RETAL Baltic Films listed on Inc Ransom leak site

• Ransomware group: Inc Ransom
• Country: Cyprus
• Sector: Agriculture and Food Production
• Announcement date: January 21, 2025

Inc Ransom claims breach of RETAL Baltic Films

The ransomware group known as Inc Ransom has listed RETAL Baltic Films on its dedicated leak site. According to the announcement made on January 21, 2025, the threat actors claim to have obtained various documents belonging to the organization. This listing serves as a public notification from the group, implying that they may have gained unauthorized access to the internal network of the company.

The incident was announced on the same day it was allegedly carried out. While the group has posted evidence to support their claims, no specific information was provided regarding the total size of the stolen data, the exact number of files compromised, or a specific ransom demand. The announcement type is categorized as a data leak, signaling a potential breach of sensitive information.

Details of the alleged data theft

To support their claims of a successful intrusion, the Inc Ransom group has shared evidence in the form of screenshots. These visual proofs appear to show files containing various records related to the organization's commercial operations. The content of these files is central to the group's leverage in their extortion attempts.

Based on the evidence provided by the threat actor, the following types of data are reportedly involved in this incident:

• Financial documents
• Commercial invoices

The presence of these documents suggests that the attackers have accessed administrative or commercial directories containing sensitive business information. Such data is often targeted by ransomware groups to increase pressure on an organization during negotiations.

About RETAL Baltic Films

RETAL Baltic Films is an international company specializing in the production of PET packaging solutions specifically designed for the food and beverage industry. The organization maintains a significant global presence, operating 19 production sites across 10 different countries. Through this extensive network, the company is able to serve more than 70 countries worldwide.

The company operates as part of RETAL Industries Ltd, which maintains its corporate headquarters in Limassol, Cyprus. Given its role in the food and beverage supply chain, the organization plays a vital part in the packaging logistics for various global markets.

Risk assessment and potential implications

The tactics employed by Inc Ransom involve a method known as double extortion. In this scenario, threat actors do not merely encrypt an organization's data to disrupt operations; they also steal sensitive information to threaten its public release. This dual approach significantly increases the pressure on the victim to comply with ransom demands, as the threat of a data leak poses long-term risks that encryption alone does not present.

The potential consequences of this incident are multifaceted. First, there is a significant risk of sensitive commercial data being leaked to the public. Such a leak could trigger complex legal processes regarding data protection obligations, particularly under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the various European Union countries where the organization conducts its business. Furthermore, the exposure of commercial invoices and financial records can create secondary risks for the organization's supply chain partners and its various commercial relationships.

Beyond legal and commercial risks, the publication of such data can lead to substantial reputational damage. Additionally, the exposure of internal documents may leave the organization more vulnerable to targeted phishing attacks, as attackers can use the leaked information to craft highly convincing social engineering campaigns. The Inc Ransom group, which has been known to be active since mid-2023, continues to pose a threat to international organizations through these sophisticated extortion methods.

For organizations operating in similar sectors, maintaining robust security postures is essential. This includes implementing strict access controls, monitoring network traffic for unauthorized access, and ensuring that all commercial and financial data is encrypted both at rest and in transit. Regular audits and comprehensive incident response plans are also critical to mitigating the impact of such potential breaches.