Spring Dragon

Spring Dragon, a threat actor known for its malicious activities, has been active for several years and has targeted organizations in various locations globally, including Vietnam (VN), Taiwan (TW), the Philippines (PH), and other areas. Its primary victims are defense subcontractors and government-related entities. This group's tactics are not limited to conventional spearphishing methods using the somewhat antiquated CVE-2012-0158 exploits; they also employ more innovative and complex intrusion techniques. Their operations have been so extensive that Palo Alto Networks released a paper detailing some of their activities under the label "the Lotus Blossom Operation." Interestingly, Spring Dragon's activities in Myanmar have largely gone unreported despite evidence of their infiltration techniques being deployed there. Beyond traditional spearphishing, they have also compromised websites as part of their attack strategy. This shows the group's adaptability and willingness to use a mix of techniques to achieve their objectives. The ongoing attacks by Spring Dragon underscore the persistent cybersecurity threats posed by advanced persistent threat (APT) actors. The group's continued evolution and creativity in delivery techniques highlight the need for robust and adaptive cybersecurity measures. The unique codebase used by this group, referred to as "Elise," has been traced back to at least 2012, indicating a long-standing operation that requires continual monitoring and vigilance from cybersecurity professionals worldwide.