Maintel Holdings Plc Targeted in Ransomware Attack by Cicada3301

Incident Date:

June 20, 2024

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Overview

Title

Maintel Holdings Plc Targeted in Ransomware Attack by Cicada3301

Victim

Maintel Holdings Plc

Attacker

Cicada 3301

Location

London, United Kingdom

, United Kingdom

First Reported

June 20, 2024

Ransomware Attack on Maintel Holdings Plc by Cicada3301

Company Profile: Maintel Holdings Plc

Maintel Holdings Plc, a prominent UK-based provider of managed communications services, specializes in unified communications, contact center solutions, managed services, network services, and cloud services. With a workforce of 482 employees and a market capitalization of £35.90 million, Maintel stands out in the telecommunications sector for its innovative approach to technology as an enabler. The company's offerings, such as Cisco SD-Routing and Unified Communications Analytics, position it uniquely within the industry, focusing on enhancing organizational performance through advanced technology solutions.

Details of the Ransomware Attack

On June 19, 2024, Maintel Holdings Plc fell victim to a ransomware attack orchestrated by the group known as Cicada3301. The attackers managed to exfiltrate 19.2 MB of data, marking a significant security breach for the London-based firm. This incident underscores the vulnerabilities even well-established entities in the technology sector can face.

Profile of Cicada3301 Ransomware Group

Cicada3301 is a relatively new player in the cyber threat landscape, having targeted various organizations across different sectors. The group is known for its ability to infiltrate complex network environments, suggesting sophisticated capabilities in bypassing traditional cybersecurity defenses. Their recent activities, including the attack on Maintel, highlight a concerning trend in targeted ransomware exploits.

Cicada 3301

To clarify, the name “Cicada 3301” was originally associated with an online puzzle that gained notoriety between 2012-2014. However, the name has since been appropriated by a separate and unrelated ransomware group, which has been the focus of recent reports, including ours.

Halcyon fully respects the legacy of the original “Cicada 3301” organization and recognizes their distinction from the activities of the ransomware group using the same name. Our reporting on the ransomware group is consistent with fair use, aiming to inform the public about cybersecurity threats.  For those interested in the original “Cicada 3301” and their official stance on this matter, we encourage you to visit their statement here.

We appreciate your understanding as we strive to maintain clarity and accuracy in our reporting.

Potential Vulnerabilities and Entry Points

While specific details of the breach's methodology are not disclosed, Maintel’s extensive integration of cloud and network services could have provided multiple attack vectors for Cicada3301. The company’s significant reliance on digital communication tools potentially increases its exposure to such threats, emphasizing the need for robust security measures in the face of evolving cyber threats.

Sources

Recent Ransomware Attacks

The Recent Ransomware Attacks (RRA) site acts as a watchtower, providing you with near real-time ransomware tracking of attacks, groups and their victims. Given threat actors’ overarching, lucrative success so far, ransomware attacks have become the most ubiquitous, and financially and informationally impactful cyber threat to businesses and organizations today.

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.