Cuba Ransomware

With the ever-changing landscape of online criminal activity, Data exfiltration has been creating havoc for security teams for a long time. The loss of sensitive data has caused a lot of harm to many organisations. Cuba ransomware has emerged as a formidable player, unleashing a series of high-profile attacks in late 2021. With its expansive infrastructure, sophisticated tools, and malicious intent, Cuba ransomware has become a significant threat, demanding large sums from victims.

Cuba ransomware actors have been known to use compromised credentials to get into a victim's network. Cuba ransomware actors may leverage external-facing remote services to gain initial access to a victim's network. Cuba ransomware actors are known to exploit vulnerabilities in public-facing systems.

Like many modern ransomware strains, Cuba ransomware employs the double extortion technique, compelling victims to pay the ransom by threatening to leak their sensitive data. The ransomware group continuously enhances its attack capabilities, making it likely that we will witness more sophisticated iterations in future attacks.

Cuba ransomware targets a wide range of organizations, including businesses, governments, and individuals. It typically infects systems through phishing emails or exploiting vulnerabilities in software. Once Cuba ransomware infects a system, it encrypts the files on the system and demands a ransom payment in order to decrypt them. The ransom payment is typically demanded in Bitcoin.

Cuba ransomware has been involved in several high-profile attacks, including those targeting government institutions in Europe. It utilizes various Windows utilities like RDP, SMB, and PsExec, alongside popular tools such as Cobalt Strike and Mimikatz to facilitate lateral movement and C&C communications. The ransomware exploits vulnerabilities like ProxyShell, ProxyLogon, and an Avast driver vulnerability for initial access and antivirus-disabling routines.

Cuba ransomware is a powerful cyber threat that has wreaked havoc on organizations globally. These high-profile attacks indicate that it will remain a significant threat in the future.

S Mohini Ratna, Editor, VARINDIA