1️⃣ Ransomware Targets Microsoft SharePoint — Warlock Gang Hits 400+ Orgs Including U.S. Nuclear Agency— by CyberDudeBivash

CyberDudeBivash

🚨 The Breach That’s Turning Heads Across the Cybersecurity World

A sophisticated ransomware campaign led by the Warlock gang—a likely offshoot of Black Basta—is actively exploiting unpatched Microsoft SharePoint servers, impacting over 400 organizations globally, including U.S. federal systems and a nuclear research agency.The scale, precision, and persistence of this attack have set off high-priority alerts across government, defense, and enterprise sectors.

🧠 Key Attack Highlights

🔸 Targeted System: Microsoft SharePoint

🔸 Exploitation Method: Known CVEs & zero-day chaining

🔸 Victim Count: 400+ orgs globally

🔸 High-Value Target: U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure

🔸 Persistence Risk: Attackers remain in the environment even post-patch

🔍 Technical Breakdown of the Attack Chain

⚙️ 1. Initial Access

The attackers scan for exposed and unpatched SharePoint instances, exploiting:

• CVE‑2023‑29357 — Privilege Escalation
• CVE‑2023‑24955 — Remote Code Execution
• Custom zero-days (believed to be part of their arsenal)

They deploy a web shell or PowerShell loader for lateral movement.

🧬 2. Lateral Movement

Once inside, Warlock actors:

• Use Kerberos Ticket Attacks (Pass-the-Ticket)
• Abuse SharePoint API permissions to harvest credentials
• Install persistence via scheduled tasks and WMI

🔐 3. Payload Deployment

The ransomware payload is deployed via:

• Remote scripting tools like PsExec or WMIC
• Encrypted binaries dropped in C:\ProgramData\Warlock\
• File encryption begins, appending .wrlock extension

🧪 4. Persistence After Patching

Even if organizations patch CVEs post-breach, Warlock actors persist using:

• Hidden user accounts in Active Directory
• Scheduled tasks mimicking system processes
• Beaconing implants communicating with a TOR-based C2

🧷 Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

🛡️ Defensive Actions for Cybersecurity Teams

✔️ Patch immediately — especially CVE‑2023‑29357 & CVE‑2023‑24955

✔️ Audit SharePoint logs for privilege changes and web shell activity

✔️ Hunt for persistence: check Scheduled Tasks, registry, and unknown accounts

✔️ Isolate breached systems — assume persistence until proven otherwise

✔️ Deploy YARA rules & EDR policies to detect lateral movement scripts

📣 Final Thoughts from CyberDudeBivash

“This attack shows us that patching is necessary but not enough. Post-exploit persistence is the real battlefield. Assume breach. Hunt hard. Respond fast.”

The Warlock gang isn’t just dropping ransomware—they’re leaving digital landmines behind. Your SharePoint server might be patched, but the backdoor may still be wide open.

🔗 Full Technical Blog Post → cyberdudebivash.com

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