Vice Society Ransomware

Vice Society Ransomware

Introduction: Vice Society Ransomware, a multi-faceted threat group, emerged onto the cyber threat landscape in early to mid-2021. This comprehensive analysis delves into the ransomware’s origin, target profile, propagation methods, technical intricacies, detection strategies, mitigation measures, and removal procedures.

Vice Society Ransomware Overview:

• Emergence:
  • Appeared in early to mid-2021.
  • Operates as an extortion and ransomware group.
  • Notably targets virtualized environments, particularly those using the Linux variant.

Distribution and Tactics:

• Payload Development:
  • Outsources the development of ransomware payloads.
  • Windows and Linux variations, with a focus on heavily virtualized environments for the latter.

Target Profile:

• Primary Targets:
  • Large enterprises and high-value entities.
  • Medium-sized businesses.
  • Government, healthcare, and educational sectors.
  • Notably targets virtualized environments, particularly those using the Linux variant.

Propagation Mechanisms:

• Infection Vectors:
  • Phishing and spear-phishing emails.
  • Utilizes of third-party frameworks (e.g., Empire, Metasploit, Cobalt Strike).
  • Exploitation of the PrintNightmare vulnerability (CVE-2021-34527 and CVE-2021-1675).

Technical Details:

• Execution Process:
  • Heavy reliance on Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) utilities and Living off the Land Binaries (LOLBins) for stealth.
  • Persistence through the Registry (RUN key) in Windows samples.
  • Inhibits system recovery by dropping and executing an embedded .BAT file (removal of VSS and boot recovery options).
• Variants and Ransomware Families:
  • Generates or outsources variants based on Hive, Zeppelin, and HelloKitty (Linux).

Detection Strategies:

• EDR is adept at detecting and preventing malicious behaviors and artifacts linked to Vice Society ransomware.
  • Alternate Detection Methods:
    • Employ anti-malware software or security tools capable of identifying ransomware variants.
    • Monitor network traffic for indicators of compromise.
    • Conduct regular security audits and assessments.
    • Educate employees on cybersecurity best practices.
    • Implement a robust backup and recovery plan.

Mitigation Measures:

• EDR offers robust protection against Vice Society Ransomware, effectively preventing infections.
  • Additional Mitigation Steps:
    • Educate employees on ransomware risks and phishing identification.
    • Implement strong, regularly updated passwords.
    • Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for user accounts.
    • Regularly update and patch systems to address vulnerabilities.
    • Implement a comprehensive backup and disaster recovery (BDR) plan.

Removal Procedures:

• EDR customers benefit from automatic protection against Vice Society Ransomware. Under the “Detect Only” policy, the rollback capability within EDR is instrumental for removing infections and restoring encrypted files.

Conclusion: Understanding the intricacies of Vice Society Ransomware is paramount for organizations aiming to fortify their cybersecurity posture. Combining advanced threat detection platforms such as EDR Singularity XDR with comprehensive cybersecurity practices and employee training enhances resilience against evolving cyber threats.

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