Mandiant Warns of Ongoing Clop-Linked Email Campaign
Cyber Extortion and Clop Group
In a recent announcement, cyber security firm Mandiant has raised alarms about a significant email campaign tied to the notorious cyber extortion group, Clop. On September 2, Charles Carmakal, the Chief Technology Officer at Mandiant – Google Cloud, shed light on the matter, noting the firm’s active monitoring of this unsettling activity.
Details of the Email Campaign
Mandiant reports a surge in email campaigns originating from hundreds of compromised accounts. An initial investigation indicates that at least one of these accounts was previously linked to FIN11, a well-known, financially motivated threat group notorious for its ransomware attacks and extortion tactics.
FIN11 has been operating since 2017 and has undergone various transformations, transitioning from point-of-sale malware deployment to more sophisticated hybrid extortion strategies. Their attack patterns typically include mass phishing campaigns aimed at vulnerabilities based on the target’s security measures, geographic location, and industry sector.
Connection to Clop
The emails in question not only contain contact information but also tie back to Clop’s own data leak site (DLS). “The presence of specific contact addresses associated with Clop strongly indicates that this operation is leveraging the group’s name recognition,” Carmakal stated.
However, Mandiant cautions that while the tactics employed align with FIN11’s typical methods, there’s no confirmed evidence validating the actors’ claims of direct affiliation with Clop. “Attribution in the realm of financially motivated cyber crime can be intricate,” explained Carmakal. “Criminals often imitate established groups like Clop to enhance their leverage over victims.”
Investigative Recommendations for Organizations
Mandiant advises organizations that may be targeted to thoroughly investigate their environments for signs of any potential threat actor activity. This proactive approach is crucial in a landscape where cyber threats are increasingly sophisticated and pervasive.
Cyber Daily has highlighted an email claiming to originate from Clop, warning executives that their Oracle E-Business Suite has been compromised—a likely reference to the same campaign Mandiant is monitoring. The email allegedly states, “We are the CL0P team. If you haven’t heard about us, you can google our name.”
Extortion Tactics and Targeting Executives
The correspondence claims that sensitive documents have been stolen, emphasizing that “All the private files and other information are now held on our systems.” The threat includes a demand for payment to prevent the publication of these documents, further underlining the high-stakes nature of the extortion.
Dr. Chris Pierson, a former cyber security official with the Department of Homeland Security and now CEO of the executive protection firm BlackCloak, noted a concerning trend: “Executives are becoming prime targets for cyber criminals.” He reflects on the strategic reasoning behind this, explaining that the urgency and potential for fear surrounding C-suite positions make them appealing targets.
Building Resilience Against Cyber Threats
Pierson emphasizes the need for organizations to address two key challenges: enhancing protections around sensitive corporate data and ensuring that executives have well-defined procedures to follow when faced with extortion attempts. He asserts that businesses that prioritize digital executive protection as integral to their cyber security strategy are likely to fare better in the face of such threats.
Conclusion
With cyber extortion becoming increasingly targeted and personalized, it’s essential for organizations to remain vigilant. The current landscape necessitates proactive defense measures and an awareness of evolving cyber threats, underscoring the crucial role that informed leadership plays in combating these risks.
