Step 1: Historical Research (Extra 10-15 minutes)

Understand the original incident - what actually happened
Note technological context - what was different then
Identify core concepts - what principles still apply
Research modern equivalents - what would attackers target today

Step 2: Dual Context Preparation

Historical scenario - original organizational context
Modern scenario - equivalent contemporary context
Transition questions - how to facilitate the modernization
Abstraction guidance - core concepts to emphasize

Step 3: Flexible Facilitation Planning

Phase timing - allocate time for historical context + modernization
Modernization paths - anticipate multiple modern directions
Group expertise consideration - how will participants modernize this threat
Fallback options - if modernization discussion stalls

Legacy Malmon Preparation: Pre-Modernized Contemporary Approach

Use the contemporary scenario cards for legacy malmons (when available):

Standard Preparation Process

Select contemporary scenario card - pre-modernized version of legacy threat
Master modern NPCs and context - updated organizational scenarios
Prepare current-day questions - focus on modern detection and response
Session flows as current threat - no historical context needed

Contemporary Scenario Card Features

Modern organizational context - current technology and business environments
Updated attack vectors - contemporary methods achieving same goals
Current stakeholder concerns - modern business and regulatory pressures
Present-day response options - using current tools and techniques

Note: Pre-modernized scenario cards maintain the educational value of legacy malmons while presenting them as contemporary threats. This approach is ideal when you want to focus purely on current incident response without historical context.

Different Play Method for Legacy Malmons

Standard Play Flow

Scenario introduction → Direct investigation → Response → Resolution

Legacy Play Flow

Historical context → Collaborative modernization → Modern investigation → Response → Resolution

Phase 1: Historical Context (10-15 minutes)

Present original threat in historical context
Explain significance and impact
Set technological scene of the era

Phase 2: Collaborative Modernization (15-25 minutes)

Facilitate group modernization discussion
Guide discovery of modern equivalents
Build consensus on contemporary version
Document agreed-upon modern threat

Phase 3: Modern Investigation (Remainder)

Investigate the modernized threat
Use current detection and response methods
Apply to contemporary organizational context

IM Implementation Tips

Before the Session (Legacy Malmons)

Review historical context - understand the original incident
Research modern equivalents - prepare potential modernization paths
Prepare dual scenarios - historical + potential modern contexts
Consider group expertise - how will they likely modernize this threat

During Historical Context Phase

Keep it brief - 5-10 minutes maximum
Focus on significance - why this threat mattered
Set expectation - “We’ll modernize this together”

During Modernization Phase

Let players drive - facilitate, don’t lecture
Build on expertise - leverage participant knowledge
Encourage creativity - multiple modern interpretations are fine
Document agreements - note the group’s modern version

During Modern Application Phase

Use participant modernization - their version, not yours
Focus on current methods - detection, response, prevention
Connect to scenarios - how would this affect [organization type]?

Integration with Scenario Cards

Legacy Malmon Scenario Cards Include:

Historical Context Section

Brief summary of original threat
Significance and impact
Technological context of the era

Modernization Prompts

Specific questions for collaborative updating
Modern technology suggestions
Current organizational contexts

Facilitation Guidance

Phase timing recommendations
Common modernization paths
Fallback options if group struggles

Visual Indicators

Legacy malmons are clearly marked with: - 🕰️ Legacy designation in headers - Historical year prominently displayed - Modernization framework references

Benefits of This Approach

Educational Value

Historical awareness - understanding cybersecurity evolution
Pattern recognition - seeing how threats adapt and evolve
Critical thinking - abstracting principles from specifics

Practical Relevance

Current application - threats adapted to modern context
Participant expertise - leverages group knowledge
Dynamic content - stays current with technology evolution

Collaborative Learning

Group ownership - participants create the modern version
Question-driven - maintains Sly Flourish methodology
Flexible outcomes - adapts to group expertise and interests

This framework ensures legacy malmons remain valuable educational tools while maintaining relevance to current cybersecurity practice.