Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores targeted by Onyx ransomware group

• Ransomware group: Onyx
• Sector: Government & Defense
• Announcement date: September 27, 2022

The Onyx ransomware group has issued an announcement on its leak site claiming to have compromised data belonging to the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores. This claim, posted on September 27, 2022, suggests a targeted operation against the government institution.

The alleged attack and group claims

According to the announcement made by the Onyx group, the threat actor successfully targeted the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores. The group claims to have gained unauthorized access to the organization's networks. Following this network intrusion, the group asserts that they were able to exfiltrate sensitive data from the victim's systems.

The incident was officially listed on the group's dedicated leak site. The timing of the announcement and the claimed date of the attack are both recorded as September 27, 2022. While the group has taken credit for the intrusion, they have not provided specific technical details regarding the method of entry or the specific nature of the network compromise.

Details regarding the alleged data breach

Despite the claims made by the Onyx group regarding the theft of sensitive information, the group has been uncooperative in providing specific evidence. Currently, the listing names no specific data types or categories of information that were allegedly stolen.

Furthermore, the following information remains unavailable through the group's public announcement:

• No details or sample files regarding the alleged leaked data have been provided.
• No screenshots of the stolen data have been made available.
• The total size of the claimed data theft has not been disclosed.
• The total count of files involved in the breach has not been specified.
• No ransom demand has been issued or listed in the announcement.

This lack of transparency is a common characteristic in many ransomware operations, where groups may use the threat of leaking data as leverage in double extortion schemes. In such scenarios, attackers not only encrypt an organization's systems but also steal sensitive information, threatening to publish it on a leak site unless a ransom is paid.

Potential implications and security considerations

This incident may indicate the presence of potential security vulnerabilities within the digital infrastructure of the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores. Because the alleged leaked data belongs to a government institution, the situation carries significant risks. The disclosure of information could potentially involve diplomatic or strategic information, which could have broader implications for the state.

From a security standpoint, such a breach can lead to secondary threats, including identity theft or highly targeted phishing attacks directed at employees of the organization and other related parties. The limited public information available regarding the Onyx group makes it difficult to assess their specific tactics, techniques, and procedures.

For organizations operating within the government and defense sector, such incidents highlight the necessity of robust defensive measures. Standard security practices to mitigate these risks include:

• Network Segmentation: Implementing strict segmentation to prevent lateral movement by attackers once they have gained initial access.
• Data Encryption: Ensuring that sensitive data is encrypted both at rest and in transit to render it useless if exfiltrated.
• Continuous Monitoring: Maintaining rigorous monitoring of network traffic to detect unauthorized access or unusual data transfers.
• Incident Response Planning: Having a well-defined legal and technical response plan in place.

Depending on the specific data protection regulations in the region where the institution operates, a formal data breach notification and the initiation of legal processes may be required following such an event.