APT31
aka Violet Typhoon, Zirconium, Judgment Panda, Bronze Vinewood, TA412, JungleBamboo, TIDE CASTLE
An espionage group that sends huge numbers of tracking emails to politicians, journalists and companies, then uses them as a foothold. In August 2026 it used booby-trapped links chaining unpatched browser and Windows flaws against US NGOs and resource firms.
- Alert level
- 2/ 5
- Reports & advisories (90 days)
- 0
- Known exploited CVEs
- 3
- Personal data leaked (disclosed)
- None confirmed
Attribution
- Identified as operating on behalf of China's MSS Hubei State Security Department — US Treasury and Department of Justice
- Assessed as a China-aligned state-sponsored threat actor — Proofpoint
Exploited vulnerabilities and targeted products
CVE-2026-85046 CVE-2026-87491 CVE-2026-85880
If you run any of these products, first make sure they are updated to a fixed version.
How they attack
Entry
Emails pretending to be someone you know
Like a letter from a 'colleague' with an envelope that springs a trap when opened.
Entry
Emails that report when they are opened
Like slipping a tiny tracker into a letter to learn when and where it was opened.
Entry
Links that attack the browser on opening
Like an invitation whose address leads to a room rigged to exploit a faulty door lock, so just peeking in lets the intruder through.
Goal
Quietly stealing information
Like a spy who stays for months, copying files from the cabinet a little at a time.
Sources
Attributions are quoted as assessed by governments and security vendors. VulnPulse does not make attributions itself.
Leak counts only add up figures disclosed by the affected companies or authorities, never the attackers' own claims. We do not list victim names or link to leak sites.
The alert level is calculated automatically from reports and advisories in the last 90 days, known exploited vulnerabilities, and whether the group has targeted Japan.
Updated 2026-10-24 · daily