LockBit attacks Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) of Kuwait

Incident Date: Feb 27, 2023

Attack Overview
VICTIM
Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) of Kuwait
INDUSTRY
Government
LOCATION
Kuwait
ATTACKER
Lockbit
FIRST REPORTED
February 27, 2023

LockBit Ransomware Gang Targets Kuwait's Ministry of Commerce and Industry

The LockBit ransomware gang has attacked the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) of Kuwait. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) of Kuwait is a government ministry responsible for overseeing and regulating various aspects of the country's commerce, trade, industry, and investment. Its primary objective is to promote economic growth, facilitate business activities, and ensure fair trade practices in Kuwait.

LockBit posted the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) of Kuwait on February 27th, threatening to publish all stolen data by March 16th if the organization fails to respond. LockBit never published the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) of Kuwait's data, suggesting the organization paid the ransom.

LockBit's Operations and Evolution

LockBit has been active since 2019 and is enabled with security tool evasion capabilities and an extremely fast encryption speed. LockBit is noted for using a triple extortion model where the victim may also be asked to purchase their sensitive information in addition to paying the ransom demand for decrypting systems.

The group continues to improve its attack platform and introduced LockBit in June of 2022, which bore some similarities to the BlackMatter ransomware. The latest version incorporates advanced anti-analysis features and is a threat to both Windows and Linux systems.

LockBit employs a Base64-encoded hash and an RSA public key in its configuration and hashes it with MD5. LockBit also created its own bug bounty program.

Disclaimer

The Halcyon Attacks Lookout Database is compiled using publicly available information based on the hosting choices of real-world threat actors and data from a variety of trackers. This information is provided in accordance with principles of fair use. Halcyon has made reasonable efforts to sanitize and verify the data; however, we do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided. Updates to the database are made as new source data becomes available from reputable sources.  By accessing, viewing, or using the information within the Halcyon Attacks Lookout Database, you acknowledge and agree to do so entirely at your own risk. No reliance should be placed upon the information for decision-making, and Halcyon disclaims all liability for any inaccuracies or omissions in the data.

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