The BlackCat/ALPHV Ransomware Attack on Baumschlager Hutter Partners

The BlackCat/ALPHV ransomware gang has attacked Baumschlager Hutter Partners. Baumschlager Hutter Partners is an internationally recognized architectural firm known for its cutting-edge and sustainable design solutions. Founded in 1985 by Carlo Baumschlager and Dietmar Hutter, the firm operates from its main office in Austria and has established branches in Switzerland, Germany, China, and the United States.

The firm specializes in diverse architectural projects, spanning commercial buildings, residential complexes, cultural institutions, educational facilities, and urban planning developments. Their work exemplifies a strong commitment to functional, aesthetic, and environmental considerations, incorporating sustainable design principles and green building practices.

Details of the Cyberattack

BlackCat/ALPHV posted Baumschlager Hutter Partners to its data leak site on July 17th but provided no further details. First observed in late 2021, BlackCat/ALPHV/ALPHV employs a well-developed RaaS (Ransomware-as-a-Service) platform that encrypts by way of an AES algorithm where the AES key is encrypted using an RSA public key.

BlackCat/ALPHV/ALPHV has the ability to disable security tools and evade analysis. BlackCat/ALPHV/ALPHV is thought to be the first ransomware group using RUST, a secure programming language that offers exceptional performance for concurrent processing. The ransomware also leverages Windows scripting to deploy the payload and to compromise additional hosts.

The developers have also been linked to DarkSide/BlackMatter ransomware attacks and may simply be a rebranding of those campaigns.