Nov 224 min read

The growing threat of ransomware: RansomHub and its impact on Mexico's Federal Executive Legal Counsel

In recent years, ransomware attacks have increased significantly, targeting both government entities and private companies. This trend highlights the sophistication of attackers who focus on strategic targets such as government data and critical infrastructure.

One of the most recent and dangerous groups in this field is RansomHub, which has drawn attention following a recent attack on a government’s official site, leaving millions of citizens vulnerable.

Who is RansomHub?

RansomHub operates as a highly organized group of cybercriminals. Utilizing the Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) model, they allow affiliates to execute attacks in exchange for a share of the ransom payment. This approach has expanded their reach and popularity.

The group prioritizes targeting government institutions and companies that manage sensitive data. If victims fail to pay the ransom, they resort to selling the stolen information.

While RansomHub's origins remain uncertain, they are formed by hackers worldwide, united by the common goal of financial gain. Interestingly, the group claims to prohibit attacks on certain countries and non-profit organizations.

The CJEF Attack in November 2024

In November 2024, RansomHub launched a significant ransomware attack against Mexico’s Federal Executive Legal Counsel (CJEF), stealing 313 GB of confidential information. The compromised data includes contracts, administrative and financial information, emails, and personal details of government officials.

The group set a deadline of November 25 for the ransom payment, threatening to leak the stolen data if the demand is not met. The stolen information includes:

Administrative contracts: Key documents related to government agreements and transactions.
Financial data: Details on budgets, payments, and fiscal resources.
Insurance information: Critical details about policies and coverage used by the government.
Officials’ personal information: Names, photos, tax IDs, institutional emails, and work details.

As evidence of their access, RansomHub published a real estate lease contract used by the CJEF. This highlights the attackers’ ability to infiltrate crucial internal information. The implications of this breach are severe, potentially compromising the institution’s operational security and key governmental decisions.

How Does RansomHub Operate?

RansomHub’s attacks are highly adaptive and modular, leveraging tested tactics refined to increase effectiveness. They utilize advanced techniques, including:

Ultrafast encryption: Capable of paralyzing systems within minutes.
Double and triple extortion: Demanding ransom not only for decrypting data but also to prevent disclosure and continuous sabotage.
Modular infrastructure: Allowing affiliates to customize attacks based on sectors or regions.

RansomHub also exploits vulnerabilities like ZeroLogon (CVE-2020-1472), a critical flaw with a CVSS severity score of 10.

Immediate Actions in Ransomware Attacks

To mitigate the effects of ransomware, organizations should take the following steps:

Isolate the affected system: Disconnect the infected device from the network to prevent ransomware spread.
Stop network propagation: Identify and disconnect other potentially compromised systems, including servers and shared devices.
Contact cybersecurity experts: Notify internal or external teams to coordinate an appropriate response.
Avoid paying the ransom: Payment doesn’t guarantee data recovery and may fund future criminal activity.
Preserve evidence: Do not format or restart affected systems. Create forensic copies for further investigation.
Identify the ransomware type: Use tools like ID Ransomware to determine the ransomware family.
Activate the incident response plan: Follow pre-established protocols for containment, analysis, and recovery.
Change compromised credentials: Update passwords, especially if the attack exploited stolen credentials.
Notify relevant parties: Inform regulators, partners, or clients about the incident as required by applicable laws.
Consult external resources: Utilize platforms like No More Ransom to access decryption tools when available.

Long-Term Mitigation Strategies

To prevent future ransomware attacks, organizations should adopt robust cybersecurity practices:

Data backups: Implement regular, secure data backups to ensure availability in case of an attack.
Security training: Educate employees on phishing threats, ransomware tactics, and safe cybersecurity practices.
Update management: Keep systems and software patched against known vulnerabilities.
Network segmentation: Isolate critical systems and sensitive data to minimize the impact of breaches.
Access controls: Enforce the principle of least privilege to restrict access and reduce attack vectors.
Email and web security: Deploy advanced filters to detect and block malicious files, links, and phishing attempts.
Endpoint protection: Use tools like antivirus, intrusion detection systems, and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions.
Incident response planning: Develop and regularly test response plans for ransomware incidents.
Security audits: Conduct regular assessments to identify and fix security gaps.
Verify backups: Test backup integrity and functionality regularly, storing them securely.

Conclusion

The attack on the CJEF highlights the growing threat of ransomware, not just for governments but for all sectors.

The rapid evolution of attackers’ tactics demands an equally swift and effective response from institutions and companies.

Mexico and its entities must strengthen their cybersecurity measures and collaborate with international allies to protect critical infrastructure from these threats. Cybersecurity is now more crucial than ever to ensure the nation’s stability and progress.

As RansomHub continues targeting critical sectors, the human factor remains a key vulnerability. Continuous training in identifying phishing emails, suspicious links, and unsafe practices is essential. Organizations must also develop well-prepared incident response teams to guarantee a fast and effective reaction in the event of an attack.

For those interested in a detailed analysis conducted by Cyberpeace’s expert team, click here.