North Korean state hackers seen using Medusa ransomware in attacks on US, Middle East

North Korean state hackers seen using Medusa ransomware in attacks on US, Middle East

Symantec researchers linked North Korean state-backed Lazarus actors to financially motivated deployments of Medusa ransomware against at least two institutions, including a company in the Middle East and a U.S. healthcare organization. The report indicates a shift from in-house strains like Maui to ransomware-as-a-service offerings and attributes the intrusions using Lazarus-specific tools. #Medusa #Lazarus

Keypoints

  • Lazarus-linked actors deployed Medusa ransomware against a Middle Eastern company and a U.S. healthcare organization.
  • Medusa operates as a ransomware-as-a-service and has been linked to more than 350 attacks since 2023.
  • Symantec attributed the attacks to Lazarus/Andariel through exclusive custom tools, including a backdoor and a Chrome password extractor.
  • North Korean actors appear to be shifting from in-house strains like Maui to using RaaS affiliates for financial gain.
  • Nation-state groups are increasingly coordinating with cybercriminals to monetize operations or conceal espionage activity.

Read More: https://therecord.media/north-korean-hackers-using-medusa-ransomware