Accounting Firm Targeted: The Everest Ransomware Attack
Ransomware Attack on Accounting Firms by Everest Group
Victim Profile: Price, Breazeale & Chastang, PA
Price, Breazeale & Chastang, PA, a full-service accounting firm based in Hickory, North Carolina, has been in business for nearly 30 years. Known for its professionalism, responsiveness, and quality service, the firm caters to business owners, executives, and independent professionals.
Everest Ransomware Group Profile
The Everest Ransomware Group, active since December 2020, is known for its ransomware attacks and data exfiltration activities. The group has evolved from a data exfiltration outfit to a ransomware operator, with ties to the EverBe 2.0 ransomware family and links to other cybercriminal organizations like BlackByte.
Their tactics include using compromised legitimate user accounts and Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) for lateral movement, employing AES and DES encryption algorithms, and acting as an Initial Access Broker (IAB).
Details of the Attack
The cyberattack targeted the websites of Accounting Professionals and Price, Breazeale & Chastang, resulting in the exfiltration of 574 GB of sensitive data from approximately 2,000 clients. The specifics of the ransom demand have not been disclosed, highlighting the secretive nature of the attack.
Potential Vulnerabilities and Attack Vectors
The use of RDP and compromised accounts suggests potential vulnerabilities in the firms' network security practices, possibly including inadequate credential management or insufficient network segmentation. These weaknesses could have provided the Everest group with the necessary foothold to deploy their ransomware and exfiltrate data.
Sources
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