This threat concerns a malware campaign active around September 2017 involving the Locky ransomware and TrickBot banking Trojan, identified under the moniker "M2M - Locky Affid=3/Trickbot 'mac1'". The campaign employed social engineering via emails with subject lines such as "Voice Message from ..." containing links to a malicious "/voicemsg.html" page. The infection chain typically involved TrickBot, a modular malware known for stealing banking credentials and delivering secondary payloads, which in this case included Locky ransomware. Locky encrypts user files and demands ransom payments for decryption keys. The campaign leveraged TrickBot's capabilities to propagate and maintain persistence, while Locky executed the ransomware payload. Although the severity is marked as low, this is likely due to the age of the campaign and the absence of active exploits currently in the wild. The malware targeted Windows systems, exploiting user interaction through phishing emails to initiate infection. The technical details indicate a moderate threat level (3 out of an unspecified scale) and limited analysis data. No specific affected product versions or patches are listed, reflecting the generic nature of the threat vector (phishing and malware delivery).

For European organizations, the impact of this threat primarily involves potential data loss and operational disruption due to ransomware encryption of critical files. TrickBot's credential theft capabilities could lead to unauthorized access to financial and corporate systems, increasing the risk of fraud and further compromise. Although the campaign is dated and no active exploits are reported, organizations with legacy systems or insufficient email security controls remain vulnerable to similar phishing-based malware infections. The financial sector, healthcare, and critical infrastructure entities in Europe could face significant operational and reputational damage if infected. Additionally, the presence of TrickBot increases the risk of lateral movement within networks, potentially escalating the scope of compromise. The low severity rating suggests limited current threat activity, but the historical significance underscores the need for vigilance against similar multi-stage malware campaigns.

European organizations should implement advanced email filtering solutions capable of detecting and quarantining phishing emails with malicious links or attachments. User awareness training focused on recognizing social engineering tactics, such as unexpected voice message notifications, is critical. Endpoint protection platforms should be updated to detect and block TrickBot and Locky signatures and behaviors. Network segmentation can limit lateral movement if an infection occurs. Regular backups of critical data, stored offline or in immutable formats, ensure recovery without paying ransom. Employing multi-factor authentication reduces the risk of credential theft exploitation. Continuous monitoring for unusual network activity and timely patching of operating systems and applications further reduce exposure. Given the lack of specific patches, emphasis should be on behavioral detection and response capabilities. Incident response plans should be tested to handle ransomware and credential theft scenarios effectively.