• Home
  • Cyber Crime
  • Cyber warfare
  • APT
  • Data Breach
  • Deep Web
  • Digital ID
  • Hacking
  • Hacktivism
  • Intelligence
  • Internet of Things
  • Laws and regulations
  • Malware
  • Mobile
  • Reports
  • Security
  • Social Networks
  • Terrorism
  • ICS-SCADA
  • POLICIES
  • Contact me
MUST READ

Law enforcement operations seized BlackSuit ransomware gang’s darknet sites

 | 

Arizona woman sentenced for aiding North Korea in U.S. IT job fraud scheme

 | 

Operation CargoTalon targets Russia’s aerospace with EAGLET malware,

 | 

Unpatched flaw in EoL LG LNV5110R cameras lets hackers gain Admin access

 | 

Koske, a new AI-Generated Linux malware appears in the threat landscape

 | 

Mitel patches critical MiVoice MX-ONE Auth bypass flaw

 | 

Coyote malware is first-ever malware abusing Windows UI Automation

 | 

SonicWall fixed critical flaw in SMA 100 devices exploited in Overstep malware attacks

 | 

DSPM & AI Are Booming: $17.87B and $4.8T Markets by 2033

 | 

Stealth backdoor found in WordPress mu-Plugins folder

 | 

U.S. CISA adds CrushFTP, Google Chromium, and SysAid flaws to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

 | 

U.S. CISA urges FCEB agencies to fix two Microsoft SharePoint flaws immediately and added them to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

 | 

Sophos fixed two critical Sophos Firewall vulnerabilities

 | 

French Authorities confirm XSS.is admin arrested in Ukraine

 | 

Microsoft linked attacks on SharePoint flaws to China-nexus actors

 | 

Cisco confirms active exploitation of ISE and ISE-PIC flaws

 | 

SharePoint under fire: new ToolShell attacks target enterprises

 | 

CrushFTP zero-day actively exploited at least since July 18

 | 

Hardcoded credentials found in HPE Aruba Instant On Wi-Fi devices

 | 

MuddyWater deploys new DCHSpy variants amid Iran-Israel conflict

 | 
  • Home
  • Cyber Crime
  • Cyber warfare
  • APT
  • Data Breach
  • Deep Web
  • Digital ID
  • Hacking
  • Hacktivism
  • Intelligence
  • Internet of Things
  • Laws and regulations
  • Malware
  • Mobile
  • Reports
  • Security
  • Social Networks
  • Terrorism
  • ICS-SCADA
  • POLICIES
  • Contact me
  • Home
  • Breaking News
  • Cyber Crime
  • Malware
  • Security
  • Researchers found the first Linux variant of the RTM locker

Researchers found the first Linux variant of the RTM locker

Pierluigi Paganini April 27, 2023

RTM ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) started offering locker ransomware that targets Linux, NAS, and ESXi systems.

The Uptycs threat research team discovered the first ransomware binary attributed to the RTM ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) provider. The new variant of the encryptor targets Linux, NAS, and ESXi hosts, it appears to be based on the source code of Babuk ransomware that was leaked online in 2021. The encryptor uses a combination of ECDH on Curve25519 (asymmetric encryption) and Chacha20 (symmetric encryption) to encrypt files.

Researchers from cybersecurity firm Trellix first detailed this month the tactics, techniques, and procedures of the emerging cybercriminal gang called ‘Read The Manual RTM Locker. The group operates a ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) and provides its malicious code to a network of affiliates by imposing strict rules. The group aims at flying below the radar, and like other groups, doesn’t target systems in the CIS region.

The group also avoids targeting morgues, hospitals, COVID-19 vaccine-related organizations, critical infrastructure, law enforcement, and other prominent companies to attract as little attention as possible.

RTM locker

The affiliates are obliged to remain active, or their account will be removed after 10 days without notifying them upfront.

The gang’s affiliates must keep the RTM Locker malware builds private to prevent they can be analyzed. The researchers discovered that the samples contain a self-delete mechanism which is invoked once the victim’s device is encrypted. The group threatens to ban every affiliate who does leak samples.

RTM Locker specifically targets ESXi hosts and the malicious code supports the following two ESXi commands:

  1. “esxcli vm process list >> vmlist.tmp.txt”
    This command lists all the ESXi VMs currently running on the system.
  2. “esxcli vm process kill -t=force -w”
    This command kills all the ESXi VMs that were found by the previous command

“RTM Locker was identified during Uptycs’ dark web hunting. Its malware is specifically geared toward ESXi hosts, as it contains two related commands. Its initial access vector remains unknown. Both asymmetric and symmetric encryption make it impossible to decrypt files without the attacker’s private key.” reads the analysis published by Uptycs.

RTM ransomware

At the time of this writing, the initial access vector is unknown.

Once encrypted the files, the ransomware drops a ransom note in each directory containing the encrypted files. The note contains instructions to contact the operators via Tox, the group threatens to leak stolen files if the victims will not contact them within 48 hours.

Blogger Awards 2022 – VOTE FOR YOUR WINNERS
Vote for me in the sections:

  • The Teacher – Most Educational Blog
  • The Entertainer – Most Entertaining Blog
  • The Tech Whizz – Best Technical Blog
  • Best Social Media Account to Follow (@securityaffairs)

Please nominate Security Affairs as your favorite blog.

Nominate here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfaFMkrMlrLhOBsRPKdv56Y4HgC88Bcji4V7OCxCm_OmyPoLw/viewform

Follow me on Twitter: @securityaffairs and Facebook and Mastodon

Pierluigi Paganini

(SecurityAffairs – hacking, Uptycs)


facebook linkedin twitter

Cybercrime Hacking hacking news information security news IT Information Security LINUX Pierluigi Paganini RTM ransomware Security Affairs Security News

you might also like

Pierluigi Paganini July 26, 2025
Law enforcement operations seized BlackSuit ransomware gang’s darknet sites
Read more
Pierluigi Paganini July 26, 2025
Arizona woman sentenced for aiding North Korea in U.S. IT job fraud scheme
Read more

leave a comment

newsletter

Subscribe to my email list and stay
up-to-date!

    recent articles

    Law enforcement operations seized BlackSuit ransomware gang’s darknet sites

    Cyber Crime / July 26, 2025

    Arizona woman sentenced for aiding North Korea in U.S. IT job fraud scheme

    Intelligence / July 26, 2025

    Operation CargoTalon targets Russia’s aerospace with EAGLET malware,

    Intelligence / July 25, 2025

    Unpatched flaw in EoL LG LNV5110R cameras lets hackers gain Admin access

    Security / July 25, 2025

    Koske, a new AI-Generated Linux malware appears in the threat landscape

    Malware / July 25, 2025

    To contact me write an email to:

    Pierluigi Paganini :
    pierluigi.paganini@securityaffairs.co

    LEARN MORE

    QUICK LINKS

    • Home
    • Cyber Crime
    • Cyber warfare
    • APT
    • Data Breach
    • Deep Web
    • Digital ID
    • Hacking
    • Hacktivism
    • Intelligence
    • Internet of Things
    • Laws and regulations
    • Malware
    • Mobile
    • Reports
    • Security
    • Social Networks
    • Terrorism
    • ICS-SCADA
    • POLICIES
    • Contact me

    Copyright@securityaffairs 2024

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
    Cookie SettingsAccept All
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities...
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT