Threat actor · all actors
Cinnamon TempestG1021 state
🇨🇳 CN
aka Cinnamon Tempest, DEV-0401, Emperor Dragonfly, BRONZE STARLIGHT, SLIME34
Last updated: 2026-08-20
About this actor
[Cinnamon Tempest](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G1021) is a China-based threat group that has been active since at least 2021 deploying multiple strains of ransomware based on the leaked [Babuk](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0638) source code. [Cinnamon Tempest](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G1021) does not operate their ransomware on an affiliate model or purchase access but appears to act independently in all stages of the attack lifecycle. Based on victimology, the short lifespan of each ransomware variant, and use of malware attributed to government-sponsored threat groups, [Cinnamon Tempest](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G1021) may be motivated by intellectual property theft or cyberespionage rather than financial gain.(Citation: Microsoft Ransomware as a Service)(Citation: Microsoft Threat Actor Naming July 2023)(Citation: Trend Micro Cheerscrypt May 2022)(Citation: SecureWorks BRONZE STARLIGHT Ransomware Operations June 2022)
Source: MITRE ATT&CK
Names & naming systems
Each vendor coins its own name for the same actor. Where a name follows a known scheme we attribute it; the rest are listed honestly as unclassified.
MITRE ATT&CKG-number catalogue id
Microsoftweather-system names
Secureworkscolour-metal names
Unclassifiedno scheme matched
How we know this
- Data origin
- MITRE ATT&CK Imported from the MITRE ATT&CK STIX bundle as an intrusion-set object.
- Techniques
- MITRE ATT&CK STIX mappings — 26 ATT&CK techniques on file.
- Named victims
- None on file.
See how actor data is built for the full pipeline.
Activity timeline
- 2023 — 1 CVE published
Profile
| CVE | Risk | CVSS | EPSS | Published | Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CVE-2021-4428 | 7.0 | 2.7 | 0.6862 | 2023-07-18 | see CVE |
T1021Remote Services ↗T1021.002SMB/Windows Admin Shares ↗T1047Windows Management Instrumentation ↗T1059Command and Scripting Interpreter ↗T1059.001PowerShell ↗T1059.003Windows Command Shell ↗T1059.006Python ↗T1078Valid Accounts ↗T1078.002Domain Accounts ↗T1080Taint Shared Content ↗T1090Proxy ↗T1105Ingress Tool Transfer ↗T1140Deobfuscate/Decode Files or Information ↗T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application ↗T1484Domain or Tenant Policy Modification ↗T1484.001Group Policy Modification ↗T1543Create or Modify System Process ↗T1543.003Windows Service ↗T1567Exfiltration Over Web Service ↗T1567.002Exfiltration to Cloud Storage ↗T1572Protocol Tunneling ↗T1574Hijack Execution Flow ↗T1574.001DLL ↗T1588Obtain Capabilities ↗T1588.002Tool ↗T1657Financial Theft ↗
Mitigating controls (NIST 800-53)
| Control | Techniques covered | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
SI-4 | 19 / 26 | 73% |
AC-3 | 18 / 26 | 69% |
CM-6 | 17 / 26 | 65% |
AC-6 | 16 / 26 | 62% |
CM-2 | 16 / 26 | 62% |
AC-2 | 15 / 26 | 58% |
CM-7 | 14 / 26 | 54% |
SI-3 | 14 / 26 | 54% |
AC-5 | 13 / 26 | 50% |
CM-5 | 13 / 26 | 50% |
IA-2 | 12 / 26 | 46% |
CA-7 | 11 / 26 | 42% |
SI-10 | 11 / 26 | 42% |
SI-7 | 10 / 26 | 38% |
AC-4 | 9 / 26 | 35% |
Co-occurring actors
None.
Similar actors
Similar TTPs
- Blue Mockingbird 0.27
- Aquatic Panda 0.25
- Play 0.24
- Operation MidnightEclipse 0.24
- SharePoint ToolShell Exploitation 0.23
Active in same years
- Akira 1.00
- MirrorFace 1.00
- Clop 1.00
Same nation-state
- Night Dragon 1.00
- FunnyDream 1.00
- Operation Wocao 1.00
- C0017 1.00
- Cutting Edge 1.00
Same category
- Night Dragon 1.00
- FunnyDream 1.00
- C0011 1.00
- Operation Wocao 1.00
- Operation Dream Job 1.00