October 13, 2023 at 10:57AM
The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has shared new details about vulnerabilities exploited by ransomware groups in order to help critical infrastructure organizations defend against attacks. Through its Ransomware Vulnerability Warning Pilot program, CISA has identified over 800 vulnerable systems frequently targeted by ransomware operations. CISA has also developed a catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities and a companion list of misconfigurations and weaknesses used in ransomware campaigns. These efforts are part of CISA’s broader campaign to combat the rising threat of ransomware.
Key Takeaways from the Meeting Notes:
1. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has shared additional details on misconfigurations and security vulnerabilities exploited by ransomware gangs.
2. CISA’s Ransomware Vulnerability Warning Pilot (RVWP) program has identified and shared information on over 800 vulnerable systems targeted by ransomware operations.
3. Organizations may be unaware of vulnerabilities present on their networks that are being exploited by ransomware threat actors.
4. CISA has added a column in their “known exploited vulnerabilities” catalog to highlight vulnerabilities used in ransomware campaigns.
5. CISA has also developed a companion list of misconfigurations and weaknesses known to be used in ransomware campaigns.
6. The efforts are part of a broader campaign by CISA to address the escalating ransomware threat to critical infrastructure.
7. The Ransomware Readiness Assessment (RRA), introduced by CISA, helps organizations evaluate their preparedness to thwart and recover from ransomware attacks.
8. CISA has provided guidance to government and private sector entities to prevent data breaches caused by ransomware incidents.
9. CISA established the Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative (JCDC) to partner with the private sector and jointly safeguard critical U.S. infrastructure from ransomware and cyber threats.
10. StopRansomware.gov is a dedicated online portal launched by CISA to provide information and resources to defenders for preparing and mitigating ransomware attacks.