A new malware loader named CountLoader has been identified, strongly associated with Russian ransomware gangs. It comes in three versions: .NET, PowerShell, and JScript. The threat is believed to be part of an Initial Access Broker's toolset or used by a ransomware affiliate linked to LockBit, BlackBasta, and Qilin groups. CountLoader was recently employed in a phishing campaign targeting Ukrainian citizens, impersonating the Ukrainian police. The loader attempts to connect to multiple C2 servers, downloads and executes various malware payloads, and uses advanced techniques to evade detection. It has been observed dropping CobaltStrike and AdaptixC2, among other malicious tools. The malware's functionality includes system information gathering, persistence mechanisms, and multiple download methods.
LockerGoga Ransomware Admin on EU Most Wanted List With $10M DOJ Reward
Source: https://hackread.com/lockergoga-ransomware-eu-most-wanted-list-doj-reward/
A threat actor exploited a SonicWall VPN vulnerability to gain initial access to an organization's network. The attacker discovered plaintext Huntress recovery codes on a user's desktop, allowing them to bypass MFA and access the Huntress portal. They then proceeded to close active incident reports and uninstall Huntress agents from compromised systems. This incident highlights the critical importance of securely storing credentials and recovery codes. The attacker also exported certificates from the domain controller, potentially for further privilege escalation or persistence. The compromise was detected by Huntress' Security Operations Center, which initiated a mass isolation response to contain the threat. This case emphasizes the need for proper credential management and the risks associated with storing sensitive information in easily accessible plaintext files.
Yurei, a newly emerged ransomware group, targeted a Sri Lankan food manufacturing company on September 5, 2025. The group employs a double-extortion model, encrypting files and exfiltrating sensitive data. Check Point Research discovered that Yurei's ransomware is based on the open-source Prince-Ransomware, with minor modifications. The ransomware, written in Go, contains a flaw allowing partial recovery through Shadow Copies. Since its first victim, Yurei has quickly expanded to three victims across Sri Lanka, India, and Nigeria. The investigation suggests the threat actor may originate from Morocco. Yurei's operation demonstrates how open-source malware lowers the entry barrier for cybercriminals, enabling less-skilled actors to launch ransomware attacks.
The CyberVolk ransomware, emerging in May 2024, targets public institutions and key infrastructures of anti-Russian countries. It uses a double encryption structure with AES-256 GCM and ChaCha20-Poly1305 algorithms. The ransomware excludes certain files and directories from encryption and uses a symmetric key generated before the main function starts. A unique nonce is generated for each file encryption, but it's not stored, making decryption impossible. The ransomware includes a disguised decryption logic that fails due to an incorrect nonce value. This pro-Russian group communicates via Telegram and has claimed attacks on major facilities in Japan, France, and the UK.
The BlackNevas ransomware group, first appearing in November 2024, has been targeting various industries and critical infrastructure globally, with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region. The group uses AES and RSA encryption, adding the '.-encrypted' extension to affected files. BlackNevas operates independently, threatening to leak data on their own site and through partners. The ransomware supports multiple arguments, excludes certain system paths and file types from encryption, and uses a unique method to check for previous infection. It also creates ransom notes in all accessible folders, demanding negotiation within seven days to prevent data leaks.
Senator Urges FTC Probe Into Microsoft After Ascension Ransomware Attack
Source: https://hackread.com/senator-ftc-probe-microsoft-ascension-ransomware-attack/
KillSec Ransomware is Attacking Healthcare Institutions in Brazil - Security Affairs
Source: https://securityaffairs.com/182063/cyber-crime/killsec-ransomware-is-attacking-healthcare-institutions-in-brazil.html
US charges admin of LockerGoga, MegaCortex, Nefilim ransomware
Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/us-charges-admin-of-lockergoga-megacortex-nefilim-ransomware/
The Gentlemen ransomware group has emerged as a sophisticated threat actor targeting multiple industries across 17 countries, with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region. Their campaign demonstrates advanced capabilities, including the use of custom tools to bypass enterprise endpoint protections, exploitation of legitimate drivers, Group Policy manipulation, and encrypted data exfiltration. The group's tactics involve thorough reconnaissance, adaptive defense evasion techniques, and systematic compromise of enterprise environments. They have shown the ability to tailor their approach based on the specific security solutions encountered, highlighting a significant evolution in ransomware operations. The attackers leveraged various tools and techniques for lateral movement, persistence, and ransomware deployment, including the abuse of privileged domain accounts and Group Policy Objects.
LunaLock Ransomware threatens victims by feeding stolen data to AI models
Source: https://securityaffairs.com/182014/malware/lunalock-ransomware-threatens-victims-by-feeding-stolen-data-to-ai-models.html
An intrusion began with a user downloading and executing a malicious file impersonating DeskSoft's EarthTime application, which deployed SectopRAT malware. The threat actor used multiple malware families, including SystemBC and Betruger, and various tools for reconnaissance and lateral movement. They moved across systems using RDP and Impacket's wmiexec, maintaining persistence through local account creation and startup folder shortcuts. Data was collected using WinRAR and exfiltrated via WinSCP to an FTP server. The discovery of tools linked to Play ransomware, DragonForce ransomware, and RansomHub suggests the threat actor was likely an affiliate operating across multiple ransomware groups.
This intelligence report details a sophisticated cyber intrusion with links to three major ransomware groups: Play, RansomHub, and DragonForce. The attack began with a malicious file impersonating DeskSoft's EarthTime application, which deployed SectopRAT malware. The threat actors used various tools for reconnaissance, lateral movement, and data exfiltration, including SystemBC, Betruger backdoor, AdFind, SharpHound, and Grixba. They leveraged RDP and Impacket's wmiexec for lateral movement, and used WinRAR and WinSCP for data collection and exfiltration. The intrusion lasted six days before the threat actors were evicted, showcasing a range of advanced persistent threat techniques and highlighting the blurred lines between different ransomware operations.
Lovesac confirms data breach after ransomware attack claims
Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/lovesac-confirms-data-breach-after-ransomware-attack-claims/
The DireWolf ransomware group emerged in May 2025, targeting various industries globally. They employ a double extortion technique, encrypting data and threatening leaks. The ransomware uses Curve25519 key exchange and ChaCha20 encryption, generating unique keys for each file. It implements anti-recovery measures, terminating backup processes, deleting logs, and disabling recovery environments. The malware encrypts files, creates ransom notes, and self-deletes after scheduling a system reboot. DireWolf's sophisticated approach, combining encryption, anti-analysis techniques, and data leakage threats, poses a significant risk to organizations across sectors.
