Mustang Panda
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Mustang Panda-linked LOTUSLITE variant targets India banking sector
A new LOTUSLITE malware variant has been spotted in a campaign aimed at India’s banking sector, with related lures also tied to South Korean and U.S. policy communities.
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Three China-linked clusters targeted Southeast Asian government, researchers say
Researchers said three China-linked clusters targeted a Southeast Asian government organization in 2025, using several malware families and techniques aimed at staying inside networks for long-term access.
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Mustang Panda deploys updated COOLCLIENT backdoor to steal endpoint data
An updated COOLCLIENT backdoor linked to Mustang Panda was used in 2025 to steal keystrokes, browser credentials and files from government endpoints across Myanmar, Mongolia, Malaysia and Russia, according to a technical analysis by Kaspersky.
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LOTUSLITE backdoor used in campaign targeting U.S. policy entities
Researchers disclosed a campaign on January 16, 2026 that used Venezuela-themed lures to deliver the LOTUSLITE backdoor to U.S. government and policy organizations via ZIP archive and DLL side-loading. Attribution is to Mustang Panda with moderate confidence.
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Mustang Panda Deploys SnakeDisk USB Worm and Updated TONESHELL Backdoor, IBM X-Force Warns
IBM X-Force reports that the Mustang Panda group has deployed an updated TONESHELL backdoor alongside a new USB worm named SnakeDisk, with SnakeDisk geofenced to Thailand and capable of dropping Yokai, a reverse-shell backdoor. The investigation highlights ongoing evolution within Hive0154 and a focus on targeted regional operations.
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China’s Mustang Panda Expands Malware Arsenal Amid Surveillance Efforts
Mustang Panda, a state-sponsored Chinese hacking group, has expanded its malware capabilities with four new tools, including keyloggers, as part of its ongoing surveillance efforts. These enhancements highlight a significant escalation in their cyber espionage activities.
