What Is the Cl0p Ransomware Strain?

Cl0p ransomware, a type of Cryptomix malware, is the final payload of a complex malware infection. When a user downloads an infected file, typically transmitted via a phishing attack, malware opens doors for attackers to begin exploring the security environment and accessing proprietary data.

Once an organization’s network has been compromised, the ransomware attack begins.

SOBRE CIBERSEGURIDAD 2023 Anti ransomware

How does Cl0p Ransomware work

Cl0p ransomware uses double extortion strategies, likely to maximize the attackers’ financial gain. This double extortion variety of ransomware is common, and it isn’t likely to disappear any time soon…

When an organization is hit by a ransomware attack utilizing double extortion, its data is:

Encrypted and held for ransom
Threatened with a leak

Without payment, the attacker will release sensitive data to the public (usually, sell it on the dark web). Fortunately, with the tools and strategies, organizations can prevent this and other types of ransomware.

Identifying the Cl0p Ransomware Strain

Some types of ransomware, including Cl0p, tend to focus on industries that handle highly sensitive information. These industries include healthcare and finance and companies in these industries may be favored by Cl0p attackers because they are more likely to pay the ransom.

There are two things that can happen when you get hip by Cl0p ransomware:

#1: No Access to Data

When Cl0p begins its double extortion attack, it prevents legitimate access to an organization’s data. This is a huge problem, especially for healthcare companies.

Without their data, they have no way to access patient information and healthcare history – which can create treatment problems or delays. While industries like finance or manufacturing experience less immediate dire consequences, Cl0p data encryption brings operations to a halt.

#2: The Release of Sensitive Data

On the other side of double extortion, the release of consumer data will have legal implications for companies in these industries, especially healthcare. Protected by HIPAA laws and regulations in the US, this data must be properly secured or the organization will be required to pay substantial fines.

Beyond the type of ransomware attack and typical industries where Cl0p strikes, there are a few other features typical to Cl0p. For example:

Signed binary: Legitimate software typically has signed code, which verifies its legitimacy. Cl0p has managed to digitally sign its code, which allows it to sneak past security tools better than other types of ransomware.
High ransoms: Cl0p tends to focus on high-profile companies (although this does not mean that a smaller business will not be attacked), and they demand very large ransoms to decrypt compromised data.
SDBOT activity: Once the malware has gained access, it uses SDBOT to make and store copies of itself in other storage spaces on the infected device.
Preference for corporate devices: Cl0p ransomware is not necessarily an equal-opportunity attacker. It scans infected devices for connections to an AD server and typically removes itself from devices that are not connected. Attackers using Cl0p are likely aiming to target company secrets and large stores of data rather than an individual’s information.
RaaS: Cl0p is often deployed as ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS).

Key Distribution Methods

Here are the key distribution methods for Cl0p ransomware:

Phishing Emails

Phishing emails with malware-laden attachments are one of the simplest ways to distribute ransomware.

Cl0p attacks frequently originate in phishing or spear phishing attacks, typically as links or downloadable files and software updates.

Once the malware is installed, additional payloads of Cl0p ransomware will be dropped into nearby systems through network or authentication vulnerabilities. Whenever possible, it will attempt to travel throughout a network, searching for sensitive or confidential data.

Vulnerabilidad de día cero

When phishing is unsuccessful, Cl0p often exploits zero day vulnerabilities to gain access to a security environment. Because these are unknown attack vectors, the malware is not always detected right away. This also means that regular patching and updates, while important for security, are not likely to block a Cl0p attack.

How to Prevent Cl0p Ransomware

One major risk of Cl0p ransomware is that it systematically disables security tools and automated backups. This makes data more vulnerable to the eventual ransomware attack. Without the expected security measures in place, malware can be planted laterally and attackers can gain access to other parts of the network.

Without backups, organizations have no recourse when their data is locked down.

So, preventing Cl0p from gaining a foothold in the first place is essential. Some strategies to accomplish this include:

AI-powered protection: Because Cl0p has been known to exploit zero day vulnerabilities, organizations can limit their risk of attack by using firewalls and advanced threat detection. It’s best to use tools that are built on AI to detect zero day attacks, which traditional solutions typically can’t do.
Constant monitoring: Because Cl0p can be so difficult to detect, it’s important to monitor the environment for any changes or unusual activity. The best way to do this is with automated monitoring and alert systems that will flag unusual activity.
Checking logs: Covering its tracks is typical behavior for Cl0p, but security teams can use this to detect it. Cl0p will delete logs, so if the Windows Event Log has been recently wiped, for example, there may be an infection.
Employee training: Cl0p uses spear phishing attacks, in which an attacker pretends to be an executive or other high-level member of the organization. This persona sends an email to an employee, which increases the odds that the employee will trust the included link or attachment. To prevent this, organizations should cover both classic phishing and spear phishing attack types in cybersecurity training.
Quarantine: If a user or device is compromised, disconnecting it from the corporate network and cutting off data access can limit Cl0p’s reach. Malware can then be removed from the infected device without allowing it to access the rest of the environment.
Authentication protocols: If an attacker is posing as an employee, he may be able to access sensitive data without being detected. To prevent this, organizations should implement strong authentication protocols and always require identity verification to access information.

Ransomware Prevention with Check Point

Cl0p ransomware is a highly sophisticated attack that can do serious damage to targeted organizations. The detection challenges that it poses mean it is very difficult to find once it enters the environment, so prevention is paramount. Constant, automated scans and alerts, as well as AI-powered threat detection, are useful prevention tools. They will flag even subtle changes to activity and usage within an organization, enabling security teams to arrest an initial malware payload quickly.

Check Point’s anti-ransomware solution can massively reduce the risk of Cl0p ransomware attacks.

Although it is possible to contain an attack with a thorough incident response plan, prevention saves organizations time and resources, and it costs much less in downtime and potential data leak penalties. Here’s what makes Check Point the best choice for prevention:

Complete Endpoint Protection. Preventing the most imminent threats to the endpoint.
Fastest Recovery. Automating 90% of attack detection, investigation, and remediation tasks.
Best Total Cost of Ownership. A single, efficient and cost-effective solution, fully flexible to meet your security and compliance requirements.

To learn more about how Check Point can help prevent ransomware attacks, reach out to a ransomware expert today.