FBI warns of 'dangerous' hacking campaign linked to North Korean attack group
cybersecurity advisory
following a surge in confirmed victims of
Play ransomware
attacks in May. The FBI reports that these threat actors have impacted over 900 organisations across North and South America, as well as Europe, including businesses and critical infrastructure providers.
The updated advisory, released as part of the ongoing Stop Ransomware campaign, includes findings from new investigations this year that reveal an evolution in the cybercriminal group's tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs). The advisory aims to inform organisations on how to defend against these attacks.
Who are the hackers, why this is dangerous and more details
According to FBI (via Forbes) advisory, Play a closed ransomware group, operating independently to "guarantee the secrecy of deals" regarding exfiltrated data. Play ransomware is believed to be linked to Andariel, a North Korean state-sponsored attack group associated with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's "Reconnaissance General Bureau." Researchers suggest Play is an "integral part" of Andariel's cyberattack arsenal, distributed by threat groups such as Balloonfly.
The hackers leave ransom notes with victims that do not include an initial demand or payment instructions. Instead, victims are directed to contact the attackers via email, often using unique German email domains. The FBI noted that some victims are contacted by telephone and threatened with data release to compel ransom payment.
Balloonfly has been implicated in multiple incidents involving Play ransomware deployment, primarily against businesses in the US and Europe, often using a malware backdoor to infect Windows systems.
Microsoft Threat Intelligence Center and Microsoft Security Response Center previously observed Play ransomware being deployed after attackers exploited a zero-day vulnerability in the Windows Common Log File System. This flaw was mitigated in April.
The FBI emphasizes that the Play ransomware campaign shows no signs of abating and urges organisations to enhance their defenses immediately.
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