Sanctionseverity: High2024-03-25
UK sanctions APT31 front company and operators over Electoral Commission breach and parliamentary targeting
published by UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Actor
PRC state-sponsored intrusion set publicly attributed to the Ministry of State Security's Hubei State Security Department, operating through the front company Wuhan Xiaoruizhi Science and Technology…
Summary
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office sanctioned Wuhan Xiaoruizhi Science and Technology Company Limited along with Zhao Guangzong and Ni Gaobin, attributing two campaigns to APT31: a 2021-2022 compromise of the UK Electoral Commission that the NCSC assessed as highly likely conducted by a China state-affiliated actor, and a 2021 reconnaissance campaign against UK parliamentarians — many members of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China. The Chinese Ambassador was summoned and 16 partner governments expressed support.
Tags
sanctionukelectoral-commissionipac
Primary source
gov.ukOther APT31 events
- 2025-05-28Czech Republic publicly attributes multi-year MFA intrusion to APT31
- 2024-03-25Treasury sanctions Wuhan XRZ front company and two APT31 hackers for targeting US critical infrastructure
- 2024-03-25DOJ unseals indictment charging seven APT31 hackers tied to MSS Hubei State Security Department
- 2020-09-10Microsoft discloses Zirconium (APT31) targeting of 2020 US presidential campaign and international affairs community