vicesociety attacks Establishment of the Agency for the Environmental Protection of the Marche Region
Incident Date:
March 24, 2022
Overview
Title
vicesociety attacks Establishment of the Agency for the Environmental Protection of the Marche Region
Victim
Establishment of the Agency for the Environmental Protection of the Marche Region
Attacker
Vicesociety
Location
First Reported
March 24, 2022
Ransomware Attack on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently become a target of the ransomware group Vicesociety, as indicated on their dark web leak site. The EPA plays a pivotal role in safeguarding human health and the environment, focusing on critical issues such as climate change, environmental justice, and public health. Despite the lack of official confirmation from the agency, the leak site's claims suggest a breach has occurred.
The significance of the EPA cannot be overstated, given its extensive impact on public health and the environment. Its mission encompasses the protection of communities from PFAS in drinking water, the promotion of clean energy and climate solutions, and the enforcement of greenhouse gas standards for heavy-duty vehicles. The agency's crucial work in ensuring the health and safety of millions of Americans renders it an attractive target for cybercriminals.
Understanding the Vulnerabilities
The specific vulnerabilities exploited in the ransomware attack on the EPA remain undisclosed. Nonetheless, ransomware attacks typically leverage software vulnerabilities, brute-force credential attacks, or social engineering tactics. To counteract the threat of ransomware, organizations are advised to adopt endpoint detection and response (EDR) platforms, security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR) tools, and engage in active security monitoring (ASM). Moreover, reinforcing security practices through phishing training and promoting password hygiene are essential steps in mitigating the risks associated with social engineering and brute-force attacks.
Responding to Ransomware Attacks
In the event of a ransomware attack, it is imperative for organizations to execute a well-structured response plan. This plan should include the isolation of affected systems, prioritization of restoration and recovery efforts, and identification of the systems and accounts compromised during the initial breach. Consulting with federal law enforcement and security researchers for decryption tools or additional support is also vital in addressing the attack effectively.
The specifics of the EPA's response to the ransomware attack remain undisclosed, leaving questions about whether a ransom was paid or if significant data loss occurred. This incident highlights the persistent threat posed by ransomware groups and underscores the necessity of implementing comprehensive cybersecurity measures to safeguard critical infrastructure and public services.
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.