SYMBOLCOMMON_NAMEaka. SYNONYMS

UNC2814  (Back to overview)

aka: DARK CASTLE

UNC2814 is a suspected PRC-nexus cyber espionage group that has targeted telecommunications providers and government entities globally since at least 2017. The group employs the GRIDTIDE backdoor to blend malicious traffic with legitimate cloud API activity and utilizes living-off-the-land techniques, including SSH lateral movement and the creation of malicious systemd services. GTIG has confirmed 53 intrusions across 42 countries and identified suspected activity in at least 20 additional nations, with a focus on exfiltrating sensitive communications data. Google has taken significant disruption actions against UNC2814, including infrastructure takedowns and the release of IOCs to aid in detection.


Associated Families
elf.gridtide

References
2026-07-24GoogleGoogle Threat Intelligence Group
Updated Cyber Threat Actor Naming System
APT15 APT20 APT27 APT28 APT29 APT30 APT31 APT33 APT35 APT37 APT39 APT40 APT41 APT42 APT45 APT5 BlackTech Callisto Conference Crew FIN11 FIN6 FIN7 FIN8 MuddyWater MUSTANG PANDA Naikon OilRig Sandworm TEMP.Hermit Tick Tonto Team Turla UAC-0020 UNC1069 UNC1088 UNC2814
2026-02-25GoogleGoogle Threat Intelligence Group, Mandiant
Exposing the Undercurrent: Disrupting the GRIDTIDE Global Cyber Espionage Campaign
GRIDTIDE UNC2814

Credits: MISP Project