Ransomware attacks targeting VMware ESXi and other virtual machine platforms are wreaking havoc among the enterprise, causing widespread disruption and loss of services.
Panera's massive IT outage last month that took down internal systems, the website, mobile apps, and phones was caused by a ransomware attack encrypting the company's virtual machines.
While the company has been able to restore servers from backups, it took almost a week for their systems to be restored.
Similarly, Omni Hotels suffered a massive outage, which took down the company's reservation system, phones, and door lock system. The outage was so severe that guests had to contact a hotel employee to be let into their rooms, as key cards did not work.
Omni Hotels confirmed a few days later that they suffered a cyberattack, with BleepingComputer learning that it was once again a ransomware attack encrypting the company's virtual machines. BleepingComputer has been told that Omni is restoring from backups as well.
This week, Chilean hosting provider IxMetro Powerhost also disclosed a ransomware attack where the threat actors encrypted the hosting company's VMware ESXI servers. These servers powered customers' virtual private servers (VPS), also bringing their websites down.
Unfortunately, they were not as lucky as Panera and Omni Hotels, as the threat actors also encrypted the company's backups. The threat actors behind this attack, known as SEXi, demanded two bitcoins per customer to receive a decryptor.
While virtual machine platforms, like VMware ESXi, make it much easier for enterprises to manage resources and servers, they have also become a very tempting target for ransomware gangs.
As a company's servers are now centrally located as virtual machines, threat actors can simply encrypt a single VMware server to perform massive disruption to a company's operations.
Admins must tighten security on their virtual machine platforms by applying the latest security updates to VM software and the host operating systems, using administrative credentials different from those of the Windows domain, and applying tighter access controls.
Today, the Chilean government’s CSIRT issued an advisory warning the enterprise to upgrade VMware software to the latest versions and offered advice on securing servers.
While attackers targeting virtual machines are nothing new, this week's attacks continue to show that they are critical IT systems that needs to be properly secured to prevent disastrous outages.
Contributors and those who provided new ransomware information and stories this week include: @fwosar, @LawrenceAbrams, @billtoulas, @BleepinComputer, @serghei, @Ionut_Ilascu, @Seifreed, @malwrhunterteam, @demonslay335, @1ZRR4H, @BushidoToken, @pcrisk, @JakubKroustek, @AJVicens, @TrendMicro, @AlexMartin, @jgreigj, @TheDFIRReport, @SonicWall, and @CSIRTGOB.
April 1st 2024
Yacht retailer MarineMax discloses data breach after cyberattack
MarineMax, self-described as one of the world's largest recreational boat and yacht retailers, says attackers stole employee and customer data after breaching its systems in a March cyberattack.
From OneNote to RansomNote: An Ice Cold Intrusion
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April 2nd 2024
Omni Hotels experiencing nationwide IT outage since Friday
Omni Hotels & Resorts has been experiencing a chain-wide outage that brought down its IT systems on Friday, impacting reservation, hotel room door lock, and point-of-sale (POS) systems.
New GlobeImposter variant
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April 3rd 2024
Jackson County in state of emergency after ransomware attack
Jackson County, Missouri, is in a state of emergency after a ransomware attack took down some county services on Tuesday.
Hosting firm's VMware ESXi servers hit by new SEXi ransomware
Chilean data center and hosting provider IxMetro Powerhost has suffered a cyberattack at the hands of a new ransomware gang known as SEXi, which encrypted the company's VMware ESXi servers and backups.
Omni Hotels confirms cyberattack behind ongoing IT outage
Omni Hotels & Resorts has confirmed a cyberattack caused a nationwide IT outage that is still affecting its locations.
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Chaos Ransomware Operator Gives Up Decryption Tool for Free
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New STOP ransomware variants
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April 4th 2024
Leicester City Council confirms ransomware attack after confidential documents leaked
Leicester City Council in England has confirmed that last month’s cyber incident was a ransomware attack after being made aware that the criminals behind the incident had uploaded stolen documents to their dark web extortion site.
New 'Unkno' ransomware
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New Chaos ransomware variant
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‘An attack on the reputation of Palau’: officials question who was really behind ransomware incident
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April 5th 2024
Panera Bread week-long IT outage caused by ransomware attack
Panera Bread's recent week-long outage was caused by a ransomware attack, according to people familiar with the matter and emails seen by BleepingComputer.
ALPHV steps up laundering of Change Healthcare ransom payments
Six weeks after executing an attack that crippled parts of the U.S. health care system, the cybercrime gang linked to the incident has picked up the pace of laundering the proceeds of an alleged ransom payment, even as the hackers implicated in the breach continue to maintain a low profile.
New Makop variant
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New ransomware variant
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New STOP ransomware variant
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New Dharma ransomware variant
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