Threat Actor Profile
High APT
Description

BlackTech is a suspected Chinese cyber espionage group that has primarily targeted organizations in East Asia--particularly Taiwan, Japan, and Hong Kong--and the US since at least 2013. BlackTech has used a combination of custom malware, dual-use tools, and living off the land tactics to compromise media, construction, engineering, electronics, and financial company networks.(Citation: TrendMicro BlackTech June 2017)(Citation: Symantec Palmerworm Sep 2020)(Citation: Reuters Taiwan BlackTech August 2020)

Confidence Score
90%
Known Aliases
BlackTech Palmerworm
Tags
mitre-attack stix-2.1 intrusion-set
First Seen

Unknown

Last Updated

Unknown

Active Status
Active
Created

April 29, 2026

MITRE ATT&CK Techniques (14)
T1036.002 - Right-to-Left Override
Defense Evasion
T1046 - Network Service Discovery
Discovery
T1106 - Native API
Execution
T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution
Execution
T1204.001 - Malicious Link
Execution
T1204.002 - Malicious File
Execution
T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application
Initial Access
T1566.001 - Spearphishing Attachment
Initial Access
T1566.002 - Spearphishing Link
Initial Access
T1021.004 - SSH
Lateral Movement
T1574.001 - DLL
Persistence
T1588.002 - Tool
Resource Development
T1588.003 - Code Signing Certificates
Resource Development
T1588.004 - Digital Certificates
Resource Development
Indicators of Compromise

Loading IOCs…

IOC KQL for Sentinel
STIX Data
{'aliases': ['BlackTech', 'Palmerworm'],
 'created': '2020-05-05T18:36:45.970Z',
 'created_by_ref': 'identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5',
 'description': '[BlackTech](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G0098) is a '
                'suspected Chinese cyber espionage group that has primarily '
                'targeted organizations in East Asia--particularly Taiwan, '
                'Japan, and Hong Kong--and the US since at least 2013. '
                '[BlackTech](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G0098) has used a '
                'combination of custom malware, dual-use tools, and living off '
                'the land tactics to compromise media, construction, '
                'engineering, electronics, and financial company '
                'networks.(Citation: TrendMicro BlackTech June 2017)(Citation: '
                'Symantec Palmerworm Sep 2020)(Citation: Reuters Taiwan '
                'BlackTech August 2020)',
 'external_references': [{'external_id': 'G0098',
                          'source_name': 'mitre-attack',
                          'url': 'https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G0098'},
                         {'description': '(Citation: Symantec Palmerworm Sep '
                                         '2020)(Citation: IronNet BlackTech '
                                         'Oct 2021)',
                          'source_name': 'Palmerworm'},
                         {'description': 'Bermejo, L., et al. (2017, June 22). '
                                         'Following the Trail of BlackTech’s '
                                         'Cyber Espionage Campaigns. Retrieved '
                                         'May 5, 2020.',
                          'source_name': 'TrendMicro BlackTech June 2017',
                          'url': 'https://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/following-trail-blacktech-cyber-espionage-campaigns/'},
                         {'description': 'Demboski, M., et al. (2021, October '
                                         '26). China cyber attacks: the '
                                         'current threat landscape. Retrieved '
                                         'March 25, 2022.',
                          'source_name': 'IronNet BlackTech Oct 2021',
                          'url': 'https://www.ironnet.com/blog/china-cyber-attacks-the-current-threat-landscape'},
                         {'description': 'Lee, Y. (2020, August 19). Taiwan '
                                         'says China behind cyberattacks on '
                                         'government agencies, emails. '
                                         'Retrieved April 6, 2022.',
                          'source_name': 'Reuters Taiwan BlackTech August 2020',
                          'url': 'https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-cyber-china/taiwan-says-china-behind-cyberattacks-on-government-agencies-emails-idUSKCN25F0JK'},
                         {'description': 'Threat Intelligence. (2020, '
                                         'September 29). Palmerworm: Espionage '
                                         'Gang Targets the Media, Finance, and '
                                         'Other Sectors. Retrieved March 25, '
                                         '2022.',
                          'source_name': 'Symantec Palmerworm Sep 2020',
                          'url': 'https://symantec-enterprise-blogs.security.com/blogs/threat-intelligence/palmerworm-blacktech-espionage-apt'}],
 'id': 'intrusion-set--6fe8a2a1-a1b0-4af8-953d-4babd329f8f8',
 'modified': '2025-04-25T19:03:07.787Z',
 'name': 'BlackTech',
 'object_marking_refs': ['marking-definition--fa42a846-8d90-4e51-bc29-71d5b4802168'],
 'revoked': False,
 'spec_version': '2.1',
 'type': 'intrusion-set',
 'x_mitre_attack_spec_version': '3.2.0',
 'x_mitre_contributors': ['Tatsuya Daitoku, Cyber Defense Institute, Inc.',
                          'Hannah S'],
 'x_mitre_deprecated': False,
 'x_mitre_domains': ['enterprise-attack'],
 'x_mitre_modified_by_ref': 'identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5',
 'x_mitre_version': '2.0'}
Quick Actions
Related TTPs (14)
Right-to-Left Override
Defense Evasion

Network Service Discovery
Discovery

Native API
Execution

Exploitation for Client Execu…
Execution

Malicious Link
Execution