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.
