APT31

APT31, also known as Zirconium, is a threat actor group linked to the Chinese government that has been implicated in numerous cyber espionage activities. One of their most notable exploits was the cloning of the Equation Group's exploit, EpMe (CVE-2017-0005). This exploit was initially discovered during an analysis of "Jian", another exploit from APT31 for CVE-2017-0005, which was reported by Lockheed Martin’s Computer Incident Response Team. The investigation revealed that Jian was actually a reconstructed version of EpMe, aligning perfectly with the details reported in Microsoft’s blog on CVE-2017-0005. This group has demonstrated significant collaboration and tool sharing with other Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) groups, such as APT27. Their campaigns often involve complex malware delivery methods, including commands sent via Dropbox leading to the installation of additional Trojans, such as tools from the APT31 group and an updated version of the CloudSorcerer backdoor called GrewApacha. These sophisticated tactics highlight APT31's advanced capabilities and persistent threat to cybersecurity. APT31's activities have drawn international attention, leading to indictments and sanctions against its members. In March, U.S. federal prosecutors indicted seven Chinese nationals accused of working as contractors for a front company used by APT31. Moreover, the U.K. government attributed an attack on the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, a group of lawmakers dedicated to countering Beijing, to APT31. Additionally, Finland confirmed APT31's role in a 2020 breach of its parliament. These actions underscore the serious nature of APT31's cyber espionage activities and the global efforts to counter them.