Understanding Salt Typhoon: Why Security Leaders Should Take Notice

In a digital world where cyber threats lurk around every corner, the name Salt Typhoon reverberates with particular urgency. As a sophisticated operation orchestrated by a Chinese state-sponsored group known as Earth Estries or UNC2286, this campaign has left a significant mark on critical U.S. infrastructure. Salt Typhoon exemplifies the complexity and persistence of modern cyber espionage, and understanding its implications is crucial for every Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and security leader.

What or who is Salt Typhoon?

Salt Typhoon refers to an advanced persistent threat (APT) group with strong ties to China's Ministry of State Security. Known for their strategic finesse, this group has exploited various vulnerabilities in telecommunications infrastructure, targeting high-profile U.S. companies like Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Lumen Technologies. These attacks underline a broader geopolitical objective of intelligence gathering, aligning with China's quest for global technological dominance.

The campaign's unique signature involves exploiting public-facing servers and leveraging a technique known in the industry as "living off the land," by using native system tools, such as PowerShell and Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line (WMIC), to avoid detection. This level of sophistication requires heightened awareness from those overseeing cybersecurity policies and operations within organizations worldwide — stressing a serious need for constant observability and situational awareness.

Who was affected by Salt Typhoon? 

While the telecommunications sector bore the brunt of Salt Typhoon's impact, the ripple effects extend beyond Global Service Providers (GSPs). The operation disclosed the attackers' ability to access sensitive systems, compromising not just corporate data but privacy at a national scale. This breach underscores the vulnerability inherent in large networks and the risks posed to entities reliant on these infrastructures.

As previously mentioned, GSPs that have been publicly affected by Salt Typhoon include major U.S. telecommunications companies such as Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Lumen Technologies. These companies were targeted as part of the sophisticated cyber espionage campaign orchestrated by the Chinese APT group.

Salt Typhoon's presence in the networks of U.S.-based telecommunications companies was not immediately discovered. The campaign began targeting these networks as early as 2022, but the full scope of their activities took a while to get pieced together and alerted on. Detection of such highly sophisticated threat actors often involves a collaborative and complex set of investigations by cybersecurity teams, government agencies and industry partners. Even by early 2025, the complete extent of Salt Typhoon's infiltration was still being assessed, highlighting the challenges in identifying and reacting to advanced persistent threats.

The potential reach of Salt Typhoon's activities cannot be overstated, as seen through its access to communications data central to numerous government and private entities. While major telecoms were the direct targets, the wider network implications mean that any organization connected, directly or indirectly, to these networks needs to evaluate their risk exposure and response strategies.

Should consumers care?

For the average consumer, the notion of state-sponsored hacking might seem distant. However, the indirect consequences of such breaches have profound implications. While general consumers may not have been the primary target of Salt Typhoon, the compromised telecommunications systems expose individuals' metadata — like who they communicated with and when. The implications of such an attack can have ripple effects that reach consumers in various ways, including:

• Loss of privacy: The collection of metadata reflects the communication patterns of consumers. Although the content of the conversations might not be accessed, knowing who contacted whom and when can infringe on personal privacy.
• Disrupted services: An attack on major telecom providers could lead to service disruptions, affecting the ability to make calls, send messages and access internet services. This might lead to inconvenience or hinder communication during critical times.
• Identity theft: With access to call records or metadata, attackers could use this information as part of a larger scheme to perpetrate identity theft. This makes consumers more vulnerable to scams wherein attackers impersonate trusted entities.
• Increased cybersecurity risks: As companies respond to such attacks by implementing tighter security measures, users may experience more rigorous verification steps or new security protocols like multi-factor authentication (MFA) for their services.
• Potential increase in costs: Companies dealing with cyber intrusions often incur higher costs related to containment, remediation and updated security implementations. These costs might translate into increased charges for consumers as businesses attempt to recoup their expenses.

Understanding the broader implications of cybersecurity threats empowers consumers to remain proactive, requiring awareness and adoption of secure communication practices, such as utilizing encrypted messaging services.

It's important for individuals to understand that even metadata can piece together narratives about personal behavior and preferences. In a cyber landscape fraught with evolving threats, employing encrypted communication methods becomes increasingly critical. Encouragingly, applications such as Signal and iMessage offer consumers a layer of protection by encrypting messages end-to-end.

What were Salt Typhoon's predecessors?

Salt Typhoon is part of a lineage of state-backed cyber activity emanating from China. Previous groups under the "Typhoon" umbrella, such as Volt Typhoon and Ghost Emperor, illustrate a pattern of espionage characterized by strategic persistence and intricate execution. Each successive group builds upon learned techniques and expanded objectives. Before Salt Typhoon, these predecessor groups established core tactics: focusing on exploiting well-known vulnerabilities and maintaining stealthy persistence within targeted networks.

• Volt Typhoon: Known for preparing infrastructure for potential disruptive attacks rather than mere data theft. Volt Targeted critical infrastructure in the U.S., including sectors like aviation, water, energy and transportation, by exploiting vulnerabilities in network equipment such as routers and firewalls. They focused on stealth and persistence, using compromised devices to hide malicious activity and prepare for possible future conflicts.
• Ghost Emperor: Another name used for Salt Typhoon, this group is known for its advanced persistent threat activities. Their espionage-focused efforts primarily concerned with extracting intelligence and compromising communications networks. Salt Typhoon utilized sophisticated techniques to maintain a long-term presence within networks, targeting telecommunications systems to harvest sensitive governmental and corporate data.
• Silk Typhoon (formerly Hafnium): Initially known for targeting vulnerable Microsoft Exchange Servers with the intent of reconnaissance and data theft. Silk Typhoon compromised tens of thousands of organizations globally by exploiting Exchange vulnerabilities, disrupting operations, and gathering intelligence from crucial sectors. They were linked to breaches of key U.S. governmental departments, including accessing internal documents and sensitive information within the Treasury's networks.

These groups represent a coordinated and strategic effort by state-sponsored actors to enhance their cyber capabilities and reach. Recalling the actions and methodologies of these predecessors, they stand as both a warning and a blueprint for improving global cyber resilience.

What has the U.S. government had to say?

The Salt Typhoon cyber espionage operation has prompted a robust response from U.S. authorities, underscoring the severe implications of such attacks on national infrastructure. Senator Mark Warner, Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, described the Salt Typhoon incident as "the worst telecom hack in U.S. history," illustrating its unprecedented nature and impact on communication networks. This characterization reflects the urgency with which the U.S. government has approached the situation, moving swiftly to implement corrective measures and reinforce cybersecurity defenses.

In response, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has taken decisive steps to shore up the vulnerabilities within telecommunications networks. Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel emphasized the need for modernizing cybersecurity rules, stating, "Leaving old policies in place when we know what new risks look like is not smart. Today, in light of the vulnerabilities exposed by Salt Typhoon, we need to take action to secure our networks." This call to arms resonates across regulatory agencies, pushing for annual certifications and updated risk management frameworks to ensure ongoing compliance and security vigilance.

The Department of the Treasury has also responded forcefully by sanctioning entities involved in the cyber incursion. Sichuan Juxinhe Network Technology Co., LTD., perceived to have direct involvement in exploiting these telecommunications systems, was sanctioned under Executive Order 13694. As Treasury Deputy Secretary Adewale O. Adeyemo remarked, "The Treasury Department will continue to use its authorities to hold accountable malicious cyber actors who target the American people, our companies and the United States government."

These actions reflect a broader strategy to enhance collaboration between the private sector and federal agencies — a critical step towards deterring future threats and ensuring that sophisticated actors like Salt Typhoon face tangible repercussions for their cyber activities. By highlighting the necessity of evolving security standards, the U.S. government's response serves as both a deterrent and a blueprint for other nations grappling with similar cybersecurity challenges.

Five things to protect against the next Typhoon

In an ever-evolving cyber landscape, organizations must prioritize defense mechanisms that can withstand sophisticated attacks by state-sponsored threat actors like Salt Typhoon. By focusing on doing the basics well, security leaders can establish a robust foundation against potential breaches.

These preventive measures are not merely reactive safeguards but serve as strategic building blocks that anticipate and neutralize threats before they escalate into crises. Excellence in these fundamental practices provides a resilient shield, reducing vulnerabilities and enhancing overall security posture. 

Below are five essential strategies that organizations should implement to fortify their cybersecurity defenses—ensuring a stable framework capable of withstanding digitally driven threats.

• Implement a zero trust architecture: The premise here is "never trust, always verify." By enforcing least privilege access, organizations can reduce the risk of unauthorized entry into sensitive systems. Comprehensive identity verification and continuous monitoring of access requests lie at the heart of a robust zero trust model.
• Continuous monitoring: Maintaining vigilance over network activities is paramount. Deploying advanced Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems help identify anomalies that could indicate intrusions, enabling rapid response efforts to mitigate potential threats.
• Regular vulnerability assessments and patch management: It's crucial for organizations to conduct consistent vulnerability assessments and swiftly patch known flaws, especially those used as entry points by threat actors, as highlighted by recent exploits.
• Enhanced collaboration with industry and government: Building partnerships that foster information sharing allows for preemptive threat identification and collective defense against cyber incursions. Collaborative initiatives can serve as an early warning system, enhancing preparedness.
• Promote cyber hygiene best practices: Ensuring employees' adherence to fundamental security protocols — such as using strong passwords and MFA — is foundational in safeguarding organizational networks. Continuous education on emergent threats also reinforces a culture resilient to social engineering exploitations.

In conclusion, the specter of Salt Typhoon urges a proactive stance from security leaders. With its complex, long-term approach to infiltration and surveillance, Salt Typhoon serves as a potent reminder of the persistent nature of cyber threats. Raising awareness, implementing strategic safeguards and fostering collaborative defense structures embody the forward-thinking approach necessary to counter future cyber adversaries effectively. Organizations, now more than ever, must champion robust cybersecurity frameworks that protect not only the integrity of their networks but the privacy of every individual relying on interconnected systems.