The UK communications regulator Ofcom has announced that it has been targeted by the Clop cybercrime gang, which predominantly operates in the Russian-speaking region. The attack exploited a SQL injection vulnerability in Progress Software’s MOVEit Transfer managed file transfer service. Ofcom acknowledged that a limited amount of information, including confidential data pertaining to the companies it regulates and the personal details of a number of employees, was downloaded during the breach.
And Ofcom is not the only affected organisation. Boots, the BBC, and British Airways were also victims of the breach.
Ofcom’s statement
Ofcom’s statement emphasised the utmost seriousness with which it treats the security of commercially sensitive information and personal data entrusted to its care. Immediate measures were taken to prevent further exploitation of the MOVEit service, and the recommended security protocols were implemented promptly. The regulator also wasted no time in notifying the affected companies under its supervision, offering ongoing support and assistance to its colleagues. Importantly, none of Ofcom’s internal systems were compromised during the attack.
Marijus Briedis, the Chief Technology Officer of NordVPN, remarked that this data breach, accomplished right under the nose of the UK’s media regulator, will undoubtedly enhance the reputation of the cybercriminals responsible for the MOVEit hack. The scale of the attack, coupled with the prominent victims such as the BBC, British Airways, and now Ofcom, strongly suggests meticulous planning on the part of the perpetrators.
Briedis further noted that this significant data theft would elevate the attackers’ standing in the competitive ransomware-for-hire market thriving on the dark web. It also underscores the persisting risk of supply chain attacks in the UK, with opportunistic hackers exploiting vulnerabilities in third-party services as a means to target high-value victims in the future.
As the deadline imposed by Clop approaches, victims are urged to make contact to avoid the potential leakage of their data online. More details about additional victims continue to emerge, including Ireland’s Health Service Executive (HSE), which previously fell victim to a major ransomware attack orchestrated by the Conti cybercrime syndicate. The HSE, like several other victims, suffered a breach through a supply chain attack via its service provider, EY, who employed MOVEit Transfer.
Progress Software, the company responsible for MOVEit, has encountered further complications. Prior to the recent incident, the company disclosed another vulnerability in the product, identified with the assistance of independent researchers, which could potentially have a similar impact. A patch addressing this vulnerability was issued on 9 June, and MOVEit Transfer users can obtain further information about the vulnerability through relevant channels.
This is a serious situation, with small businesses being attacked 3 x more than their larger counterparts. Hackers feast on anyone.
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