Play attacks Geneva Software

Incident Date:

July 7, 2023

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Overview

Title

Play attacks Geneva Software

Victim

Geneva Software

Attacker

Play

Location

Herndon, USA

Virginia, USA

First Reported

July 7, 2023

Play Ransomware Gang Attacks Geneva Software

The Play ransomware gang has attacked Geneva Software. Geneva Software is an accounting, distribution, and manufacturing software solutions provider headquartered in Virginia, USA. Play posted Geneva Software to its data leak site on July 7th but provided no further details.

Background on Play Ransomware

Play ransomware (aka PlayCrypt) is a newer ransomware group that emerged in the summer of 2022 with high-profile attacks on the City of Oakland, Argentina's Judiciary, and German hotel chain H-Hotels. Play has similarities to Hive ransomware and is known to leverage tools like Cobalt Strike for post-compromise lateral movement and SystemBC RAT for persistence, as well as Mimikatz and living-off-the-land binaries (LOLBins) techniques.

Technical Details

Play is an evolving RaaS (Ransomware-as-a-Service) platform known to exploit a known Exchange vulnerability (CVE-2022-41080 - patched by Microsoft in November of 2022) that allows them to leverage a second vulnerability with a ProxyNotShell exploit (CVE-2022-41082) even if a patch had been applied, which then allows the attackers to execute code on the systems remotely. Play leverages PowerTool to disable antivirus tools and security monitoring solutions.

Tactics and Demands

Play employs tactics similar to both Hive and Nokoyawa ransomware and also attempts double extortion by first exfiltrating victim data with the threat to post it on their leak website. There is little information on how much Play demands for a ransom, but they have made good on their threats to leak the data of those who refuse payment.

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.