'Spearwing' RaaS Group Ruffles Feathers in Cyber-Threat Scene
Summary:
The Medusa ransomware has become a primary weapon for the threat group Spearwing, which has claimed nearly 400 victims since 2023, as evidenced by its leak site. According to Symantec researchers, Spearwing has rapidly expanded its operations, likely filling the void left by the decline of major ransomware groups such as Noberus and LockBit. The group employs a double extortion model, exfiltrating sensitive data before encrypting victim networks to exert maximum pressure for ransom payments. Ransom demands range from $100,000 to $15 million, with victims given 10 days to comply before daily penalties of $10,000 are added. If the ransom remains unpaid, the stolen data is publicly released.
Initial access is typically achieved by exploiting unpatched vulnerabilities in public-facing applications, with Microsoft Exchange Servers being a frequent target. Once inside a network, Spearwing relies on remote management and monitoring tools such as AnyDesk, KillAVDriver, KillAV, Mesh Agent, Navicat, NetScan, PDQ Deploy, PDQ Inventory, SimpleHelp, Rclone, and Robocopy to establish persistence and move laterally across systems. The ransomware appends a .medusa extension to encrypted files and drops a ransom note named "!READ_ME_MEDUSA!!!.txt" on compromised machines.
Security Officer Comments:
While Spearwing exhibits some characteristics of a Ransomware-as-a-Service model, researchers question whether it operates as a typical RaaS gang. The group's highly consistent tactics, techniques, and procedures suggest it may either be conducting attacks in-house, working with a small, trusted set of affiliates, or providing a structured attack playbook along with its ransomware. Unlike traditional RaaS operations, where affiliates may use diverse methods, Spearwing enforces strict uniformity in its attack chains, making its exact structure uncertain.
Suggested Corrections:
IOCs:
https://www.security.com/threat-intelligence/medusa-ransomware-attacks
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.
Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA): External-facing assets that leverage single-factor authentication (SFA) are highly susceptible to brute-forcing attacks, password spraying, or unauthorized remote access using valid (stolen) credentials. Implementing MFA enhances security and adds an extra layer of protection.
Link(s):
https://www.darkreading.com/cyberattacks-data-breaches/spearwing-raas-cyber-threat-scene
The Medusa ransomware has become a primary weapon for the threat group Spearwing, which has claimed nearly 400 victims since 2023, as evidenced by its leak site. According to Symantec researchers, Spearwing has rapidly expanded its operations, likely filling the void left by the decline of major ransomware groups such as Noberus and LockBit. The group employs a double extortion model, exfiltrating sensitive data before encrypting victim networks to exert maximum pressure for ransom payments. Ransom demands range from $100,000 to $15 million, with victims given 10 days to comply before daily penalties of $10,000 are added. If the ransom remains unpaid, the stolen data is publicly released.
Initial access is typically achieved by exploiting unpatched vulnerabilities in public-facing applications, with Microsoft Exchange Servers being a frequent target. Once inside a network, Spearwing relies on remote management and monitoring tools such as AnyDesk, KillAVDriver, KillAV, Mesh Agent, Navicat, NetScan, PDQ Deploy, PDQ Inventory, SimpleHelp, Rclone, and Robocopy to establish persistence and move laterally across systems. The ransomware appends a .medusa extension to encrypted files and drops a ransom note named "!READ_ME_MEDUSA!!!.txt" on compromised machines.
Security Officer Comments:
While Spearwing exhibits some characteristics of a Ransomware-as-a-Service model, researchers question whether it operates as a typical RaaS gang. The group's highly consistent tactics, techniques, and procedures suggest it may either be conducting attacks in-house, working with a small, trusted set of affiliates, or providing a structured attack playbook along with its ransomware. Unlike traditional RaaS operations, where affiliates may use diverse methods, Spearwing enforces strict uniformity in its attack chains, making its exact structure uncertain.
Suggested Corrections:
IOCs:
https://www.security.com/threat-intelligence/medusa-ransomware-attacks
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.
Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA): External-facing assets that leverage single-factor authentication (SFA) are highly susceptible to brute-forcing attacks, password spraying, or unauthorized remote access using valid (stolen) credentials. Implementing MFA enhances security and adds an extra layer of protection.
Link(s):
https://www.darkreading.com/cyberattacks-data-breaches/spearwing-raas-cyber-threat-scene