Qilin Ransomware Group's Attack on Mordfin

Qilin ransomware group claimed an attack against Mordfin. Mordfin Group didn’t comment on the attack, but Qilin posted evidence of the operation on its personal website. Mordfin is an accounting and advisory group. Qilin (aka Agenda) is a RaaS operation that first emerged in July of 2022 that is written in the Go and Rust programming languages and is capable of targeting Windows and Linux systems.

Rust Programming Language and Security Implications

Rust is a secure, cross-platform programming language that offers exceptional performance for concurrent processing, making it easier to evade security controls and develop variants to target multiple OSs. Qilin operators are known to exploit vulnerable applications including Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP).‍ Each Qilin ransomware attack employs tactics such as altering the filename extensions of encrypted files and terminating specific processes and services. The utilization of Rust as the ransomware's foundation proves particularly effective due to its evasive nature and inherent complexity, allowing for seamless customization across various operating systems such as Windows, Linux, and others.

Qilin's Ransomware Strategy

Notably, the Qilin ransomware group can generate samples for both Windows and ESXi versions. Qilin promotes its ransomware on the dark web, utilizing a proprietary DLS (Dedicated Leak Site) that contains distinctive company identifiers and leaked account information, as uncovered by experts from Group-IB Threat Intelligence. The operators behind Qilin employ a double extortion technique, whereby they not only encrypt a victim's sensitive data but also exfiltrate it. Subsequently, they demand payment for a decryptor and insist on the non-disclosure of stolen data even after the ransom has been paid. Qilin ransomware features multiple encryption modes, all under the control of the operator.