Chinese APT conducting long-running espionage operations since 2005 targeting ASEAN member states and India with air-gapped network infiltration capabilities. This profile is mapped to MITRE ATT&CK G0013 and covers attribution, tooling, targeting, and defensive recommendations based on observed campaigns.
Overview & Attribution
APT30 (also tracked as None publicly documented) is a threat group attributed to China. The group primarily targets Southeast Asia, India, government, media for intelligence collection and operational objectives aligned with state interests.
This group is tracked as G0013 in the MITRE ATT&CK framework. All techniques referenced in this report are mapped to ATT&CK for consistent threat modeling and detection engineering.
Arsenal & Tools
Known tools and malware associated with APT30 include:
- NETEAGLE
- BACKSPACE
- SHIPSHAPE
- SPACESHIP
Targeting & Operations
APT30 operations focus on Southeast Asia, India, government, media. The group typically gains initial access through spear-phishing, exploitation of public-facing applications, or strategic web compromises before deploying custom implants for persistent access and data exfiltration.
Organizations in the Southeast Asia sector should treat APT30 as a relevant threat and validate their detection coverage against the MITRE ATT&CK techniques listed below.
MITRE ATT&CK Mapping
Key techniques observed in APT30 operations:
| Technique ID | Technique Name | Tactical Context |
|---|---|---|
| T1091 | T1091 | Observed in APT30 campaigns |
| T1566.001 | T1566.001 | Observed in APT30 campaigns |
| T1059.001 | T1059.001 | Observed in APT30 campaigns |
| T1025 | T1025 | Observed in APT30 campaigns |
Full ATT&CK mapping: https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G0013/
Notable Campaigns
This threat group has been active in operations targeting Southeast Asia, India, government, media. Security researchers have documented campaigns involving NETEAGLE and other tools deployed against organizations in multiple countries. Attribution confidence varies by campaign, but consistent infrastructure and TTP overlap links activity to China-nexus operations.
Detection & Defense
Recommended defensive measures against APT30:
- Network monitoring: Detect C2 beaconing patterns associated with NETEAGLE and related implants
- Endpoint detection: Deploy behavioral rules for the ATT&CK techniques above, particularly T1091 and T1566.001
- Email security: Implement robust phishing defenses including URL sandboxing and attachment detonation
- Patch management: Prioritize patching of internet-facing applications exploited by this group
- Threat hunting: Proactively hunt for IOCs and behavioral indicators mapped to G0013 in MITRE ATT&CK
How Mjolnir Security Can Help
Defend Against APT30
Mjolnir Security provides tailored threat intelligence, detection engineering, and incident response services to help organizations defend against China-nexus threat actors.
Contact us: mjolnirsecurity.com
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