The threat described is a malspam campaign identified on May 27, 2016, distributing the Locky ransomware via malicious .docm files. Malspam refers to spam emails carrying malicious payloads, in this case, Microsoft Word documents with macros (.docm). When users open these documents and enable macros, the embedded malicious code executes, downloading and installing the Locky ransomware on the victim's system. Locky ransomware encrypts user files, rendering them inaccessible, and demands a ransom payment for decryption. Although the provided information indicates a low severity and no known exploits in the wild at the time of reporting, Locky has historically been a significant ransomware threat due to its widespread distribution and impact. The lack of affected versions and patch links suggests this is a generic malware campaign rather than a vulnerability in a specific product. The threat level of 3 (on an unspecified scale) and absence of detailed technical indicators limit the granularity of the analysis, but the core risk remains the ransomware infection vector via malicious email attachments exploiting user interaction (macro enabling).

For European organizations, the impact of Locky ransomware delivered through malspam can be substantial. Successful infections lead to encryption of critical business data, causing operational disruption, potential data loss, and financial costs related to ransom payments and recovery efforts. Sectors with high reliance on data integrity and availability, such as healthcare, finance, and public administration, are particularly vulnerable. The campaign's reliance on user interaction (enabling macros) means that social engineering effectiveness directly influences infection rates. Given Europe's strong regulatory environment around data protection (e.g., GDPR), organizations may also face legal and reputational consequences if data availability or confidentiality is compromised. Although the severity is marked low in the source, the real-world impact of Locky ransomware outbreaks has historically been high, especially where defenses and user awareness are insufficient.

To mitigate this threat effectively, European organizations should implement a multi-layered defense strategy: 1) Enforce strict email filtering to block or quarantine suspicious attachments, especially .docm files from unknown or untrusted senders. 2) Disable macros by default in Microsoft Office applications and only allow macros from trusted, digitally signed sources. 3) Conduct regular user awareness training focused on recognizing phishing and malspam tactics, emphasizing the risks of enabling macros in unsolicited documents. 4) Maintain up-to-date endpoint protection solutions with behavioral detection capabilities to identify and block ransomware activity. 5) Implement robust backup and recovery procedures, ensuring backups are isolated from the main network to prevent ransomware encryption. 6) Monitor network traffic for unusual activity indicative of ransomware communication or lateral movement. 7) Employ application whitelisting to restrict execution of unauthorized programs. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on controlling the specific infection vector (malicious macros in email attachments) and ensuring resilience against ransomware impact.