[BreachExchange] BlackCat Ransomware Targets Industrial Companies

[Matthew Wheeler]

https://www.securityweek.com/blackcat-ransomware-targets-industrial-companies

BlackCat Ransomware Targets Industrial Companies

By Eduard Kovacs on April 07, 2022

A data theft tool used by the ransomware group tracked as BlackCat, ALPHV
and Noberus, suggests that the cybercriminals are increasingly interested
in targeting industrial organizations.

The BlackCat ransomware group, which operates under a
ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) model, emerged in November 2021 and has
since targeted organizations worldwide, including many in the United States.

Several cybersecurity firms have found links between BlackCat and the
BlackMatter and DarkSide ransomware operations. It appears that the
BlackCat team consists of various RaaS group affiliates, including
BlackMatter, rather than being a rebranding of BlackMatter.

In a blog post published on Thursday, Kaspersky also provided information
on the connection between BlackMatter and BlackCat, focusing on a data
exfiltration tool called Fendr and ExMatter.

Fendr was described by Symantec last year as a custom data exfiltration
tool that enabled BlackMatter operators to easily steal data of value from
compromised systems. The tool, previously seen only in BlackMatter attacks,
is designed to collect specific file types and upload them to the
cybercriminals’ servers before file-encrypting ransomware is deployed. The
stolen data can then be used to pressure the victim into paying up.

In a recent BlackCat attack on an oil, gas, mining and construction firm in
South America, the hackers deployed a version of the Fendr tool. However,
compared to the tool spotted in BlackMatter attacks, this one had targeted
some additional file types, specifically ones that are typically found in
industrial environments.

BlackCat ransomware tool steals industrial files

“These additional file extensions are used in industrial design
applications, like CAD drawings and some databases, as well as RDP
configuration settings, making the tool more customized towards the
industrial environments that we see being targeted by this group,”
Kaspersky explained.


The fact that a ransomware gang is interested in industrial companies is
not surprising, and both governments and cybersecurity firms have been
warning organizations that ransomware poses an increasing threat to
industrial systems.

In a report published in February, industrial cybersecurity firm Claroty
said ransomware often hits industrial control systems (ICS) or other
operational technology (OT) environments, and impact is often significant.
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