Summary:
OneBlood, the not-for-profit blood center serving much of the southeastern United States, stated that it is experiencing a ransomware event impacting its software system. While OneBlood remains operational and continues to collect, test, and distribute blood, the non-profit noted that it is operating at a significantly reduced capacity. According to OneBlood’s senior vice president, Susan Forbes, OneBlood has implemented manual processes and procedures to remain operational. “Manual processes take significantly longer to perform and impacts inventory availability. In an effort to further manage the blood supply we have asked the more than 250 hospitals we serve to activate their critical blood shortage protocols and to remain in that status for the time being,” stated Forbes. OneBlood is working closely with cyber security specialists as well as federal, state and local agencies in an ongoing investigation. In the meantime, to help augment the blood supply, the national blood community is rallying to assist OneBlood and the hospitals and patients it serves.

Security Officer Comments:
OneBlood did not disclose the ransomware group behind this incident. Recently, the Health-ISAC sent out an alert warning of an increase in Qilin ransomware attacks targeting the HealthCare sector. Qilin is a ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) operation that has been active since 2022. In June 2024, the Health-ISAC shared insights on Qilin in an alert titled HC3: Threat Profile: Qilin/Agenda Ransomware, noting that it has attributed at least fifteen ransomware attacks targeting the Healthcare and Public Health Sector to Qilin since October 2022. Notably, the ransomware group was recently attributed to a similar attack targeting pathology and diagnostic services provider Synnovis, which impacted blood transfusions in London.

Suggested Corrections
Backup your data, system images, and configurations, regularly test them, and keep the backups offline: Ensure that backups are regularly tested and that they are not connected to the business network, as many ransomware variants try to find and encrypt or delete accessible backups. Maintaining current backups offline is critical because if your network data is encrypted with ransomware, your organization can restore systems.

Update and patch systems promptly: This includes maintaining the security of operating systems, applications, and firmware in a timely manner. Consider using a centralized patch management system; use a risk-based assessment strategy to drive your patch management program.

Test your incident response plan: There's nothing that shows the gaps in plans more than testing them. Run through some core questions and use those to build an incident response plan: Are you able to sustain business operations without access to certain systems? For how long? Would you turn off your manufacturing operations if business systems such as billing were offline?

Check Your Security Team's Work: Use a 3rd party pen tester to test the security of your systems and your ability to defend against a sophisticated attack. Many ransomware criminals are aggressive and sophisticated and will find the equivalent of unlocked doors.

Segment your networks: There's been a recent shift in ransomware attacks – from stealing data to disrupting operations. It's critically important that your corporate business functions and manufacturing/production operations are separated and that you carefully filter and limit internet access to operational networks, identify links between these networks and develop workarounds or manual controls to ensure ICS networks can be isolated and continue operating if your corporate network is compromised. Regularly test contingency plans such as manual controls so that safety critical functions can be maintained during a cyber incident.

Train employees:
Email remains the most vulnerable attack vector for organizations. Users should be trained how to avoid and spot phishing emails. Multi Factor authentication can help prevent malicious access to sensitive services.

Link(s):
https://www.oneblood.org/pages/ransomware-details.html
https://www.aha.org/system/files/me...ile-qilin-aka-agenda-ransomware-6-18-2024.pdf