CK Associates Hit by BianLian Ransomware Stealing 1TB of Data
Incident Date:
September 6, 2024
Overview
Title
CK Associates Hit by BianLian Ransomware Stealing 1TB of Data
Victim
CK Associates
Attacker
Bianlian
Location
First Reported
September 6, 2024
Ransomware Attack on CK Associates by BianLian Group
CK Associates, an employee-owned environmental consulting firm based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has fallen victim to a ransomware attack orchestrated by the notorious BianLian group. The firm, which has been operational since 1981, specializes in environmental permitting and compliance services across various industries, including oil and gas exploration, power generation, and chemical manufacturing.
Company Profile
CK Associates is recognized for its expertise in navigating complex environmental regulations efficiently and cost-effectively. The firm offers a wide range of services, including environmental permitting, compliance services, and specialty services such as spill response and disaster management. With a strong emphasis on employee ownership and a positive workplace culture, CK Associates has built a solid reputation in the environmental consulting sector.
The company operates offices in Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, Shreveport, and Houston, employing 96 U.S.-based staff members. CK Associates is known for its commitment to client satisfaction, technical excellence, and employee development, which has earned it the Great Place To Work Certification.
Attack Overview
The BianLian ransomware group has claimed responsibility for the attack on CK Associates, revealing the breach on their dark web leak site. The attackers reportedly compromised 1 TB of data, including client information, financial records, and internal communications. Screenshots provided by the attackers display folder structures related to the compromised data, further confirming the breach. Although download links are present on the leak page, all sensitive information has been redacted.
About BianLian Ransomware Group
BianLian is a rapidly evolving ransomware group that emerged in 2022. Initially appearing as an Android banking trojan in 2019, the group has transformed into a sophisticated ransomware operation known for its adaptability and diverse attack strategies. The name "BianLian" refers to the traditional Chinese art of "face-changing," symbolizing the group's ability to shift tactics fluidly.
BianLian employs a multi-stage attack methodology, often beginning with initial access through compromised Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) credentials, phishing, or exploiting vulnerabilities like ProxyShell. Once inside a network, they use custom backdoors, primarily written in Go, to maintain persistence and control over the compromised systems. The group has shifted from a double-extortion model to a pure data exfiltration model, focusing on stealing data and threatening to release it to compel victims to pay.
Potential Vulnerabilities
CK Associates, like many firms in the business services sector, may have been targeted due to the sensitive nature of the data they handle and the critical services they provide. The firm's reliance on digital systems for managing environmental compliance and permitting processes could have made it an attractive target for ransomware groups like BianLian. The use of remote management tools and potential vulnerabilities in RDP or email systems could have facilitated the initial breach.
Recent Ransomware Attacks
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