LockBit Admins Tease a New Ransomware Version
Summary:
The LockBit ransomware group is signaling a potential comeback after a challenging period marked by a significant takedown in February 2024. On December 19, LockBitSupp, believed to be an administrator for the group, announced the forthcoming release of "LockBit 4.0," scheduled for February 3, 2025. This announcement was made on their website and included a promotional pitch targeting potential affiliates, enticing them with promises of luxury and quick financial success. The announcement also provided a new website, lockbit4[dot]com, and five TOR links, indicating a deliberate effort to strengthen their operational infrastructure. Cybersecurity analysts, such as those from the Cyber Threat Intelligence Academy, have observed that the additional onion links may signify LockBit’s efforts to bolster its resiliency and reach.
In support of this launch, Vx-Underground, a collective of security researchers, reported that LockBitSupp has provided them free access to their program, uploading code samples and facilitating reverse engineering. Meanwhile, Zscaler ThreatLabz has already incorporated the LockBit 4.0 ransom note into its ransomware notes repository, ensuring that security teams are prepared to recognize and respond to the new strain. This resurgence comes nearly ten months after Operation Cronos, a global law enforcement initiative, disrupted the group’s infrastructure and recovered 7,000 decryption keys. Reports suggest that LockBit had already begun working on the 4.0 version before this disruption.
Security Officer Comments:
LockBit has a history of innovation and adaptation since its emergence in 2019. The group has released several versions of its ransomware, including LockBit 1.0 (also known as "ABCD" ransomware) in 2020, LockBit 2.0 in 2021, and the Linux-targeting variant in late 2021. LockBit 3.0, also referred to as LockBit Black, was released in 2022 but later leaked by a disgruntled developer, causing temporary disruptions to the RaaS model. In 2023, LockBit Green was introduced, though many security experts dismissed it as a rebranded version of the Conti encryptor. Despite these challenges, LockBit maintained its status as a significant threat, ranking as the most active ransomware group in May 2024. However, its prominence waned in October and November 2024, possibly due to other groups leveraging its leaked builder.
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 on how to avoid and spot phishing emails. Multi-factor authentication can help prevent malicious access to sensitive services.
Link(s):
https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/lockbit-admins-tease-a-new/
The LockBit ransomware group is signaling a potential comeback after a challenging period marked by a significant takedown in February 2024. On December 19, LockBitSupp, believed to be an administrator for the group, announced the forthcoming release of "LockBit 4.0," scheduled for February 3, 2025. This announcement was made on their website and included a promotional pitch targeting potential affiliates, enticing them with promises of luxury and quick financial success. The announcement also provided a new website, lockbit4[dot]com, and five TOR links, indicating a deliberate effort to strengthen their operational infrastructure. Cybersecurity analysts, such as those from the Cyber Threat Intelligence Academy, have observed that the additional onion links may signify LockBit’s efforts to bolster its resiliency and reach.
In support of this launch, Vx-Underground, a collective of security researchers, reported that LockBitSupp has provided them free access to their program, uploading code samples and facilitating reverse engineering. Meanwhile, Zscaler ThreatLabz has already incorporated the LockBit 4.0 ransom note into its ransomware notes repository, ensuring that security teams are prepared to recognize and respond to the new strain. This resurgence comes nearly ten months after Operation Cronos, a global law enforcement initiative, disrupted the group’s infrastructure and recovered 7,000 decryption keys. Reports suggest that LockBit had already begun working on the 4.0 version before this disruption.
Security Officer Comments:
LockBit has a history of innovation and adaptation since its emergence in 2019. The group has released several versions of its ransomware, including LockBit 1.0 (also known as "ABCD" ransomware) in 2020, LockBit 2.0 in 2021, and the Linux-targeting variant in late 2021. LockBit 3.0, also referred to as LockBit Black, was released in 2022 but later leaked by a disgruntled developer, causing temporary disruptions to the RaaS model. In 2023, LockBit Green was introduced, though many security experts dismissed it as a rebranded version of the Conti encryptor. Despite these challenges, LockBit maintained its status as a significant threat, ranking as the most active ransomware group in May 2024. However, its prominence waned in October and November 2024, possibly due to other groups leveraging its leaked builder.
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 on how to avoid and spot phishing emails. Multi-factor authentication can help prevent malicious access to sensitive services.
Link(s):
https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/lockbit-admins-tease-a-new/