# UNC4540: threat group profile

> UNC4540 is a threat group thought to operate from China. Public reporting about it is still limited. This free profile brings together what is known about it, so you can judge the risk to you. It lists the other names the group goes by and links to every public report behind it.

Canonical page: https://www.edgeprotect.io/threat-actors/unc4540
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## At a glance

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Attack techniques | 0 |
| Thought to operate from | China |
| Other names | 0 |
| Public reports | 1 |

## Who is UNC4540?

UNC4540 is a threat group thought to operate from China. Public reporting about it is still limited.

### What public reporting says

> UNC4540 is a suspected Chinese threat actor targeting unpatched SonicWall Secure Mobile Access appliances to deploy custom malware that establishes long-term persistence for cyber espionage. The malware is designed to steal hashed credentials, provide shell access, and persist through firmware upgrades, utilizing a variant of the TinyShell backdoor. Mandiant has tracked UNC4540's activities back to 2021, noting their focus on maintaining access to compromised devices. The group's tactics are consistent with patterns observed in other Chinese threat actor campaigns targeting network devices for zero-day exploits.

## Public reports about UNC4540

- https://www.mandiant.com/resources/blog/suspected-chinese-persist-sonicwall

## Frequently asked questions

### Who is UNC4540?

UNC4540 is a threat group thought to operate from China. Public reporting about it is still limited.

### Where is UNC4540 thought to be based?

Public reporting places UNC4540 as operating from China. Attribution is never certain: it rests on the tools, infrastructure and targets researchers have seen.

### How do I know if UNC4540 is a risk to my business?

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