APT3

Origin🇨🇳 China

Techniques (MITRE ATT&CK)44

SourceMITRE ATT&CK

State sponsor: ChinaAttribution confidence: 50%Target categories: Private sector

Targeted regions: United States · United Kingdom · Hong Kong

Also known as:BORONBRONZE MAYFAIRBoyusecBrocade TyphoonBuckeyeGOTHIC PANDAGothic PandaGroup 6PirpiRed SylvanTG-0110Threat Group-0110UPSUPS Team

About the group

APT3 is a China-based threat group that researchers have attributed to China's Ministry of State Security. This group is responsible for the campaigns known as Operation Clandestine Fox, Operation Clandestine Wolf, and Operation Double Tap. As of June 2015, the group appears to have shifted from targeting primarily US victims to primarily political organizations in Hong Kong.

Attack chain

Plausible scenario built from the group's real techniques, ordered by the phases of an attack. Each step shows how the group typically operates.

Arsenal severity68

Impact: High

Illustrative chain derived from techniques documented in MITRE ATT&CK — it does not represent a specific past attack. Severity summarizes the known arsenal (kill-chain coverage, actively exploited CVEs, techniques).

Techniques (MITRE ATT&CK) 44

How the group operates, mapped to the MITRE ATT&CK matrix and organized by the phases of an attack.

Initial access

Spearphishing Link

Execution

Scheduled Task PowerShell Windows Command Shell Exploitation for Client Execution Malicious Link

Persistence

Additional Local or Domain Groups Local Account Windows Service Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder

Privilege escalation

Accessibility Features

Credential access

LSASS Memory Password Cracking Credentials In Files Credentials from Web Browsers

Discovery

System Network Configuration Discovery Remote System Discovery System Owner/User Discovery System Network Connections Discovery Process Discovery Permission Groups Discovery System Information Discovery File and Directory Discovery Local Account

Lateral movement

Remote Desktop Protocol SMB/Windows Admin Shares

Collection

Data from Local System Keylogging Local Data Staging Archive via Utility

Command and control

External Proxy Non-Application Layer Protocol Multi-Stage Channels Ingress Tool Transfer

Exfiltration

Exfiltration Over C2 Channel

stealth

Obfuscated Files or Information Software Packing Indicator Removal from Tools Masquerade Account Name File Deletion Domain Accounts Rundll32 Hidden Window DLL

Exploited vulnerabilities 2

CVEs this group is known to exploit, per MITRE ATT&CK. Ordered by real-world severity.

CVE-2015-3113HIGHEPSS 100%KEV MITRE ATT&CK

CVE-2014-1776CRITICALEPSS 83%KEV MITRE ATT&CK

References

APT3 uses real techniques and exploits real flaws. TrueHacking's AI Autonomous Pentest simulates these attacks against your infrastructure and brings more security to your application.

Explore the AI Autonomous Pentest →