Are they... referring to a... Splunk logging agent? I doubt it, but maybe the JPEG packed a binary appended to the end of the image file?
Either way, if such were the case, this payload would need to rely on the presence of, and thus exploit, some sort of vulnerability in whichever host cached it. Not impossible, but not exactly a trivial maneuver.
If they had suspects in mind, and had an awareness of OS version and patch level, it might be within the realm of possibility to land a working payload.
Furthermore, if they were targeting Navy personel, there might even be a level of control to selectively enable a backdoor that permits a more advanced outcome than would ordinarily be possible in the wild against random individuals around the world.
Maybe the plan was to hit internal personnel with a specialized payload that only affects Navy assets...
Either way, if such were the case, this payload would need to rely on the presence of, and thus exploit, some sort of vulnerability in whichever host cached it. Not impossible, but not exactly a trivial maneuver.
If they had suspects in mind, and had an awareness of OS version and patch level, it might be within the realm of possibility to land a working payload.
Furthermore, if they were targeting Navy personel, there might even be a level of control to selectively enable a backdoor that permits a more advanced outcome than would ordinarily be possible in the wild against random individuals around the world.
Maybe the plan was to hit internal personnel with a specialized payload that only affects Navy assets...