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BlackTech threat group

BlackTech is a threat group thought to operate from China. Public reporting links it to 10 attack techniques. This free profile shows how it works, stage by stage, so you can judge the risk to you. It lists the other names the group goes by and links to every public report behind it.

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Attack techniques
10
Public reports
11
Thought to operate from
China
Other names
9
Built from public reporting, with every source listed below.
Overview

Who is BlackTech?

BlackTech has 9 other names in security research. Below is what published reporting says about it, with a link to every report so you can check the detail yourself.

Also known as

CIRCUIT PANDATemp.OverboardHUAPIPalmerwormG0098T-APT-03Manga TaurusRed DjinnEarth Hundun

Security companies each give the same group their own name, so one group can have many.

What public reporting says

BlackTech is a cyber espionage group operating against targets in East Asia, particularly Taiwan, and occasionally, Japan and Hong Kong. Based on the mutexes and domain names of some of their C&C servers, BlackTech’s campaigns are likely designed to steal their target’s technology. Following their activities and evolving tactics and techniques helped us uncover the proverbial red string of fate that connected three seemingly disparate campaigns: PLEAD, Shrouded Crossbow, and of late, Waterbear. PLEAD is an information theft campaign with a penchant for confidential documents. Active since 2012, it has so far targeted Taiwanese government agencies and private organizations. PLEAD’s toolset includes the self-named PLEAD backdoor and the DRIGO exfiltration tool. PLEAD uses spear-phishing emails to deliver and install their backdoor, either as an attachment or through links to cloud storage services. Some of the cloud storage accounts used to deliver PLEAD are also used as drop off points for exfiltrated documents stolen by DRIGO. PLEAD actors use a router scanner tool to scan for vulnerable routers, after which the attackers will enable the router’s VPN feature then register a machine as virtual server. This virtual server will be used either as a C&C server or an HTTP server that delivers PLEAD malware to their targets.

Public reports about BlackTech (11)

How it works

How does BlackTech attack? Stage by stage.

Each technique is a known way attackers research, get in, stay hidden or do damage. Here are the 10 linked to BlackTech, laid out from first look to final blow. Some techniques belong to more than one stage. Pick a stage to see them. Public reporting also lists 10 more specific variations of them, called sub-techniques.

Stage 4 of 15

Running code

Running their own programs or commands on a machine they reached.

4 techniques
  • T1106Native API
  • T1203Exploitation for Client Execution
  • T1204User Execution
  • T1574Hijack Execution Flow
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FAQ

Questions about BlackTech

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BlackTech is a threat group thought to operate from China. Public reporting links it to 10 attack techniques.

Public reporting places BlackTech as operating from China. Attribution is never certain: it rests on the tools, infrastructure and targets researchers have seen.

Public reporting links BlackTech to 10 attack techniques. Most of them are about running code, getting in and hiding.

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