Security News
The RansomHouse ransomware operation has created a new tool named 'MrAgent' that automates the deployment of its data encrypter across multiple VMware ESXi hypervisors. ESXi servers often run critical applications and services for businesses, including databases and email servers, so the operational disruption from the ransomware attack is maximized.
A sample of the Qilin ransomware gang's VMware ESXi encryptor has been found and it could be one of the most advanced and customizable Linux encryptors seen to date. Last month, security researcher MalwareHunterTeam found a Linux ELF64 encryptor for the Qilin ransomware gang and shared it with BleepingComputer to analyze.
Something likely to be absent from Microsoft's Ignite event is talk of a fix rolled out to deal with malfunctioning Windows Server 2022 Virtual Machines following a problematic update from the company. The culprit was the KB5031364 October update, which contained a variety of fixes and updates for Windows Server 2022, from changing the spelling of Ukraine's capital from Kiev to Kyiv to addressing issues with the Server Message Block service.
An affiliate of the BlackCat ransomware group, also known as APLHV, is behind the attack that disrupted MGM Resorts' operations, forcing the company to shut down IT systems. In a statement today, the BlackCat ransomware group claims that they had infiltrated MGM's infrastructure since Friday and encrypted more than 100 ESXi hypervisors after the company took down the internal infrastructure.
An affiliate of the BlackCat ransomware group, also known as APLHV, is behind the attack that disrupted MGM Resorts' operations, forcing the company to shut down IT systems. In a statement today, the BlackCat ransomware group claims that they had infiltrated MGM's infrastructure since Friday and encrypted more than 100 ESXi hypervisors after the company took down the internal infrastructure.
The Monti ransomware gang has returned, after a two-month break from publishing victims on their data leak site, using a new Linux locker to target VMware ESXi servers, legal, and government organizations. Researchers at Trend Micro analyzing the new encryption tool from Monti found that it has "Significant deviations from its other Linux-based predecessors."
Ransomware gangs continue to prioritize targeting VMware ESXi servers, with almost every active ransomware gang creating custom Linux encryptors for this purpose. Hospitals run by Prospect Medical Holdings were also impacted this week by a ransomware attack on the parent company.
The Abyss Locker operation is the latest to develop a Linux encryptor to target VMware's ESXi virtual machines platform in attacks on the enterprise. With VMware ESXi being one of the most popular virtual machine platforms, almost every ransomware gang has begun to release Linux encryptors to encrypt all virtual servers on a device.
The Akira ransomware operation uses a Linux encryptor to encrypt VMware ESXi virtual machines in double-extortion attacks against companies worldwide. BleepingComputer's analysis of the Linux encryptor shows it has a project name of 'Esxi Build Esxi6,' indicating the threat actors designed it specifically to target VMware ESXi servers.
VMware patched today a VMware ESXi zero-day vulnerability exploited by a Chinese-sponsored hacking group to backdoor Windows and Linux virtual machines and steal data.The cyber espionage group-tracked as UNC3886 by cybersecurity firm Mandiant who discovered the attacks-abused the CVE-2023-20867 VMware Tools authentication bypass flaw to deploy VirtualPita and VirtualPie backdoors on guest VMs from compromised ESXi hosts where they escalated privileges to root.