CISA and FBI Release Advisory on ALPHV Blackcat Affiliates

Summary

The Cybersecurity Advisory (CSA) #StopRansomware: ALPHV Blackcat, released jointly by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), provides an in-depth overview of the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used by ALPHV Blackcat affiliates, a group of ransomware and data extortion operators. The advisory aims to disseminate known indicators of compromise (IOCs) and update the FBI’s previously released FLASH BlackCat/ALPHV Ransomware Indicators of Compromise from April 19, 2022.

ALPHV Blackcat affiliates are experienced operators with extensive networks, having compromised over 1000 entities as of September 2023, with more than half located in the United States and approximately 250 outside the country. The compromised entities include critical infrastructure organizations, which are advised to review and implement the mitigations provided in the joint CSA to reduce the likelihood and impact of ALPHV Blackcat ransomware and data extortion incidents.

The advisory provides essential information for critical infrastructure organizations, encouraging them to take proactive measures to prevent and respond to ransomware attacks. Additionally, CISA’s #StopRansomware webpage, which includes the updated #StopRansomware Guide, offers further resources for organizations to enhance their cybersecurity posture.

Overall, the joint CSA aims to raise awareness about the evolving threat landscape of ransomware and data extortion operations, providing critical insights and guidance to help organizations protect themselves against these types of attacks.