SEXi / APT Inc Ransomware – What You Want To Know

SEXi? Significantly? What are you speaking about this time?

Don’t fret, I am not making an attempt to conjure pictures in your thoughts of Rod Stewart in his iconic leopard print trousers. As an alternative, I wish to warn you a few cybercrime group that has gained notoriety for attacking VMware ESXi servers since February 2024.

Excuse me for not realizing, however what’s VMWare EXSi?

EXSi is a hypervisor – permitting companies who wish to scale back prices and simplify administration to consolidate a number of servers onto a single bodily machine. 

ESXi is a well-liked alternative with cloud suppliers and knowledge centres which have a require to host 1000’s of digital machines for his or her prospects, however there are additionally use circumstances in healthcare, finance, schooling, and different sectors.

So the SEXi gang breaks into EXSi servers and encrypts the information?

That is appropriate. For example, in April Chilean knowledge centre and internet hosting supplier IxMetro PowerHost had its VMware ESXi servers and backups encrypted. The attackers demanded a ransom of $140 million value of Bitcoin.

140 million {dollars}? Sheesh!

It is rather a lot is not, is not it? Apparently, the ransomware group calculated the determine by demanding two Bitcoins for each PowerHost buyer whose knowledge had been. 

Apparently, the ransomware group calculated the determine by demanding two Bitcoins for each buyer of PowerHost who had had their knowledge encrypted. 

PowerHost’s CEO says that he personally negotiated with the attackers, described the demand as “exorbitant”, and refused to pay up.

So how are you aware in case your computer systems have, err.. acquired SEXi?

Encrypted information have their filenames appended with “.SEXi”. Information associated to digital machines, akin to digital disks, storage, and backup pictures, are focused. 

As well as, a ransom word is dropped onto affected programs referred to as SEXi.txt.

The ransom message tells victims to obtain the end-to-end encrypted messaging app Session, and make contact with the extortionists.

Are there any recognized weaknesses within the encryption used within the SEXi assaults that might be used to get better your knowledge with out paying?

Sadly not, and so there aren’t any freely out there instruments to get better encrypted knowledge. Companies hit by SEXi ransomware assaults need to hope that they’ve made a backup of important knowledge that has not been compromised by the cybercriminals.

None of this sounds very SEXI in any respect…

I agree. And perhaps the attackers do too. From final month onwards they seem to have tried to rebrand themselves with the marginally much less disturbing title of “APT Inc.” Which, after all, means an replace to the ransom word – though not a lot has modified in the best way the criminals function. 

What can my firm do to raised defend its VMware EXSi servers?

You may considerably strengthen the safety of your VMware ESXi setting and defend invaluable knowledge by following these steps:

• Replace and patch your VMware EXSi programs towards vulnerabilities.
• Disable the default root account and create separate person accounts granting customers solely the permissions they want.
• Ensure that passwords are sturdy, can’t be guessed or cracked, and are distinctive.
• Proactively monitor and log occasions to detect potential safety breaches.

For additional recommendation, learn VMware’s suggestions for securing EXSi.

Editor’s Notice: The opinions expressed on this visitor writer article are solely these of the contributor and don’t essentially mirror these of Tripwire.