BlackMatter ransomware also targets VMware ESXi servers

BlackMatter gang rapidly evolves, the group has developed a Linux version that allows operators to targets VMware’s ESXi VM platform.

The BlackMatter ransomware gang has implemented a Linux encryptor to targets VMware ESXi virtual machine platform. This is the last ransomware in order of time that is able to target VM platforms, some of the other ransomware operations that do the same are REvil, RansomExx/Defray, Mespinoza, HelloKitty, and Babuk.

BlackMatter operators developed the Linux version to expand the list of targets and compromise virtualized environments.

The BlackMatter group launched its operations at at the end of July, the gang claims to be the successor of Darkside and REvil groups. Lile other ransomware operations, BlackMatter also set up its leak sitewhere it will publish data exfiltrated from the victims before encrypting their system.

The birth of the BlackMatter ransomware was first spotted by researchers at Recorded Future who also reported that the gang is setting up a network of affiliates using ads posted on two cybercrime forums, such as Exploit and XSS.

The group is recruiting crooks with access to the networks of large enterprises, which have revenues of $100 million/year or larger, in an attempt to infect them with its ransomware. The group is looking for corporate networks in the US, the UK, Canada, or Australia.

BlackMatter ransomware operators announced that they will not target healthcare organizations, critical infrastructure, organizations in the defense industry, and non-profit companies.

BlackMatter forum post – Source THE RECORD

This week, researchers from MalwareHunterTeam first spotted a Linux ELF64 encryptor for the BlackMatter ransomware gang that was designed to target VMware ESXi servers.

Malware researcher Vitali Kremez analyzed the sample and confirmed it was a BlackMatter variant that targets VMware ESXi servers.

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Pierluigi Paganini

(SecurityAffairs – hacking, BlackMatter ransomware)

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Pierluigi Paganini

Pierluigi Paganini is member of the ENISA (European Union Agency for Network and Information Security) Threat Landscape Stakeholder Group and Cyber G7 Group, he is also a Security Evangelist, Security Analyst and Freelance Writer. Editor-in-Chief at "Cyber Defense Magazine", Pierluigi is a cyber security expert with over 20 years experience in the field, he is Certified Ethical Hacker at EC Council in London. The passion for writing and a strong belief that security is founded on sharing and awareness led Pierluigi to find the security blog "Security Affairs" recently named a Top National Security Resource for US. Pierluigi is a member of the "The Hacker News" team and he is a writer for some major publications in the field such as Cyber War Zone, ICTTF, Infosec Island, Infosec Institute, The Hacker News Magazine and for many other Security magazines. Author of the Books "The Deep Dark Web" and “Digital Virtual Currency and Bitcoin”.