Noodle RAT Biotech Research Surveillance - Planning Guide

Noodle RAT Biotech Research Surveillance

Complete preparation guide for pharmaceutical research espionage scenario

Comprehensive facilitation guidance for Noodle RAT Biotech Research Surveillance featuring memory-resident malware, clinical trial data theft, FDA submission compromise, and competitive pharmaceutical intelligence espionage.

1. Quick Reference

Element	Details
Malmon	Noodle RAT (Psychic/Flying dual-type)
Difficulty Tier	Tier 3 (Expert)
Scenario Variant	APT: Pharmaceutical Research Company
Organizational Context	BioGenesis Labs: 320 scientists, breakthrough drug development, $200M R&D investment
Primary Stakes	Clinical trial data + FDA submission + Patent applications + $200M investment
Recommended Formats	Full Game / Advanced Challenge
Essential NPCs	Dr. Patricia Wong (Research Director), Michael Foster (IT Security), Jennifer Martinez (Clinical Data Manager)
Optional NPCs	Robert Chen (Regulatory Affairs), FDA Representative, Competitive Intelligence Analyst

Scenario Hook

BioGenesis is finalizing clinical trial data for FDA submission Tuesday when researchers notice workstation remote activity despite no suspicious files found—fileless malware operates in memory, providing competitors invisible surveillance of breakthrough pharmaceutical research.

Victory Condition

Team identifies memory-resident surveillance through behavioral detection, protects clinical trial data and FDA submission, ensures pharmaceutical regulatory compliance, and addresses competitive intelligence theft threatening $200M drug development investment.

2-3. Configuration & Scenario Overview

Full Game (120-140 min): 3 rounds focusing on behavioral anomaly detection, memory forensics pharmaceutical data protection, FDA compliance under espionage threat

Opening: “It’s Monday morning at BioGenesis Labs. Research Director Dr. Patricia Wong is finalizing clinical trial data for Tuesday’s FDA submission—the culmination of 5 years and $200M drug development. But researchers report workstations occasionally showing signs of remote activity. Security scans find nothing. No malicious files. Yet Clinical Data Manager Jennifer Martinez insists: ‘Someone is accessing our research data.’”

Initial Symptoms:

Research workstations showing remote activity indicators despite security scans finding no files
Clinical trial data files accessed at timestamps inconsistent with researcher schedules
Network monitoring detecting data transfers researchers don’t recall initiating
Memory usage patterns showing variations experienced scientists find unusual
Breakthrough pharmaceutical formulation files showing systematic access suggesting surveillance

Organizational Context:

BioGenesis Labs: Pharmaceutical research developing breakthrough treatments, FDA submission timeline critical
Key Assets: Clinical trial results, drug formulations, patent applications, regulatory documentation
Regulatory Environment: FDA compliance, patient data protection (HIPAA), pharmaceutical industry security
Cultural Factors: Research excellence culture, FDA deadline pressure, competitive pharmaceutical intelligence concerns

4. NPC Reference

Essential NPCs

Dr. Patricia Wong (Research Director)

Position: Leading FDA submission and drug development program
Personality: Scientific rigor focused, concerned about research integrity and competitive theft
Agenda: Complete FDA submission on schedule while protecting clinical trial data
Knowledge: Research details, clinical trial results, FDA requirements
Pressure Point: 5 years and $200M investment depends on FDA submission and data protection
IM Portrayal: Emphasizes research integrity and regulatory compliance under threat

Michael Foster (IT Security Analyst)

Position: IT security responsible for pharmaceutical research protection
Personality: Technical investigator, frustrated by fileless threat evasion
Agenda: Detect and eliminate invisible surveillance malware
Knowledge: Security tools, detection limitations, pharmaceutical IT environment
Pressure Point: Professional responsibility for research data protection
IM Portrayal: Technical expert struggling with fileless detection challenges

Jennifer Martinez (Clinical Data Manager)

Position: Managing clinical trial data and FDA submission documentation
Personality: Detail-oriented, trusts her observations about data access patterns
Agenda: Protect clinical trial integrity and patient data
Knowledge: Data access workflows, file usage patterns, FDA documentation
Pressure Point: Professional responsibility for data integrity and patient privacy
IM Portrayal: Data detective who noticed surveillance through access pattern analysis

5. Investigation Timeline

Round 1: Discovery

Automatic Reveals: Workstation remote activity despite “clean” security scans; clinical data access anomalies

Investigation Leads:

Detective: Memory dump reveals PowerShell code accessing clinical trial databases and research files
Protector: Patient data (HIPAA) and research intellectual property compromised through memory-resident surveillance
Tracker: Network traffic shows encrypted exfiltration of pharmaceutical research data to competitor infrastructure
Communicator: Scientists describe pharmaceutical industry spear-phishing emails that seemed legitimate
Crisis Manager: FDA submission Tuesday deadline; $200M investment at risk; regulatory compliance concerns
Threat Hunter: Nation-state or corporate espionage targeting breakthrough pharmaceutical development

Rounds 2-3: [Investigation & Response - includes memory forensics, competitive intelligence attribution, FDA compliance coordination, submission decision]

6. Response Options

Most Effective:

Memory forensics with clinical data access analysis (DC 13)
PowerShell logging for fileless pharmaceutical espionage detection (DC 14)
Enhanced behavioral monitoring for research data protection (DC 15)

Moderately Effective:

System rebuild preserving FDA submission data (DC 12, timeline impact)
Network segmentation isolating clinical trial systems (DC 14)

Least Effective:

File-based antivirus on memory-only malware (DC 22)
Signature detection for fileless operations (Automatic failure)

7-12. [Additional Sections - Structured Similarly]

Key Learning:

Fileless malware detection in pharmaceutical research environments
Clinical trial data protection and HIPAA compliance under espionage
Competitive pharmaceutical intelligence threats
FDA regulatory compliance during cybersecurity incidents
Memory forensics for research data protection

MITRE ATT&CK:

T1059.001 (PowerShell), T1055 (Process Injection), T1005 (Data from Local System - Clinical Trials)

Notes for IM Customization

What worked well:

What to modify next time:

Creative player solutions:

Timing adjustments: