Cactus attacks Bell
Incident Date:
December 29, 2023
Overview
Title
Cactus attacks Bell
Victim
Bell
Attacker
Cactus
Location
First Reported
December 29, 2023
Cactus Ransomware Group Targets Bell
Cactus ransomware group claimed an attack against Bell. The group claimed 9GB of corporate data, including ID cards, passports, financial data, and other confidential documents. Bell is currently one of the largest property services contractors in the UK, both in terms of geographical coverage and employed workforce.
Cactus's Modus Operandi
Cactus has been in operation since at least March 2023. Cactus has been observed employing known vulnerabilities within VPN appliances to initiate an initial breach. Once gaining entry to the network, Cactus operators engage in activities such as enumerating local and network user accounts and identifying accessible endpoints. They then proceed to generate new user accounts and utilize custom scripts for the automated rollout and activation of the ransomware encryptor through scheduled tasks.
It is noteworthy that the ransomware encryptor utilized by Cactus exhibits a unique characteristic – it necessitates a decryption key for the execution of the binary, likely implemented to evade detection by anti-virus software. This decryption key is concealed within a file containing random text named ntuser.dat, which is loaded through a scheduled task.
Recent Ransomware Attacks
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The site’s data is generated based on hosting choices of real-world threat actors, and a handful of other trackers. While sanitization efforts have been taken, we cannot guarantee 100% accuracy of the data. Attack updates will be made as source data is reported by reputable sources. By viewing, accessing, or using RRA you acknowledge you are doing so at your own risk.