RansomHub ransomware group lists www.bent-tree.com on its leak site

• Ransomware group: RansomHub
• Country: United States
• Sector: Agriculture and Food Production
• Announcement date: November 27, 2024

The RansomHub ransomware group has published a data leak announcement on its dedicated leak site, claiming that the information belongs to the organization bent-tree.com. This announcement, posted on November 27, 2024, follows a claimed intrusion into the company's systems that reportedly occurred on November 8, 2024. The group asserts that they have successfully accessed the organization's internal systems and extracted a significant volume of sensitive documentation.

Details of the claimed attack

According to the claims made by the RansomHub group, the breach involved the unauthorized acquisition of various financial and operational documents. The group has released numerous file samples to support their claims, which include internal correspondence and various financial records. The leaked data is reported to consist of 120,281 files. While the group has published these samples, they have not provided information regarding the specific ransom demand or the total size of the stolen data.

The group's announcement highlights the breadth of the information they claim to have obtained. By releasing samples of internal communications and financial records, the group employs a tactic common in double extortion ransomware attacks. In such scenarios, threat actors not only encrypt an organization's data to disrupt operations but also threaten to leak sensitive information to pressure the victim into paying a ransom. This method increases the pressure on the victim by threatening their reputation and legal standing.

Data types involved in the leak

The information released by the RansomHub group includes a wide range of sensitive documents and personal identifiers. The leaked content reportedly contains internal file directory structures and various operational documents, as evidenced by screenshots provided by the attackers. The specific types of data identified in the leak include:

• Financial data
• Tax forms
• Insurance policies
• Credit card information
• Contracts
• Employee and customer information

The presence of such diverse data types, ranging from financial budget tables and 1099 tax forms to sales contracts and boarding contracts, indicates a deep level of access into the organization's administrative and financial workflows. Furthermore, the inclusion of credit card numbers and insurance policies introduces significant risks to the individuals whose information is contained within these files.

Organization profile

Bent Tree is a Texas-based agriculture and land management company. The organization primarily focuses its operations on cattle ranching and various land development activities.

Security implications and industry context

This leak may negatively impact the financial and operational security of the organization. The exposure of shared credit card and tax data could potentially lead to identity theft or targeted phishing attacks against the affected individuals. Because the organization is based in the United States, the breach may trigger state-level data protection regulations and create potential legal obligations for the company regarding data breach notification requirements.

RansomHub is recognized as a Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) group that emerged in early 2024, operating within the post-ALPHV landscape. It has been reported that the group ceased operations in early 2025. This cessation of activity may increase the risk of the leaked data being disseminated across various platforms, as the group's active management of the leak site may change.

For organizations operating in the agriculture and land management sector, such incidents underscore the importance of robust cybersecurity frameworks. Defensive measures often include implementing multi-factor authentication, maintaining offline backups, and conducting regular security audits to identify vulnerabilities. Protecting sensitive financial and customer data is critical to maintaining operational integrity and meeting regulatory standards in the event of a cyberattack.