RansomHub Ransomware Attack Disrupts PlumbersStock Operations

Incident Date:

September 18, 2024

World map

Overview

Title

RansomHub Ransomware Attack Disrupts PlumbersStock Operations

Victim

PlumbersStock

Attacker

Ransomhub

Location

Cedar City, USA

Utah, USA

First Reported

September 18, 2024

RansomHub Ransomware Attack on PlumbersStock

PlumbersStock, a prominent online retailer specializing in plumbing supplies, HVAC products, and home improvement tools, has fallen victim to a ransomware attack orchestrated by the RansomHub group. The attack has significantly disrupted the company's operations, potentially compromising sensitive customer and business information.

About PlumbersStock

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Cedar City, Utah, PlumbersStock operates as a family-owned business with a rich history in the wholesale plumbing industry. The company aims to provide high-quality products at competitive prices, catering to both professionals and DIY enthusiasts across the United States. PlumbersStock employs between 12 to 200 people and reported an annual revenue of approximately $8 million.

What Makes PlumbersStock Stand Out

PlumbersStock is known for its extensive inventory, including faucets, toilets, water heaters, and various plumbing accessories. The company leverages its wholesale background to offer significant savings compared to traditional retail prices. Additionally, PlumbersStock serves a broader customer base by offering products related to HVAC systems and irrigation, making it a valuable resource for contractors and service professionals.

Vulnerabilities and Attack Overview

The ransomware attack on PlumbersStock highlights the vulnerabilities that online retailers face. The company's extensive digital operations and customer data make it an attractive target for cybercriminals. The RansomHub group successfully infiltrated PlumbersStock's systems, encrypting critical data and demanding a ransom for its release. The specific demands and the extent of the data breach have not been disclosed. PlumbersStock is currently working with cybersecurity experts to assess the damage and restore their systems.

About RansomHub

RansomHub, a Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) group, emerged in February 2024 and quickly gained notoriety for its aggressive affiliate model and double extortion tactics. The group is known for its speed and efficiency, targeting high-value sectors such as healthcare, financial services, and government. RansomHub affiliates primarily use phishing campaigns, vulnerability exploitation, and password spraying to gain initial access to victims' systems.

Penetration Methods

RansomHub distinguishes itself with its modular architecture and advanced data exfiltration techniques. The group uses Curve 25519 elliptic curve encryption to generate unique keys per victim and employs intermittent encryption to minimize encryption time while maintaining impact. Affiliates conduct multi-phase attacks involving network reconnaissance, privilege escalation, and data exfiltration before encrypting files.

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.