Dark Web Profile: APT40 – SOCRadar

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APT40, also known as TEMP.Periscope, Leviathan, and many other aliases, is a Chinese cyber-espionage group attributed to the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS). Active since at least 2009, APT40 has been implicated in numerous high-profile cyber-espionage campaigns targeting a variety of sectors, particularly focusing on maritime, defense, aviation, and technology. The group’s activities are aligned with China’s strategic objectives, including the modernization of its military and expansion of its maritime influence.
APT40’s operations have been linked to the Hainan State Security Department (HSSD) of the MSS, a provincial arm of China’s primary civilian intelligence agency. This attribution is supported by multiple cybersecurity agencies and organizations, including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC). These organizations have collectively identified the group’s Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) as consistent with those used by state-sponsored Chinese actors.

Threat Actor Card for APT40
As stated in the CISA advisory: On July 19, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) unsealed an indictment against four APT40 cyber actors, revealing their illicit Computer Network Exploitation (CNE) activities conducted through the front company Hainan Xiandun Technology Development Company (Hainan Xiandun). Wu Shurong, an employee of Hainan Xiandun, collaborated with and executed orders from intelligence officers Ding Xiaoyang, Zhu Yunmin, and Cheng Qingmin of the Hainan State Security Department (HSSD) of the PRC Ministry of State Security (MSS).

Wanted poster by the FBI (U.S. Department of Justice)
Wu’s CNE operations led to the theft of trade secrets, intellectual property, and other high-value information from companies and organizations in the United States and other countries, as well as from multiple foreign governments. These MSS-affiliated actors targeted victims across various industries, including academia, aerospace and aviation, biomedical, the defense industrial base, education, government, healthcare, manufacturing, maritime, research institutes, and transportation sectors such as rail and shipping.

APT40 employs a diverse array of TTPs to infiltrate, maintain persistence, and exfiltrate data from targeted networks.
According to ACSC, APT40 has the ability to swiftly adapt and utilize Proof-of-Concept (PoC) exploits for new vulnerabilities, deploying them immediately against target networks with the relevant infrastructure. The group consistently conducts reconnaissance on networks of interest, including those within the countries of the authoring agencies, to identify opportunities for compromise. This continuous reconnaissance allows APT40 to pinpoint vulnerable, end-of-life, or unmaintained devices on these networks and quickly deploy exploits. APT40 has successfully exploited vulnerabilities dating back to 2017.

A flowchart of APT40’s modus operandi (ACSC)
Rapid Exploitation of New Vulnerabilities:
Continuous Reconnaissance:
Persistence Mechanisms:
Use of Compromised Infrastructure:
Command and Control (C2) Infrastructure:
As we mentioned above, APT40 has a well-documented history. As FireEye highlighted back in 2019, APT40 was targeting the maritime industry, reflecting China’s strategic interest in naval dominance and maritime trade routes. The group has targeted a variety of organizations, including research institutions, universities, and private companies involved in naval technology and maritime research. These attacks often aim to exfiltrate sensitive information that can be used to enhance China’s naval capabilities and inform its strategic decisions in disputed maritime regions, such as the South China Sea.
Key Incidents
APT40 has been involved in extensive cyber-espionage campaigns against the defense and aerospace sectors. The group’s operations are designed to gather intelligence on military technology, aviation systems, and satellite communications, providing the Chinese military with critical insights and technological advantages.
Key Incidents
The activities of APT40 pose significant threats to national security, economic stability, and technological advancement in the countries they target. The exfiltration of sensitive data can undermine competitive advantages, erode trust in public and private institutions, and lead to substantial financial losses. Additionally, the group’s focus on critical infrastructure and strategic sectors means that their activities have far-reaching implications for global security and geopolitical stability.
Organizations can take several steps to detect and mitigate the threat posed by APT40:
By implementing these measures, organizations can enhance their defenses against APT40 and other sophisticated cyber threats, reducing the risk of a successful attack and mitigating potential damage.
To counter the sophisticated cyber espionage tactics employed by the APT40 group, organizations are advised to adopt a proactive cybersecurity posture.

Threat actor page for APT40 in SOCRadar’s Platform, Threat Actor Intelligence
SOCRadar’s Extended Threat Intelligence represents a significant advancement over traditional threat intelligence platforms, incorporating advanced features that greatly enhance threat detection and visibility. This solution leverages powerful machine learning technologies to analyze vast amounts of threat data collected from a variety of open sources, social media platforms, and the dark web. By employing this comprehensive approach, SOCRadar’s XTI enables security teams to quickly identify and assess threats, providing them with proactive security measures.
APT40 remains a sophisticated and persistent threat actor, leveraging a wide range of techniques to achieve its espionage goals. Organizations, particularly those in targeted sectors such as maritime, defense, and aerospace, must stay vigilant and proactive in their cybersecurity efforts. By implementing robust security measures and staying informed about the latest threat intelligence, organizations can better protect themselves against the persistent and evolving threat posed by APT40.
Below are the TTPs provided by the CISA for APT40:
For more information, analysis, and Indicators of Compromise (IoCs) related to APT40, refer to resources from CISA and ACSC. Additionally, you can review our China & Russia Cybercrime report and access the SOCRadar Platform, which contains thousands of IoCs for APT40 and other related APT groups.

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