Inside Shadow-Earth-053: A China-Aligned Cyberespionage Campaign Against Government and Defense Sectors in Asia


Through ongoing analysis of ShadowPad implants targeting South and Southeast Asia, TrendAI Research has uncovered a series of new related campaigns that are tracked under a temporary intrusion set (a provisional cluster of related activity pending formal attribution) designated SHADOW-EARTH-053, which we assess to be aligned with China’s broader strategic interests.

Trend Micro telemetry indicates that this group has targeted government entities and critical infrastructure sectors across at least eight countries over the past year. Activity attributed to SHADOW-EARTH-053 has been traced back to at least December 2024, indicating the group has been operational for over a year.

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Source:Trend Micro


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