Ransomware

The modern extortion threat — targeted, data-stealing and supply-chain driven.

Short answer: Ransomware is malware that encrypts a victim’s data and demands payment. Modern ransomware also exfiltrates data to force payment (double extortion) and targets backups and cloud estates.

Evidence: CISA · MITRE ATT&CK · Vendor advisories · Human reviewed

Definition

Ransomware is malware that encrypts a victim’s data and demands payment. Modern ransomware also exfiltrates data to force payment (double extortion) and targets backups and cloud estates.

Current Landscape
LockBit leak-site escalation
Recent Changes
2023-06: MOVEit campaign mass exploitation · 2024: Double-extortion becomes dominant model
Evidence
CISA · MITRE ATT&CK · Vendor advisories
Sources
NVD · CISA KEV · MITRE ATT&CK · Vendor Advisories

Major Entities

  • CVE — CVE-2023-23397 (MOVEit-adjacent)
  • CVE CVE-2021-44228 — CVE-2021-44228 (Log4Shell)

Timeline

  1. — MOVEit campaign mass exploitation
  2. — Double-extortion becomes dominant model

Latest Intelligence

  • LockBit leak-site escalation
  • New affiliate model for initial access

Evidence & Sources

CISA · MITRE ATT&CK · Vendor advisories · NVD · CISA KEV · MITRE ATT&CK

Related Intelligence

  • Threat actor: LockBit
  • Threat actor: Clop
  • Threat actor: BlackCat
  • Campaign: MOVEit Transfer zero Day campaign
  • Campaign: Citrix Bleed intrusions
  • Research: Leak-site economics quantified
  • Research: Ransomware recovery playbooks

Next Actions

Part of the OpenTrojan Security Knowledge Hub 2.0: <a href="/security/malware/">Malware</a> · <a href="/security/threat-intelligence/">Threat Intelligence</a> · <a href="/security/vulnerability-management/">Vulnerability Management</a> · <a href="/security/cloud-security/">Cloud Security</a> · <a href="/security/identity-security/">Identity Security</a> · <a href="/security/supply-chain/">Supply Chain</a> · <a href="/security/incident-response/">Incident Response</a> · <a href="/security/zero-day/">Zero Day</a> · <a href="/security/nation-state-threats/">Nation State Threats</a>