Cloak Ransomware Group Targets Autohaus Ruland Viersen, Exposes 148GB of Data
Incident Date:
June 27, 2024
Overview
Title
Cloak Ransomware Group Targets Autohaus Ruland Viersen, Exposes 148GB of Data
Victim
Autohaus Ruland Viersen
Attacker
Cloak
Location
First Reported
June 27, 2024
Ransomware Attack on Autohaus Ruland Viersen by Cloak Group
Overview of Autohaus Ruland Viersen
Autohaus Ruland Viersen is a reputable car dealership located in Viersen, Germany. The dealership specializes in the sale and service of Volvo, Peugeot, and Citroën vehicles. With a history spanning over 50 years, Autohaus Ruland GmbH has built a strong reputation for reliability, personal service, and long-standing customer trust. The company operates with a small team of 2-10 employees and offers a comprehensive range of automotive services, including vehicle sales, financing, insurance, maintenance, tire sales, and auto glass repair.
Details of the Ransomware Attack
On May 21, 2024, the Cloak ransomware group hinted at an attack on an unidentified victim with a partially obscured domain name (Rul**********.de). By June 27, 2024, the group disclosed the full domain name, confirming Autohaus Ruland Viersen as the victim. The group shared sample screenshots and made 148GB of compromised data available for download on their dark web portal. This data breach has significant implications for the dealership, potentially exposing sensitive customer and business information.
About the Cloak Ransomware Group
The Cloak ransomware group emerged as a notable threat actor in late 2022. Despite its recent activities, the origins and organizational structure of the group remain largely unknown. Cloak primarily targets small to medium-sized businesses in Europe, with a particular focus on Germany. The group has been active in various sectors, including the medical industry, real estate, construction, IT, food industry, and manufacturing.
Cloak's modus operandi involves purchasing initial access from Initial Access Brokers (IABs) on underground marketplaces. Once they gain access to a victim's network, they deploy their ransomware to encrypt data. If the victim refuses to pay the ransom, Cloak publishes the data on their Data Leak Site (DLS) for free download. The group has a high payment rate of 91-96%, indicating their effectiveness in coercing victims to pay the ransom.
Vulnerabilities and Penetration Tactics
Autohaus Ruland Viersen, like many small to medium-sized businesses, may have vulnerabilities that make them attractive targets for ransomware groups like Cloak. These vulnerabilities could include outdated software, insufficient cybersecurity measures, and a lack of employee training on phishing and other cyber threats. Cloak likely penetrated the dealership's systems by purchasing initial access from IABs, exploiting these vulnerabilities to deploy their ransomware and encrypt critical data.
Impact on Autohaus Ruland Viersen
The ransomware attack on Autohaus Ruland Viersen has significant repercussions for the dealership. The exposure of 148GB of data could lead to severe financial and reputational damage. Customers' personal and financial information may be at risk, potentially resulting in legal consequences and loss of customer trust. The dealership will need to invest in robust cybersecurity measures to prevent future attacks and mitigate the impact of this breach.
Sources
Recent Ransomware Attacks
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