Salt Typhoon's Hacks and Global Cybersecurity Challenges

Trixie Steel

Salt Typhoon, the infamous Chinese hacker group tracked by several cybersecurity firms, has been thrust into the global spotlight again. Their relentless cyber campaigns, particularly those targeting telecommunications providers, have led to significant international consequences—most recently, U.S. sanctions targeting their alleged enablers. But what exactly prompted this response? And, more importantly, will it have any meaningful impact?

Trixie Steel

The sanctions are aimed at Sichuan Juxinhe Network Technology, a cybersecurity company purportedly fronting for Salt Typhoon's operations. According to U.S. officials, this firm plays a central role in supporting the group’s infrastructure. Essentially, it acts like an invisible scaffolding, propping up cyberespionage campaigns through sophisticated hacking tools, network access, and logistical coordination.

Trixie Steel

Salt Typhoon itself has specialized in attacking telecom networks worldwide. Their playbook involves leveraging vulnerabilities in unpatched infrastructure to infiltrate critical systems and sometimes even intercept communications in real time. Now, the U.S. Treasury, in collaboration with other agencies, hopes to disrupt this by crippling one of their major supporters with economic sanctions.

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Now, let’s take a look at sanctions as a tool in cybersecurity geopolitics. These measures are often wielded to pressure state-linked entities or private firms complicit in malicious activities. By isolating Sichuan Juxinhe from access to international markets—things like financial systems or foreign technology exports—the U.S. aims to dismantle the support structures Salt Typhoon depends on. It’s like cutting off a supply line in a military conflict.

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But will these sanctions actually work? History doesn’t exactly paint an encouraging picture. Recorded Future, a leading threat intelligence firm, reports that even after Salt Typhoon’s activities were exposed and sanctions were imposed, the group hasn’t eased up. They’re still as aggressive as ever, exploiting vulnerabilities on a global scale.

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And here’s where the problem lies—sanctions operate on a macroeconomic level, but cyberattacks can persist at the micro level. Salt Typhoon remains deeply entrenched across multiple countries, exploiting gaps in cybersecurity practices and thriving off unpatched systems. It’s almost like playing an endless game of whack-a-mole; as one avenue is closed off, they adapt and continue—

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Now, let’s drill down into the technical details—starting with Cisco’s IOS software, the very technology Salt Typhoon exploited in their recent campaigns. The vulnerabilities in question, tracked as CVE-20232-0198 and CVE-2023-20273, are what gave this group the initial entry point into these critical systems. Essentially, these flaws allowed Salt Typhoon to bypass security restrictions and gain administrative control of the routers. And once they had control, they operated virtually unchecked. Disturbing, isn’t it?

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What’s fascinating—and frankly terrifying—is Salt Typhoon’s use of GRE tunnels. Now, if you're not familiar, these are private communication channels typically used for legitimate purposes like enabling VPNs over public networks. But in this case, they were repurposed for far more nefarious activities. By establishing these tunnels, Salt Typhoon could essentially exfiltrate sensitive data from their targets while staying under the radar. It’s like they had secret passageways right through the IT infrastructure—absolutely ingenious in its simplicity and impact.

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And this isn’t just about what they took—it’s about how long they could stay in these networks. GRE tunnels allowed them to maintain long-term access without triggering typical detection mechanisms. Think about that: persistent access to networks that are supposed to be secure. It’s clear that traditional network defenses, no matter how robust on paper, often fail when faced with an adversary as skillful and persistent as Salt Typhoon.

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So, what can organizations do to tighten up their defenses? First and foremost, patch management is critical. Vulnerabilities like the ones exploited here often remain unaddressed simply because systems aren’t updated in time. This is cybersecurity 101—update and patch rigorously. But beyond that, organizations need to implement stronger network segmentation and deploy advanced monitoring tools. Tools that don’t just monitor for anomalies but proactively hunt for stealthy tactics like these private GRE tunnel configurations. Otherwise, it becomes a matter of 'when,' not 'if,' these attackers will strike.

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It’s also worth stressing the importance of simulation-based training for IT teams. Familiarity with the methods groups like Salt Typhoon rely on—things like exploiting unpatched Cisco devices—can empower teams to anticipate and neutralize these threats before they escalate. But let’s not kid ourselves; the race between defense and attack is ongoing, and organizations can’t afford to lag even a step behind.

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And on that note, the global implications of Salt Typhoon's tactics cannot be overstated. Their operations span continents, breaching telecoms, internet providers, and even universities in multiple countries—

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When we look at the scope of Salt Typhoon’s operations, the numbers alone are staggering. They’ve breached telecom networks across countries like the U.S., U.K., South Africa, and Italy, among others. That’s not just a pattern—it’s a systemic campaign of global intrusion, one that’s meticulously planned and ruthlessly executed.

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Now, consider what’s truly at stake here. Salt Typhoon isn’t merely targeting commercial entities; their activity dives deep into government and law enforcement systems, exposing highly sensitive surveillance data. In some cases, they’ve accessed court-authorized wiretap mechanisms used to glean private communications—data so critical, its exposure could jeopardize national security itself. I mean, let’s think about this: we’re talking about a group that effectively weaponized communication networks, turning our own infrastructure into tools of espionage. Stunning, isn’t it?

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But beyond the immediate chaos lies a deeper question: how do we, as a global cybersecurity community, respond to attacks of this magnitude? Traditional defenses, clearly, aren’t cutting it anymore. Organizations, from multinational corporations to universities, must migrate toward a more proactive strategy. That means not just patching vulnerabilities—though, seriously, why aren’t unpatched systems already a thing of the past?—but actually anticipating an attacker’s next move. It’s about becoming offensive in defense.

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This brings us to the evolution of cybersecurity measures. Governments and private sectors alike need to invest in aggressive threat hunting capabilities, tools that prioritize anticipating breaches before they happen. And it’s not just about advanced tools; we need cooperation. Cybersecurity isn’t—and can’t be—a siloed effort. Threat intelligence needs to be globally shared, real-time collaboration must become the norm, and standards must be enforced across borders to create a unified front. Otherwise, these persistent attacks will just keep coming, relentless as ever.

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As we wrap up, one thing is crystal clear. The story of Salt Typhoon isn’t just about one hacker group—it’s a cautionary tale for all of us. It's a resounding reminder that the threats we face are constantly evolving. And to match that, our defenses need to evolve too, rapidly and cohesively. Otherwise, we’ll find ourselves perpetually reacting instead of building a digital world that's resilient by design.

Trixie Steel

And that's all for today’s episode on Salt Typhoon and the broader cybersecurity challenges we face as a global community. Thank you for tuning in, and remember—stay informed, stay secure. Until next time, take care.