Tonto Team

Suspected state-linked cyber threat groupTrackedPending verification

Also known as: Earth Akhlut, BRONZE HUNTLEY, CactusPete, Karma Panda

CyberCHN

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Fact cardConfidence · Source

System

TypeSuspected state-linked cyber threat group

Alternative designationsEarth Akhlut, BRONZE HUNTLEY, CactusPete, Karma Panda

ProliferationOrigin country only

Active since2009At least 2009Med^[1]

MITRE ATT&CK IDG0131High^[1]

Capabilities

ATT&CK techniques used15ATT&CK v20.1High^[1]

Malware and toolsBisonal, gsecdump, LaZagne, Mimikatz, NBTscan, ShadowPad6 malware and tool entries linked in ATT&CKHigh^[1]

Attribution and activity

Attributed sponsorSuspected Chinese state-sponsoredMed^[1]

TargetsTonto Team is a suspected Chinese state-sponsored cyber espionage threat group that has primarily targeted South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and the United States since at least 2009; by 2020 they expanded operations to include other Asian as well as Eastern European countries.Med^[1]

Notes

Tonto Team is a suspected Chinese state-sponsored cyber espionage threat group that has primarily targeted South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and the United States since at least 2009; by 2020 they expanded operations to include other Asian as well as Eastern European countries. Tonto Team has targeted government, military, energy, mining, financial, education, healthcare, and technology organizations, including through the Heartbeat Campaign (2009-2012) and Operation Bitter Biscuit (2017). Description adapted from MITRE ATT&CK®, © The MITRE Corporation, used under the ATT&CK Terms of Use.

Summary

Draft entry. Values come from the cited public sources and are awaiting editor verification.

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Operators

China

Sources

Tonto Team, Group G0131, MITRE ATT&CK
Published/updated 2026-07-31 · Tier 2 · checked 2026-11-08

Change log

2026-11-08 Entry created from MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v20.1 (group G0131)