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M2M - Locky / Trickbot: "Emailing: Scan0xxx" from "Sales"

Low
Published: Thu Sep 28 2017 (09/28/2017, 00:00:00 UTC)
Source: CIRCL
Vendor/Project: tlp
Product: white

Description

M2M - Locky / Trickbot: "Emailing: Scan0xxx" from "Sales"

AI-Powered Analysis

AILast updated: 07/02/2025, 14:41:22 UTC

Technical Analysis

The threat described involves the Locky ransomware and Trickbot malware, specifically referencing an email campaign labeled "Emailing: Scan0xxx" originating from a sender identified as "Sales." Locky is a well-known ransomware family that encrypts victims' files and demands payment for decryption keys, while Trickbot is a modular banking Trojan often used to steal credentials and facilitate further malware deployment. The combination of these two malware families suggests a multi-stage attack where Trickbot may be used to gain initial access, steal credentials, and deploy Locky ransomware subsequently. The email campaign likely uses social engineering tactics, masquerading as legitimate sales communications to entice recipients to open malicious attachments or links. Although the severity is marked as low and no known exploits in the wild are reported, the presence of these malware strains remains a concern due to their historical impact and potential for disruption. The lack of affected versions and patch links indicates this is a behavioral or campaign-based threat rather than a software vulnerability. The technical details show a moderate threat level (3) and minimal analysis (1), suggesting limited data or impact observed at the time of reporting in 2017. Overall, this threat represents a phishing-based malware distribution vector leveraging Locky ransomware and Trickbot Trojan to compromise systems.

Potential Impact

For European organizations, this threat poses risks primarily through email-based infection vectors leading to potential data encryption and credential theft. Locky ransomware can cause significant operational disruption by encrypting critical files, leading to downtime, data loss, and financial costs related to recovery or ransom payments. Trickbot's credential theft capabilities can facilitate further lateral movement within networks, potentially exposing sensitive information and enabling additional attacks such as business email compromise or financial fraud. Although the reported severity is low, organizations with inadequate email filtering, user awareness, or endpoint protection may still be vulnerable. The impact is particularly relevant for sectors with high email communication volumes such as retail, manufacturing, and professional services. Additionally, the use of a "Sales" sender name indicates targeting of business functions involved in procurement or client communications, which could lead to compromised business processes. The threat could also indirectly affect supply chains if infected organizations interact with partners or customers across Europe.

Mitigation Recommendations

To mitigate this threat, European organizations should implement advanced email filtering solutions capable of detecting and quarantining phishing emails and malicious attachments, including those mimicking sales communications. User training programs focused on recognizing social engineering tactics and suspicious email indicators are critical to reduce successful phishing attempts. Endpoint protection platforms should be deployed with behavioral detection capabilities to identify and block Trickbot and Locky activities. Network segmentation and strict access controls can limit lateral movement if initial compromise occurs. Regular backups of critical data, stored offline or in immutable formats, will enable recovery without paying ransom. Organizations should also monitor for indicators of compromise related to Trickbot and Locky, including unusual network traffic, suspicious processes, and unauthorized credential use. Incident response plans should be updated to address ransomware and credential theft scenarios. Finally, collaboration with national cybersecurity centers and sharing threat intelligence can enhance detection and response capabilities.

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Technical Details

Threat Level
3
Analysis
1
Original Timestamp
1506689058

Threat ID: 682acdbdbbaf20d303f0bbf3

Added to database: 5/19/2025, 6:20:45 AM

Last enriched: 7/2/2025, 2:41:22 PM

Last updated: 8/12/2025, 10:29:20 PM

Views: 12

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