Rhysida Ransomware Group Targets The Lutheran World Federation

Rhysida ransomware group claimed an attack on The Lutheran World Federation. The group allegedly exfiltrated sensitive information, including financial documents, passports, forms, etc. They have demanded a ransom of 6 BTC (approximately $260,000). A spokesperson for the federation confirmed to Recorded Future News that it was dealing with a cyberattack and said the incident was related to an earlier attack on the World Council of Churches. The Lutheran World Federation is a global communion of national and regional Lutheran denominations headquartered in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland. The Federation represents 77 million Lutherans globally.

Emergence of Rhysida Ransomware Group

The Rhysida ransomware group emerged in May 2023 and introduced a victim support chat portal on the TOR network. They present themselves as a "cybersecurity team" and claim to be helping their victims by targeting their systems and exposing potential security issues. Rhysida deploys its ransomware through various methods, including Cobalt Strike or similar frameworks, as well as phishing campaigns. Analysis of Rhysida ransomware samples suggests that the group is still in the early stages of development. The ransomware lacks certain standard features in contemporary ransomware, such as VSS removal. However, the group follows the practices of modern multi-extortion groups by threatening to distribute the stolen data publicly.

Attack Methodology and Victim Communication

Upon execution, Rhysida displays a cmd.exe window and scans all files on local drives. Victims are instructed to contact the attackers using the TOR-based portal and their unique identifier provided in the ransom notes. The group only accepts payment in Bitcoin (BTC) and provides victims with instructions on purchasing and using BTC through the victim portal. Victims are also given an additional form on the payment portal to provide authentication and contact details to the attackers. The Rhysida ransom notes are written as PDF documents and placed in the affected folders on the targeted drives.