CISA and Partners Release Advisory on Iran-based Cyber Actors Enabling Ransomware Attacks on US Organizations

CISA and Partners Release Advisory on Iran-based Cyber Actors Enabling Ransomware Attacks on US Organizations

https://www.cisa.gov/cybersecurity-advisories/alerts.xml / Wed, 08/28/2024 - 17:22

Today, CISA—in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center (DC3)—released Iran-based Cyber Actors Enabling Ransomware Attacks on U.S. Organizations. This joint advisory warns of cyber actors, known in the private sector as Pioneer Kitten, UNC757, Parisite, Rubidium, and Lemon Sandstorm, targeting and exploiting U.S. and foreign organizations across multiple sectors in the U.S. 

FBI investigations conducted as recently as August 2024 assess that cyber actors like Pioneer Kitten are connected with the Government of Iran (GOI) and linked to an Iranian information technology (IT) company. Their malicious cyber operations are aimed at deploying ransomware attacks to obtain and develop network access. These operations aid malicious cyber actors in further collaborating with affiliate actors to continue deploying ransomware. 

This advisory highlights similarities to a previous advisory, Iran-Based Threat Actor Exploits VPN Vulnerabilities published on Sept. 15, 2020, and provides known indicators of compromise (IOCs) and tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs). 

CISA and partners encourage critical infrastructure organizations to review and implement the mitigations provided in this joint advisory to reduce the likelihood and impact of ransomware incidents. For more information on Iranian state-sponsored threat actor activity, see CISA’s Iran Cyber Threat Overview and Advisories page. 

See #StopRansomware along with the updated #StopRansomware Guide for additional guidance on ransomware protection, detection, and response. Visit CISA’s Cross-Sector Cybersecurity Performance Goals for more information on the CPGs, including additional recommended baseline protections.

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Kenya Education Network CERT(KENET-CERT) is a Cybersecurity Emergency Response Team and Co-ordination Center operated by the National Research and Education Network of Kenya. KENET-CERT coordination center promotes awareness on cybersecurity incidences as well as coordinates and assists member institutions in responding effectively to cyber security threats and incidences. KENET-CERT works closely with Kenya's National CIRT coordination center (CIRT/CC) as a sector CIRT for the academic institutions. KENET promotes use of ICT in Teaching, Learning and Research in Higher Education Institutions in Kenya. KENET aims to interconnect all the Universities, Tertiary and Research Institutions in Kenya by setting up a cost effective and sustainable private network with high speed access to the global Internet. KENET also facilitates electronic communication among students and faculties in member institutions, share learning and teaching resources by collaboration in Research and Development of Educational content.