Threat Overview – CL0P Ransomware
First emerging in 2019, CL0P Ransomware, often simply referred to as “clop,” has since steadily established its infamy across the globe. Allegedly originating in Russia, CL0P poses a substantial threat to organizations by encrypting victims’ files, crippling security measures, and demanding a ransom for decryption. CL0P’s “double extortion” strategy heightens the pressure on victims by threatening to publicly disclose stolen sensitive data unless payment is made.
Even following a series of arrests in 2021, the activities of the group behind CL0P have persistently continued. The group’s determination, evolving tactics, and recent exploitation of the MOVEit Transfer SQL injection Vulnerability (CVE-2023-34362) underscore the critical importance of understanding the threat posed by CL0P Ransomware. Equipping organizations with accurate, high-fidelity detection tools to identify early signs of compromise is vital in the fight against this relentless ransomware.
Campaign Overview
The CL0P Ransomware, widely linked with groups such as FIN11, targets Windows systems and is scripted in C++. This sophisticated ransomware employs a complex encryption scheme that uses an RSA 1024-bit public key with RC4. With 117 bytes of the public key being used, CL0P’s encryption process is notably intricate. Upon successful infiltration and file encryption, CL0P adheres to a “double extortion” model, holding the victim’s sensitive data hostage while threatening to leak it unless a ransom is paid.
While phishing emails have been the primary vector for CL0P Ransomware, the group is also known to exploit emerging and common vulnerabilities for gaining initial access, such as the recent MOVEit Transfer SQL injection Vulnerability (CVE-2023-34362). Upon breaching a network, the group employs Cobalt Strike for lateral movement and further compromising of hosts. Post-execution, CL0P performs classic ransomware functions – from deleting Volume Shadow Copies, backups, to encrypting the victim’s files and leaving a ransom note. Encrypted file extensions are typically modified to variations of “CL0P”, like “.clop”, “.cl0p”, or “.cllp”.
Technical Details
Despite international law enforcement’s attempts to dismantle the CL0P Ransomware operations over the years, the group’s resilience has proven significant. The persistence of the group, together with its evolving tactics and rapid adoption of new vulnerabilities, highlights its potential for wreaking havoc on a massive scale.
CL0P’s ability to adapt and maximize the impact of their attacks illustrates the importance of maintaining robust cybersecurity defenses. Ensuring that organizations have accurate, high-fidelity detection measures in place to adapt to the emerging cyber threat landscape is more crucial than ever in this battle against the formidable CL0P Ransomware.
Taking Action
With ransomware threats like CL0P persisting, it’s crucial to have a robust defense. The HUNTER Platform offers free hunt community packages that organizations can use to hunt for and respond to CL0P activity. Harness the power of our community’s collective intelligence to stay one step ahead of threats like CL0P. If you haven’t already, sign up for a FREE Community Access account on the HUNTER Platform here. Equip your organization with the tools it needs to navigate today’s evolving cyber threat landscape and effectively combat threats like CL0P Ransomware.
