Investigating the MOVEit Attack: Unveiling Cl0p Gang’s Tactics

The Cl0p ransomware gang claims responsibility for successful and simple MOVEit cyberattack

The Cl0p ransomware gang has claimed responsibility for the recent attack on Progress Software’s MOVEit file transfer program, which targeted hundreds of million- and billion-dollar organizations across the Western world. Although the MOVEit hackers were initially believed to be a new group, Microsoft attributed the attack to a known actor called “Lace Tempest,” who runs the Cl0p extortion website. Cl0p confirmed this, announcing in an email sent to affected organizations that they had exploited the CVE-2023-34362 vulnerability in MOVEit successfully.

The simplicity of the attack

While the Cl0p connection was dramatic, the success of the attack surprised experts who believed the hack to be straightforward by leveraging simple SQL injection techniques. John Hammond, a senior security researcher for Huntress, demonstrated in a virtual machine how easy it was to upload malicious code after exploiting the vulnerability in MOVEit. Despite initial reports suggesting the SQL injection method used in the attack to be novel, Vlad Mironescu, a threat intelligence analyst for Searchlight Cyber, explained that Cl0p has long exploited file transfer solutions.

Implications for cybersecurity

Despite being successful, the attack is a reminder of how relatively simple vulnerability exploitation techniques can still be used to access and steal sensitive data. It’s important to always keep systems up-to-date and install security patches promptly to prevent vulnerabilities from being exploited by malicious actors. Cl0p’s success also highlights the importance of organizations to establish comprehensive backup solutions and to ensure the safe storage of data.

Advice for organizations

While Cl0p remains relatively unknown, their recent success illustrates the growing threat posed by ransomware gangs. Organizations should improve their security posture by implementing effective backup solutions, regular system updates, and training employees to recognize phishing attacks and social engineering tactics. Strengthening cybersecurity measures and auditing existing ones can help organizations mitigate the harm caused by successful attacks. Recent ransomware attacks on critical infrastructure have underscored the urgency of shoring up defenses. Finally, developing a solid incident response plan is essential to ensuring that ransom payments are avoided or minimized, and that business continuity plans are implemented if the worst happens.