China-Nexus Threat Actor Actively Exploiting Ivanti Endpoint Manager Mobile (CVE-2025-4428) Vulnerability

Description

A critical vulnerability in Ivanti Endpoint Manager Mobile (EPMM) is being actively exploited by a China-nexus threat actor, UNC5221. The exploitation targets internet-facing EPMM deployments across various sectors including healthcare, telecommunications, and government. The attackers utilize unauthenticated remote code execution to gain initial access, followed by the deployment of KrustyLoader malware for persistence. They leverage hardcoded MySQL credentials to exfiltrate sensitive data from the EPMM database. The threat actor also uses the Fast Reverse Proxy (FRP) tool for network reconnaissance and lateral movement. The compromised systems span multiple countries in Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific, indicating a global espionage campaign likely aligned with Chinese state interests.