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Trend Micro reported on PeckBirdy, a lightweight JScript-based command-and-control (C2) framework used since at least 2023 by China-aligned threat actors to reduce on-disk artifacts and evade detection by leveraging Windows Script Host and runtime-injected code. The activity was tied to two intrusion sets/campaigns, SHADOW-VOID-044 and SHADOW-EARTH-045, with victimology including Asian government entities, education, and the Chinese gambling sector. The framework was observed operating alongside modular backdoors HOLODONUT and MKDOOR, and in at least one campaign with commodity tooling such as Cobalt Strike and the use of stolen code-signing certificates.
Trend Micro’s analysis linked SHADOW-VOID-044 infrastructure and tooling to previously reported China-aligned activity, including overlap with UNC3569 (e.g., shared C2 domain center[.]myrnicrosoft[.]com and targeting of the Chinese gambling industry) and hosting of a variant of the GRAYRABBIT backdoor that used DLL sideloading and PowerShell execution via UuidFromStringA. Additional infrastructure overlaps were noted with activity associated with TheWizard (e.g., HOLODONUT samples communicating with mkdmcdn[.]com). Reported infrastructure and artifacts included IP 47[.]238[.]219[.]111, domains center[.]myrnicrosoft[.]com, mkdmcdn[.]com, and a Cobalt Strike payload with SHA-256 162cc325ab7b6e70edb6f4d0bc0e52130c56903f.
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5 events from the most recent confirmed update back to the earliest known activity.
Trend Micro publicly disclosed its analysis of the PeckBirdy framework, describing two campaigns—SHADOW-VOID-044 and SHADOW-EARTH-045—and newly identified modular backdoors including HOLODONUT and MKDOOR. The report assessed possible links to several China-aligned actors, including UNC3569, TheWizards, Earth Lusca, and Earth Baxia, while noting attribution uncertainty.
In July 2024, SHADOW-EARTH-045 targeted a Philippine educational institution by using MSHTA to fetch content from github.githubassets.net and launch PeckBirdy on a compromised IIS server. The same incident also involved downloading from an IP address previously linked to Earth Baxia, though attribution remained low confidence.
A second PeckBirdy-linked intrusion set, SHADOW-EARTH-045, was first observed in July 2024 targeting Asian government entities and private organizations. The campaign used website injection, likely for credential harvesting, and leveraged LOLBins such as MSHTA and .NET ScriptControl-based launchers.
One PeckBirdy-linked campaign, tracked as SHADOW-VOID-044, injected malicious scripts into compromised Chinese gambling websites to present fake Google Chrome update pages that delivered malware. The activity also involved follow-on tooling such as HOLODONUT, MKDOOR, Cobalt Strike, and infrastructure associated with exploit and reverse-shell delivery.
Trend Micro reported that the JScript-based PeckBirdy command-and-control framework has been used by China-aligned threat activity since at least 2023. The framework was designed for fileless, living-off-the-land execution across multiple Windows and web-related environments.
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Researchers detailed multiple China-aligned intrusion sets using modular tooling to compromise targets across Windows, web, and mobile environments. ESET said **TheWizards** used a tool called **Spellbinder** to abuse IPv6 `SLAAC` by sending rogue `ICMPv6 Router Advertisements`, positioning the attackers as the default gateway for adversary-in-the-middle operations. The group then intercepted DNS requests for Chinese software vendors and redirected update traffic so legitimate applications such as **Tencent QQ** and previously **Sogou Pinyin** fetched malicious payloads instead of real updates. The resulting infection chain used a downloader DLL, an encrypted blob, and in-memory loading of the **WizardNet** backdoor, which patched `AMSI` and `ETW`, supported modular execution, and injected shellcode into other processes while maintaining encrypted command-and-control. Separate reporting described broader China-linked operations using flexible malware delivery and post-compromise frameworks. Trend Micro tied **Earth Minotaur** to the **MOONSHINE Exploit Kit** and the **DarkNimbus** Android backdoor, while TrendAI documented **PeckBirdy**, a JScript-based framework used since 2023 across browsers, `MSHTA`, `WScript`, Classic ASP, Node.js, and `.NET ScriptControl` for watering-hole attacks, credential theft, lateral movement, reverse shells, and persistent backdoor access. PeckBirdy was observed in campaigns against Chinese gambling sites, Asian government entities, and private organizations, alongside modular backdoors **HOLODONUT** and **MKDOOR**. The reporting also noted infrastructure and tooling overlaps linking some of these activities to **UNC3569**, **Earth Baxia**, and supplier **UPSEC**, underscoring an ecosystem of China-aligned operators reusing shared malware, hijacking infrastructure, and fake software-update lures.
Aug 21, 2026
Reporting across multiple research teams described a surge of distinct, ongoing intrusion campaigns rather than a single unified incident. **Check Point** reported on **Silver Dragon**, a Chinese-aligned activity cluster assessed as operating under the broader **APT41** umbrella, targeting organizations in **Southeast Asia and Europe** (notably government) via exploitation of public-facing servers and phishing, then deploying **Cobalt Strike**, **DNS tunneling**, and a new Google Drive–based backdoor (**GearDoor**) alongside custom tools (**SSHcmd** and **SliverScreen**) for remote access and screen capture. **Microsoft** detailed separate February 2026 phishing campaigns by an unknown actor that used meeting/invoice-style lures and **EV code-signed** malware (certificate issued to **TrustConnect Software PTY LTD**) masquerading as common workplace apps (e.g., `msteams.exe`, `adobereader.exe`, `zoomworkspace.clientsetup.exe`) to install legitimate **RMM** tooling (**ScreenConnect**, **Tactical RMM**, **Mesh Agent**) for persistent access and lateral movement. Other reporting highlighted additional, unrelated campaigns and tradecraft: **ClearSky** described a Russian-aligned operation targeting **Ukraine** using a phishing-delivered ZIP/HTA chain that drops a .NET loader (**BadPaw**) and backdoor (**MeowMeow**) with **.NET Reactor** obfuscation, parameter-gated execution, and sandbox/tooling checks (with low-confidence linkage to **APT28**). **Cofense**-reported activity (via SC Media) showed phishing that weaponizes **Windows File Explorer + WebDAV** using URL/LNK shortcuts to pull payloads (notably **AsyncRAT**, **XWorm**, **DcRAT**) and infrastructure including **Cloudflare Tunnel** domains hosting WebDAV servers. **Cisco Talos**-reported **Dohdoor** activity (UAT-10027) targeted US **education and healthcare**, using PowerShell→batch→DLL sideloading via legitimate executables (e.g., `Fondue.exe`, `mblctr.exe`, `ScreenClippingHost.exe`) and **DNS-over-HTTPS** to Cloudflare for C2 discovery and tunneling. Separately, **Zscaler** reported **ScarCruft**’s *Ruby Jumper* campaign using **Zoho WorkDrive** for C2 and removable media components to reach air-gapped systems, while another Zscaler report analyzed **Dust Specter** targeting Iraqi government officials with password-protected RAR delivery and modular implants. **Qianxin XLab** assessed sanctioned infrastructure provider **Funnull** resurfacing to support scam/criminal supply chains and potential **MacCMS**-related supply-chain activity, and **F5 Labs** summarized **APT42**’s **TAMECAT** PowerShell backdoor focused on Edge/Chrome credential theft with C2 over Telegram/Discord/HTTPS and specific file/hash indicators. (A separate Help Net Security item on a Microsoft Defender onboarding tool is product/administrative news and not part of the threat-campaign reporting.)
Jun 29, 2026
Trend Micro disclosed that the China-aligned cluster **SHADOW-EARTH-053** compromised more than a dozen organizations in at least eight countries by exploiting vulnerable Microsoft Exchange and IIS servers, including the `ProxyLogon` chain, then deploying **GODZILLA** web shells and the **ShadowPad** backdoor to maintain access. Victims included government agencies, defense contractors, technology firms, transportation organizations, and at least one target in Poland, with activity observed from December 2024 through April 2026. Researchers said the intrusions resemble broader Chinese state-linked operations such as Salt Typhoon and Volt Typhoon and may support long-term espionage, prepositioning, and potential future disruption. Post-compromise activity included DLL sideloading with a renamed Toshiba Bluetooth Stack executable, registry-resident shellcode execution via `EnumDesktopsA` callback injection, scheduled-task persistence, mailbox collection from Exchange, credential theft, and lateral movement using tools such as **IOX**, **GOST**, **Wstunnel**, **Sharp-SMBExec**, **Mimikatz**, and **Evil-CreateDump**. Trend Micro also identified overlap with a related cluster, **SHADOW-EARTH-054**, including shared tool hashes, reused vulnerabilities, and compromises at some of the same organizations, although the company assessed the relationship as overlapping exploitation rather than clearly coordinated operations. Defenders were urged to patch Exchange and IIS systems quickly and review IIS worker process activity, web-shell indicators, and other signs of stealthy post-exploitation.
Jun 29, 2026