RawPOS is a type of malware specifically designed to target Point of Sale (POS) terminals. POS malware typically aims to capture payment card data by scraping memory or intercepting transactions processed by the POS system. The mention of RawPOS 'riding again' suggests a resurgence or continued activity of this malware variant as of the 2017 report date. Although detailed technical specifics are not provided in the source, RawPOS malware generally operates by infiltrating POS terminals, often through phishing, exploiting vulnerabilities, or leveraging weak network segmentation. Once installed, it can scrape sensitive cardholder data from the memory of POS devices before it is encrypted and transmitted to payment processors. This data can then be exfiltrated to attackers for fraudulent use. The threat level indicated is moderate (3 out of an unspecified scale), and the severity is noted as low, which may reflect limited active exploitation or impact at the time of reporting. No known exploits in the wild were reported, which could mean the malware is either not widespread or detection and mitigation efforts have been somewhat effective. The affected asset variety is POS terminals, a critical component in retail and hospitality sectors. The lack of affected versions or patches suggests this is a generic malware threat rather than one exploiting a specific software vulnerability. Given the nature of POS malware, the primary risk is the compromise of payment card data confidentiality, potentially leading to financial fraud and reputational damage for affected organizations.

For European organizations, the impact of RawPOS malware can be significant, especially for retailers, hospitality businesses, and any entity relying on POS terminals for payment processing. Compromise of POS systems can lead to large-scale theft of customer payment card data, resulting in financial losses, regulatory penalties under GDPR for data breaches, and erosion of customer trust. The breach of cardholder data also increases the risk of fraudulent transactions and chargebacks, which can be costly and damage business relationships. Additionally, organizations may face operational disruptions during incident response and remediation. Given the interconnected nature of payment processing networks, a successful RawPOS infection could also have cascading effects on supply chain partners and payment processors within Europe. However, the reported low severity and absence of known exploits in the wild at the time suggest that the immediate risk might be limited, but vigilance is necessary due to the sensitive nature of POS environments.

To mitigate the threat posed by RawPOS malware, European organizations should implement a multi-layered security approach tailored to POS environments. Specific recommendations include: 1) Network Segmentation: Isolate POS terminals from other corporate networks and restrict inbound and outbound traffic to only necessary services to limit malware spread and data exfiltration. 2) Endpoint Security: Deploy advanced endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions on POS devices where possible, with capabilities to detect memory scraping and unusual process behavior. 3) Regular Updates and Patching: Although no specific patches are noted, ensure all POS software and underlying operating systems are kept up to date to reduce attack surface. 4) Access Controls: Enforce strict access controls and multi-factor authentication for administrative access to POS systems. 5) Monitoring and Logging: Implement continuous monitoring of POS network traffic and system logs to detect anomalies indicative of malware activity. 6) Incident Response Planning: Develop and regularly test incident response plans specific to POS breaches, including coordination with payment processors and law enforcement. 7) Employee Training: Educate staff on phishing and social engineering tactics that could lead to initial malware infection. 8) Use of Tokenization and Encryption: Employ end-to-end encryption and tokenization for payment data to minimize the value of any stolen data. These targeted measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on the unique challenges of securing POS environments against memory-scraping malware like RawPOS.