APT27, also known as Advanced Persistent Threat 27, is a Chinese cyber espionage group known for conducting sophisticated cyberattacks primarily targeting organizations for intelligence gathering. The group, which is also referred to as Emissary Panda, LuckyMouse, and Bronze Union, has been active since at least 2010 and is believed to be associated with the Chinese government.
Key Characteristics:
- Motivation: APT27 primarily focuses on cyber-espionage, targeting sectors such as defense, aerospace, technology, and governmental organizations. Its operations appear to align with the strategic interests of the Chinese state, indicating state sponsorship.
- Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs):
- Initial Access: APT27 often uses spear-phishing emails, watering hole attacks, or exploiting vulnerabilities in publicly accessible systems to gain access to target networks.
- Persistence: Once inside, they employ backdoors, such as Zox, to maintain long-term access to compromised systems. They have been known to use custom malware, remote access tools (RATs), and leverage compromised credentials to escalate privileges.
- Data Exfiltration: The group focuses on stealing sensitive data, including intellectual property, defense information, and government secrets. They meticulously harvest data over long periods while avoiding detection.
- Notable Operations:
- APT27 has been linked to multiple high-profile cyber incidents, including attacks against U.S. defense contractors and European governmental organizations.
- They have been known to exploit vulnerabilities in widely used platforms, such as Microsoft SharePoint, to infiltrate networks and access sensitive information.
- Malware:
- The group utilizes a variety of custom malware, including Htroop, PlugX, and QuasarRAT. These tools allow them to gain and maintain remote access to compromised systems, exfiltrate data, and control the target’s environment without raising suspicion.
APT27 is a significant player in the realm of nation-state cyber espionage and continues to pose a threat to organizations with valuable strategic information. Their long-term persistence in target networks and focus on critical sectors make them a formidable and dangerous threat actor.