H3XAOperational intelligence
Live analytical pictureEvidence before assessment
TypeGroup
External ID—
First seen2026-08-14
Last seen2026-08-14

Confidence

—

[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)

27 recorded

Relationships

usesMalware
usesMalware
uses
to DLL
Technique
usesTechnique
usesTechnique
usesMalware
usesTool
usesTechnique
usesMalware
usesMalware
usesTechnique
usesTechnique
usesTechnique
usesTechnique
usesTool
usesTool
usesTechnique
usesTechnique
uses
to Tool
Technique
usesTechnique
usesTechnique
usesTechnique
10 external

References

mitre-attack
G1021
open
BRONZE STARLIGHT
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DEV-0401
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Emperor Dragonfly
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Sygnia Emperor Dragonfly October 2022
https://blog.sygnia.co/revealing-emperor-dragonfly-a-chinese-ransomware-group
open
SecureWorks BRONZE STARLIGHT Ransomware Operations June 2022
https://www.secureworks.com/research/bronze-starlight-ransomware-operations-use-hui-loader
open
Trend Micro Cheerscrypt May 2022
https://www.trendmicro.com/en_se/research/22/e/new-linux-based-ransomware-cheerscrypt-targets-exsi-devices.html
open
Microsoft Threat Actor Naming July 2023
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/security/intelligence/microsoft-threat-actor-naming?view=o365-worldwide
open
Microsoft Ransomware as a Service
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2022/05/09/ransomware-as-a-service-understanding-the-cybercrime-gig-economy-and-how-to-protect-yourself/
open
Dell SecureWorks BRONZE STARLIGHT Profile
https://www.secureworks.com/research/threat-profiles/bronze-starlight
open