Rumpke Waste Management Hit by Hunters International Ransomware
Incident Date:
October 11, 2024
Overview
Title
Rumpke Waste Management Hit by Hunters International Ransomware
Victim
Rumpke Consolidated Companies
Attacker
Hunters International
Location
First Reported
October 11, 2024
Ransomware Attack on Rumpke Consolidated Companies by Hunters International
Rumpke Consolidated Companies, a leading waste management firm in the United States, has reportedly fallen victim to a ransomware attack orchestrated by the notorious cybercriminal group, Hunters International. This attack highlights the vulnerabilities faced by companies in the waste management sector, particularly those with extensive data operations and regional dominance.
About Rumpke Consolidated Companies
Rumpke Consolidated Companies, headquartered in Colerain Township, Ohio, is one of the largest privately owned waste and recycling companies in the U.S. With a workforce of over 2,800 employees, Rumpke operates nine landfills and eleven recycling facilities across Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia, and Illinois. The company processes over 700 million pounds of recyclables annually, emphasizing its commitment to environmental sustainability. Rumpke's extensive fleet of more than 1,600 vehicles and its focus on innovative recycling practices make it a standout in the waste management industry.
Attack Overview
Hunters International claims to have exfiltrated approximately 3.3 terabytes of sensitive data from Rumpke. This data reportedly includes personally identifiable information, financial records, customer and employee data, and confidential documents. The attackers have set a ransom deadline for October 15, demanding compliance to prevent further data exposure or operational disruptions. The attack underscores the potential vulnerabilities in Rumpke's IT infrastructure, which may have been exploited through phishing campaigns or other sophisticated techniques.
About Hunters International
Emerging in October 2023, Hunters International is a Ransomware-as-a-Service group known for its sophisticated attacks and use of double extortion tactics. The group has a significant code overlap with the defunct Hive ransomware but claims independence. Hunters International's malware, developed in Rust, targets both Windows and Linux environments, making it highly adaptable. The group is notorious for its ability to bypass advanced security measures, as demonstrated in previous high-profile attacks.
Potential Vulnerabilities
Rumpke's extensive data operations and regional dominance may have made it an attractive target for Hunters International. The company's reliance on digital systems for managing its fleet and recycling operations could have provided multiple entry points for the attackers. The use of phishing campaigns and social engineering techniques by Hunters International further highlights the need for enhanced cybersecurity measures in the waste management sector.
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.