# SHADOW-EARTH-053

> As of 2026-09-03, SHADOW-EARTH-053 is a China-nexus threat actor tracked by Threadlinqs Intelligence across 2 threats spanning threat intel, apt. Also known as Earth Shadow 053, TrendAI SHADOW-EARTH-053 cluster. ATT&CK coverage spans 35 techniques across 13 tactics in 2 of 2 tracked threats. Most-observed techniques: T1059.001 (PowerShell), T1059.003 (Windows Command Shell), T1071.001 (Web Protocols).

- **Nation:** China
- **Tracked threats:** 2
- **Categories:** THREAT_INTEL, APT
- **Also known as:** Earth Shadow 053, TrendAI SHADOW-EARTH-053 cluster
- **As of:** 2026-09-03

## ATT&CK techniques observed

35 techniques observed across 2 of 2 tracked threats. Tactics: Stealth (formerly Defense Evasion) (6), Discovery (4), Execution (4), Collection (3), Command and Control (3), Credential Access (3).

- [T1059.001](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1059.001) PowerShell — Execution — observed in 2 of 2 tracked threats
- [T1059.003](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1059.003) Windows Command Shell — Execution — observed in 2 of 2 tracked threats
- [T1071.001](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1071.001) Web Protocols — Command and Control — observed in 2 of 2 tracked threats
- [T1190](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1190) Exploit Public-Facing Application — Initial Access — observed in 2 of 2 tracked threats
- [T1505.003](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1505.003) Web Shell — Persistence — observed in 2 of 2 tracked threats
- [T1003.001](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1003.001) LSASS Memory — Credential Access — observed in 1 of 2 tracked threats
- [T1003.002](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1003.002) Security Account Manager — Credential Access — observed in 1 of 2 tracked threats
- [T1003.006](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1003.006) OS Credential Dumping: DCSync — Credential Access — observed in 1 of 2 tracked threats
- [T1005](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1005) Data from Local System — Collection — observed in 1 of 2 tracked threats
- [T1018](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1018) Remote System Discovery — Discovery — observed in 1 of 2 tracked threats
- [T1021.001](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1021.001) Remote Desktop Protocol — Lateral Movement — observed in 1 of 2 tracked threats
- [T1021.002](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1021.002) SMB/Windows Admin Shares — Lateral Movement — observed in 1 of 2 tracked threats
- [T1027.002](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1027.002) Software Packing — Stealth (formerly Defense Evasion) — observed in 1 of 2 tracked threats
- [T1036.005](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1036.005) Match Legitimate Resource Name or Location — Stealth (formerly Defense Evasion) — observed in 1 of 2 tracked threats
- [T1041](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1041) Exfiltration Over C2 Channel — Exfiltration — observed in 1 of 2 tracked threats

## Tracked threats

- [Recorded Future H1 2026 Report: Actively Exploited CVEs Up 34%, Ransomware Adopts BYOVD and Post-Quantum Crypto](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-2310) — HIGH
- [SHADOW-EARTH-053 — China-Aligned Cyberespionage Campaign Exploiting Microsoft Exchange (ProxyLogon CVE-2021-26855/26857/26858/27065) and IIS to Deploy GODZILLA Web Shells and ShadowPad](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0493) — HIGH

## Related CVEs

9 CVEs referenced by tracked SHADOW-EARTH-053 activity.

- [CVE-2026-20131](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2026-20131)
- [CVE-2025-68947](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2025-68947)
- [CVE-2025-55182](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2025-55182)
- [CVE-2024-4345](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2024-4345)
- [CVE-2023-27532](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2023-27532)
- [CVE-2021-27065](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2021-27065)
- [CVE-2021-26858](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2021-26858)
- [CVE-2021-26857](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2021-26857)
- [CVE-2021-26855](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2021-26855)

## Full data

Infrastructure, IOC values and detection queries (Splunk SPL / Microsoft KQL / Sigma) require the Threadlinqs MCP server (Purple tier): https://intel.threadlinqs.com/mcp

Canonical: https://intel.threadlinqs.com/actor/SHADOW-EARTH-053