RansomHouse Targets Université Paris-Saclay in Data Breach
Incident Date:
October 9, 2024
Overview
Title
RansomHouse Targets Université Paris-Saclay in Data Breach
Victim
Universite Paris Sud
Attacker
Ransomhouse
Location
First Reported
October 9, 2024
RansomHouse Ransomware Attack on Université Paris-Saclay
Université Paris-Saclay, a prominent French institution known for its research excellence and academic programs, has become the latest victim of a ransomware attack by the RansomHouse group. The attack, which occurred on August 11, 2023, resulted in the exfiltration of 1 TB of data, as confirmed by the university on their social media platform.
About Université Paris-Saclay
Université Paris-Saclay, established in 2019, is a multidisciplinary research-intensive university located in Orsay, France. It emerged from the merger of several prestigious institutions, including the former Université Paris-Sud. The university accommodates over 48,000 students and is recognized for its significant contributions to research and innovation, hosting 220 laboratories that account for approximately 13% of France's research capacity. Its strategic investments and collaborations with national and international institutions underscore its commitment to academic excellence.
Attack Overview
The ransomware attack on Université Paris-Saclay was orchestrated by RansomHouse, a data extortion group known for its unique approach of stealing data without encrypting files. The group claims to have accessed the university's systems and exfiltrated a substantial amount of data. The attack was publicly acknowledged by the university on August 12, 2023, highlighting the severity of the breach and its potential implications on the institution's operations and reputation.
RansomHouse: A Distinctive Threat Actor
RansomHouse distinguishes itself from traditional ransomware groups by focusing on data theft and extortion rather than file encryption. The group markets itself as a "professional mediators community," yet its actions align with extortion schemes. RansomHouse has been linked to collaborations with other ransomware groups, exploiting vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to networks. Their tactics include maintaining a data leak site to pressure victims into paying ransoms.
Potential Vulnerabilities
As a large and research-intensive institution, Université Paris-Saclay's extensive digital infrastructure may present vulnerabilities that threat actors like RansomHouse can exploit. The university's significant data repositories and collaborative networks could be attractive targets for cybercriminals seeking valuable information. The attack underscores the importance of effective cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive data and maintain the integrity of academic and research activities.
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.