The provided information relates to a malware threat identified as "Locky" ransomware, specifically a variant or campaign dated November 7, 2017. Locky is a well-known ransomware family that encrypts victims' files and demands payment for decryption. The reference to "M2M - Locky 2017-11-07" suggests this is a specific instance or sample of the Locky ransomware identified offline with an associated file extension ".asasin" and filenames resembling invoice documents (e.g., "Invoice #123456789," and "987654321_11_07_2017_12_34_56.doc"). This naming convention is typical of Locky campaigns that often use social engineering tactics by disguising malicious payloads as invoice or financial documents to entice users to open them. Locky ransomware typically spreads via phishing emails containing malicious attachments or links. Once executed, it encrypts a wide range of file types on the infected system, appending unique extensions (in this case, ".asasin") to encrypted files. Victims are then presented with ransom notes demanding payment, usually in cryptocurrency, to obtain decryption keys. The technical details indicate a low threat level (3 out of an unspecified scale) and low severity, with no known exploits in the wild at the time of reporting, suggesting this may be an offline sample or a less active variant. No affected software versions or patches are listed, which aligns with ransomware being a malware infection vector rather than a software vulnerability. The lack of indicators and CWE entries further supports that this is a malware campaign rather than a software flaw. The timestamp corresponds to the initial detection date, November 7, 2017, with publication on November 9, 2017. Overall, this threat represents a typical ransomware infection vector using social engineering and file encryption to extort victims.

For European organizations, Locky ransomware poses significant risks primarily to data confidentiality and availability. Successful infection results in encryption of critical business files, potentially halting operations, disrupting services, and causing financial losses due to downtime and ransom payments. The use of invoice-themed filenames indicates targeting of financial or administrative departments, which could lead to delays in billing, accounting, and compliance reporting. Although the severity is marked as low in this report, historically Locky has caused widespread damage globally, including in Europe. Organizations with inadequate email filtering, user training, or endpoint protection are particularly vulnerable. The impact extends beyond immediate operational disruption to reputational damage and potential regulatory penalties under GDPR if personal data is affected and not properly managed. The offline nature of this sample suggests limited active exploitation at the time, but the threat remains relevant given Locky's persistence and evolution. European organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and public administration are especially at risk due to their reliance on timely access to data and historically being targeted by ransomware campaigns. The indirect costs of recovery, including forensic investigations and system restorations, can be substantial.

To mitigate the risk posed by Locky ransomware, European organizations should implement a multi-layered defense strategy: 1. Email Security: Deploy advanced email filtering solutions that scan attachments and links for malicious content, including sandboxing suspicious files. Implement DMARC, DKIM, and SPF to reduce phishing email delivery. 2. User Awareness Training: Conduct regular training sessions to educate employees on recognizing phishing attempts, especially those involving invoice or financial document themes. 3. Endpoint Protection: Use updated antivirus and anti-malware solutions capable of detecting ransomware signatures and behaviors. Enable real-time monitoring and automatic quarantine. 4. Data Backup and Recovery: Maintain regular, offline, and immutable backups of critical data to enable restoration without paying ransom. Test backup integrity and recovery procedures frequently. 5. Network Segmentation: Limit lateral movement by segmenting networks and restricting user permissions to reduce the spread of ransomware. 6. Patch Management: While no specific patches are noted for this malware, ensure all systems and software are up to date to reduce attack surface. 7. Incident Response Planning: Develop and regularly update ransomware-specific incident response plans, including communication protocols and legal considerations. 8. File Execution Controls: Implement application whitelisting and restrict execution of macros or scripts embedded in documents, which are common infection vectors for Locky. These measures, tailored to organizational context, will reduce the likelihood and impact of Locky ransomware infections.