Creative Liquid Coatings Inc. Suffers Ransomware Attack

Overview of the Incident

Creative Liquid Coatings Inc. (CLC), a prominent provider in the realms of injection molding, painting and finishing, chrome plating, and assembly services, has recently fallen victim to a ransomware attack orchestrated by the group known as HiveLeak. This incident was disclosed on a dark web leak site, highlighting the ongoing cybersecurity threats faced by the manufacturing sector.

Company Profile

CLC is renowned for its comprehensive handling of performance materials, ranging from commodity grades to engineered thermoplastic resins. The company's state-of-the-art 316,000 sq. ft. facility boasts two automated paint finishing lines equipped with 24 Fanuc paint robots, ensuring exceptional finish quality and industry-leading color match capabilities. Additionally, CLC's chrome plating services complement its injection molding and painting operations, further solidifying its market position.

In a strategic move to bolster its offerings, CLC acquired CK Technologies (CKT), a key supplier of large injection molded plastic parts and panels for the commercial truck and bus sectors. CKT's integration into CLC's operations brought 16 injection molding presses, automated paint finishing lines, and advanced assembly capabilities under the CLC umbrella.

Challenges and Vulnerabilities

Despite its strategic acquisitions and operational expansions, CLC has encountered significant challenges, including the rising costs of inflation and labor shortages. These factors have notably affected CKT's operational continuity and potentially exposed the company to increased cybersecurity risks. While the specific vulnerabilities exploited in the ransomware attack have not been disclosed, it is widely acknowledged that such incidents often leverage gaps in cybersecurity defenses, such as unpatched software or outdated systems.

Attack Details

The ransomware group HiveLeak has taken credit for the attack on CLC. However, the particulars of the ransomware variant employed and the full scope of the impact remain undisclosed. This lack of detailed information underscores the opaque nature of ransomware attacks and the challenges in assessing their full ramifications.

Sources

• Creative Liquid Coatings acquires CK Technologies - Aftermarket International. URL not provided.
• Shaun van Niekerk, CISSP on LinkedIn. URL not provided.