Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) Groups
Information about threat actors known to target VMware products and infrastructure
Threat Intelligence Information
This page contains information about known threat actors targeting VMware products. This information is provided for educational and defensive purposes only.
Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) groups are sophisticated threat actors, often state-sponsored, that conduct targeted cyber attacks over extended periods. These groups typically have significant resources, technical capabilities, and specific objectives such as espionage, intellectual property theft, or sabotage.
Virtualization infrastructure, such as VMware products, are high-value targets for APT groups because they provide access to multiple systems from a single point of compromise. By targeting hypervisors and management servers, attackers can potentially access all virtual machines and data within an environment.
APT29 is a Russian state-sponsored threat actor associated with the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR). The group has been active since at least 2008 and is known for targeting government organizations, think tanks, healthcare, and technology sectors.
Targeted VMware Products
Exploited Vulnerabilities
UNC3886 is a sophisticated threat actor that specifically targets virtualization infrastructure, particularly VMware ESXi and vCenter Server environments. The group has been active since at least 2021 and demonstrates advanced capabilities in developing and deploying custom malware for VMware environments.
Targeted VMware Products
Exploited Vulnerabilities
Lazarus Group is a North Korean state-sponsored threat actor associated with the Reconnaissance General Bureau. The group has been active since at least 2009 and is known for targeting financial institutions, cryptocurrency exchanges, and defense organizations for both espionage and financial gain.
Targeted VMware Products
Exploited Vulnerabilities
The ESXiArgs operators are a threat group responsible for the ESXiArgs ransomware campaign that targeted vulnerable VMware ESXi servers worldwide in February 2023. The group exploits known vulnerabilities in ESXi to deploy ransomware that encrypts virtual machine files.
Targeted VMware Products
Exploited Vulnerabilities
Attribution Disclaimer
Attribution of cyber attacks to specific threat actors is based on available intelligence and may change as new information becomes available. The information provided here represents the current understanding of these threat actors but should not be considered definitive or final.