# UTA0178

> As of 2026-07-02, UTA0178 is a threat actor tracked by Threadlinqs Intelligence across 4 threats spanning malware, vulnerability. ATT&CK coverage spans 44 techniques across 15 tactics in 4 of 4 tracked threats. Most-observed techniques: T1027 (Obfuscated Files or Information), T1036 (Masquerading), T1041 (Exfiltration Over C2 Channel).

- **Tracked threats:** 4
- **Categories:** MALWARE, VULNERABILITY
- **As of:** 2026-07-02

## ATT&CK techniques observed

44 techniques observed across 4 of 4 tracked threats. Tactics: Credential Access (6), Command and Control (5), Persistence (5), Stealth (formerly Defense Evasion) (4), Collection (3), Discovery (3).

- [T1027](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1027) Obfuscated Files or Information — Stealth (formerly Defense Evasion) — observed in 4 of 4 tracked threats
- [T1036](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1036) Masquerading — Stealth (formerly Defense Evasion) — observed in 4 of 4 tracked threats
- [T1041](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1041) Exfiltration Over C2 Channel — Exfiltration — observed in 4 of 4 tracked threats
- [T1059](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1059) Command and Scripting Interpreter — Execution — observed in 4 of 4 tracked threats
- [T1071](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1071) Application Layer Protocol — Command and Control — observed in 4 of 4 tracked threats
- [T1190](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1190) Exploit Public-Facing Application — Initial Access — observed in 4 of 4 tracked threats
- [T1505](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1505) Server Software Component — Persistence — observed in 4 of 4 tracked threats
- [T1070](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1070) Indicator Removal — Stealth (formerly Defense Evasion) — observed in 3 of 4 tracked threats
- [T1082](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1082) System Information Discovery — Discovery — observed in 3 of 4 tracked threats
- [T1090](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1090) Proxy — Command and Control — observed in 3 of 4 tracked threats
- [T1547](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1547) Boot or Logon Autostart Execution — Persistence — observed in 3 of 4 tracked threats
- [T1572](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1572) Protocol Tunneling — Command and Control — observed in 3 of 4 tracked threats
- [T1685](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1685) Disable or Modify Tools — Defense Impairment — observed in 3 of 4 tracked threats
- [T1020](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1020) Automated Exfiltration — Exfiltration — observed in 2 of 4 tracked threats
- [T1021](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/technique/T1021) Remote Services — Lateral Movement — observed in 2 of 4 tracked threats

## Tracked threats

- [BRICKSTORM Backdoor: UNC5221 PRC-Nexus APT Targeting VMware vSphere Infrastructure](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0313) — CRITICAL
- [F5 BIG-IP APM Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution via Stack Buffer Overflow (CVE-2025-53521) — CISA KEV Active Exploitation by Chinese Nation-State Actor](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0312) — CRITICAL
- [CVE-2025-53521: F5 BIG-IP APM Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution via Stack-based Buffer Overflow](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0307) — CRITICAL
- [CVE-2025-53521: F5 BIG-IP APM Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution via apmd Process — Active Exploitation by UNC5221 (BRICKSTORM)](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/threat/TL-2026-0297) — CRITICAL

## Related CVEs

3 CVEs referenced by tracked UTA0178 activity.

- [CVE-2025-53521](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2025-53521)
- [CVE-2024-21887](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2024-21887)
- [CVE-2023-46805](https://intel.threadlinqs.com/cve/CVE-2023-46805)

## 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/UTA0178