Protecting Your Organization from Ghost Ransomware Attacks
Phishing and social engineering may dominate headlines, but they are far from the only threats organizations face. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has issued a stark warning about a sophisticated ransomware campaign known as “Ghost,” which bypasses phishing tactics in favor of exploiting unpatched vulnerabilities in software and firmware. This alarming development underscores the critical importance of robust cybersecurity practices.
In a joint advisory issued last week by the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Ghost ransomware group was identified as an active threat targeting multiple industries across more than 70 countries. Ghost, also known by aliases such as Cring, Phantom, and Strike, operates out of China and exploits known vulnerabilities in widely used technologies, including Fortinet FortiOS appliances, Adobe ColdFusion, Microsoft SharePoint, and Microsoft Exchange.
The FBI highlighted several specific vulnerabilities (CVEs) exploited by Ghost, some dating as far back as 2009:
- CVE-2009-3960
- CVE-2010-2861
- CVE-2018-13379
- CVE-2019-0604
- CVE-2021-31207
- CVE-2021-34473
- CVE-2021-34523
Shockingly, some systems remain unpatched for over a decade, leaving organizations vulnerable to Ghost’s ransomware payload.
Ghost’s attack methodology involves uploading web shells to compromised servers, then leveraging tools like Windows command prompts and PowerShell to execute Cobalt Strike Beacons. These commercially available penetration testing tools are misused to elevate privileges, disable antivirus software, and steal credentials. While Ghost often claims to exfiltrate sensitive data for extortion, evidence suggests that substantial data theft is not always a primary goal.
The FBI has provided urgent steps to mitigate the risks of Ghost ransomware attacks:
- Maintain Regular Backups: Store backups offline and ensure they cannot be altered or encrypted by compromised systems.
- Patch Vulnerabilities: Apply security updates promptly to operating systems, software, and firmware.
- Segment Networks: Limit lateral movement by isolating devices and restricting cross-network access.
- Enforce Phishing-Resistant MFA: Require multi-factor authentication for accounts with elevated privileges and for email services.
- Implement Allowlisting: Restrict unauthorized applications, scripts, and network traffic.
Additional best practices include conducting phishing awareness training, applying the principle of least privilege, and disabling unused ports.
The FBI strongly discourages paying ransom, noting that it does not guarantee file recovery and may incentivize further criminal activity. Instead, organizations must focus on proactive measures to strengthen their defenses against Ghost and similar threats.
You can rely on the expertise of the 2W Tech team to help secure your organization against evolving threats like Ghost. Contact us to learn how we can assist in protecting your systems, implementing robust cybersecurity measures, and ensuring your business remains resilient in an ever-changing threat landscape.
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