Accellion data breach: Difference between revisions
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|Type=Security | |Type=Security | ||
|Description=A security breach affecting over 25 companies, medical institutions and schools. | |Description=A security breach affecting over 25 companies, medical institutions and schools. | ||
}}Around Mid December in 2020, several hacker group going by the names FIN11, UNC2546, and CLOP, infiltrated [[wikipedia:Kiteworks|Accellion]] systems using [[wikipedia:SQL_injection|SQL injection,]] affecting organizations delving to various aspects of education, medicine, and finance, leaking over 9 million customers and employees personal information.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Burgess |first=Monica |date=31 | }}Around Mid December in 2020, several hacker group going by the names FIN11, UNC2546, and CLOP, infiltrated [[wikipedia:Kiteworks|Accellion]] systems using [[wikipedia:SQL_injection|SQL injection,]] affecting organizations delving to various aspects of education, medicine, and finance, leaking over 9 million customers and employees personal information.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Burgess |first=Monica |date=2025-10-31 |title=Accellion Data Breach |url=https://www.huntress.com/threat-library/data-breach/accellion-data-breach |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260306051955/https://www.huntress.com/threat-library/data-breach/accellion-data-breach |archive-date=2026-03-06 |access-date=2026-03-25 |website=[[Huntress]]}}</ref> This later turn into a lawsuit that reached a $8.1 million settlement on 20 January 2022. | ||
==Background== | ==Background== | ||
A financially motivated hacker group going by FIN11 has conducted malware and ransomware attacks against financial, retail, and medical related organizations since 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stark |first=Genevieve |last2=Moore |first2=Andrew |last3=Cannon |first3=Vincent |last4=Leary |first4=Jacqueline |last5=Fraser |first5=Nalani |last6=Goody |first6=Kimberly |date=14 October 2020 |title=Threat Research FIN11: Widespread Email Campaigns as Precursor for Ransomware and Data Theft |url=https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2020/10/fin11-email-campaigns-precursor-for-ransomware-data-theft.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017221743/https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2020/10/fin11-email-campaigns-precursor-for-ransomware-data-theft.html |archive-date=17 October 2020 |access-date=26 March 2026 |website=Fire Eye}}</ref> It shares close ties to [[wikipedia:Clop_(hacker_group)#GoAnywhere_MFT_attack_(2023)|CLOP]], a hacker group that since 2016 has ran phishing campaigns and malware distributions<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brubaker |first=Nathan |last2=Zafra |first2=Daniel |last3=Lunden |first3=Keith |last4=Proska |first4=Ken |last5=Hildebrandt |first5=Corey |date=15 July 2020 |title=Financially Motivated Actors Are Expanding Access Into OT: Analysis of Kill Lists That Include OT Processes Used With Seven Malware Families |url=https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2020/07/financially-motivated-actors-are-expanding-access-into-ot.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716090918/https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2020/07/financially-motivated-actors-are-expanding-access-into-ot.html |archive-date=16 July 2020 |access-date=26 March 2026 |website=Fire Eye}}</ref>, and UNC2546, an unknown hacker group that been shown to conduct malware attacks and SQL injection.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ropek |first=Lucas |date=23 | A financially motivated hacker group going by FIN11 has conducted malware and ransomware attacks against financial, retail, and medical related organizations since 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stark |first=Genevieve |last2=Moore |first2=Andrew |last3=Cannon |first3=Vincent |last4=Leary |first4=Jacqueline |last5=Fraser |first5=Nalani |last6=Goody |first6=Kimberly |date=14 October 2020 |title=Threat Research FIN11: Widespread Email Campaigns as Precursor for Ransomware and Data Theft |url=https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2020/10/fin11-email-campaigns-precursor-for-ransomware-data-theft.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017221743/https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2020/10/fin11-email-campaigns-precursor-for-ransomware-data-theft.html |archive-date=17 October 2020 |access-date=26 March 2026 |website=Fire Eye}}</ref> It shares close ties to [[wikipedia:Clop_(hacker_group)#GoAnywhere_MFT_attack_(2023)|CLOP]], a hacker group that since 2016 has ran phishing campaigns and malware distributions<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brubaker |first=Nathan |last2=Zafra |first2=Daniel |last3=Lunden |first3=Keith |last4=Proska |first4=Ken |last5=Hildebrandt |first5=Corey |date=15 July 2020 |title=Financially Motivated Actors Are Expanding Access Into OT: Analysis of Kill Lists That Include OT Processes Used With Seven Malware Families |url=https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2020/07/financially-motivated-actors-are-expanding-access-into-ot.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716090918/https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2020/07/financially-motivated-actors-are-expanding-access-into-ot.html |archive-date=16 July 2020 |access-date=26 March 2026 |website=Fire Eye}}</ref>, and UNC2546, an unknown hacker group that been shown to conduct malware attacks and SQL injection.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ropek |first=Lucas |date=2021-02-23 |title=What We Know About the Hackers Behind the Accellion Data Breach |url=https://gizmodo.com/what-we-know-about-the-hackers-behind-the-accellion-dat-1846316990 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250723040100/https://gizmodo.com/what-we-know-about-the-hackers-behind-the-accellion-dat-1846316990 |archive-date=2025-07-23 |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=[[Gizmodo]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Stone |first=Jeff |date=2021-02-22 |title=FireEye IDs hacking group suspected in Accellion, Kroger breach |url=https://cyberscoop.com/fireeye-ids-hacking-group-suspected-in-accellion-kroger-breach/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260118200149/https://cyberscoop.com/fireeye-ids-hacking-group-suspected-in-accellion-kroger-breach/ |archive-date=2026-01-18 |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=[[Cyberscoop]]}}</ref> | ||
Founded in 1999, Accellion is a file sharing service provider that later rebranded into Kiteworks. | Founded in 1999, Accellion is a file sharing service provider that later rebranded into Kiteworks. | ||
==The Attack== | ==The Attack== | ||
Around Mid December, FIN11 targeted Accellion 20 year legacy {{Wplink|File transfer|File Transfer Appliance}} (FTA), deploying two {{Wplink|Zero-day vulnerability|zero-day-vulnerabilities}} that granted access to installation of a custom [[wikipedia:Web_shell|web shell]] named DEWMODE<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 | Around Mid December, FIN11 targeted Accellion 20 year legacy {{Wplink|File transfer|File Transfer Appliance}} (FTA), deploying two {{Wplink|Zero-day vulnerability|zero-day-vulnerabilities}} that granted access to installation of a custom [[wikipedia:Web_shell|web shell]] named DEWMODE<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-02-23 |title=Accellion Compromise Impacts Many Targets Including Healthcare Organizations |url=https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/accellion-analyst-note.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250116150510/https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/accellion-analyst-note.pdf |archive-date=2025-01-16 |access-date=26 March 2026 |website=[[Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center (HC3)]]}}</ref>, allowing for SQL injection into Accellion systems. On 16 December, Accellion became aware of the vulnerability after a customer reported the vulnerability, and shorty after releasing a patch within 72 hours on 20 and 23 of December 2020.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Neill |first=Rob |date=3 March 2021 |title=Accellion hack: timeline clarifies when and how customers were notified |url=https://www.arnnet.com.au/article/1261917/accellion-hack-timeline-clarifies-when-and-how-customers-were-notified.html |url-status=live |access-date=26 March 2026 |website=ARN}}</ref> On 12 January, the company released a statement announcing the attack and urging customers to update to their newely released communication platform kiteworks.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 January 2021 |title=Press Release Accellion Responds to Recent FTA Security Incident |url=https://www.kiteworks.com/company/press-releases/accellion-responds-to-recent-fta-security-incident/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260118203606/https://www.kiteworks.com/company/press-releases/accellion-responds-to-recent-fta-security-incident/ |archive-date=18 January 2026 |access-date=26 March 2026 |website=Kiteworks}}</ref> On 20 January, hackers conducted more attacks after finding new vulnerabilities that included 2 more [[wikipedia:Zero-day_vulnerability|zero-day-vulnerabilities]]<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=1 March 2021 |title=ACCELLION, INC. FILE TRANSFER APPLIANCE (FTA) SECURITY ASSESSMENT |url=https://kiteworks.com/sites/default/files/trust-center/accellion-fta-attack-mandiant-report-full.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128204658/https://kiteworks.com/sites/default/files/trust-center/accellion-fta-attack-mandiant-report-full.pdf |archive-date=28 November 2021 |access-date=27 March 2026 |website=Kiteworks}}</ref>, however after the vulnerability were noticed by Accellion customer service on 22 January, they were shortly patched three days later.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />Around late January, victims started receiving ransom emails that threatens to publish the stolen data. If the victim didn't respond, they would receive several more warnings messages urging the victim to respond.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ilascu |first=Ionut |date=22 February 2021 |title=Global Accellion data breaches linked to Clop ransomware gang |url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/global-accellion-data-breaches-linked-to-clop-ransomware-gang/ |url-status=live |access-date=27 March 2026 |website=BleepingComputer}}</ref> The company would implement another patch on 28 January that enhanced the security of the 23 December patch. On 01 February, Accellion released an statement detailing the attack and adding no new vulnerabilities were detect at the time.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 February 2021 |title=Press Release Accellion Provides Update to Recent FTA Security Incident |url=https://www.accellion.com/company/press-releases/accellion-provides-update-to-recent-fta-security-incident/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202020120/https://www.accellion.com/company/press-releases/accellion-provides-update-to-recent-fta-security-incident/ |archive-date=2 February 2021 |access-date=26 March 2026 |website=Accellion}}</ref> A last patch was implemented on 01 March in collaboration with [[wikipedia:Mandiant|Mandiant]] (subsidiary to [[Google]]) that fixed two additional vulnerabilities.<ref name=":2" /> Accellion would announce termination of its 20 year legacy [[wikipedia:File_transfer|File Transfer Appliance]], giving customers till 30 April to make any changes to their licensing agreements.<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 March 2026 |title=Accellion |url=https://kiteworks.com/sites/default/files/resources/fta-eol.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125042927/https://kiteworks.com/sites/default/files/resources/fta-eol.pdf |archive-date=25 January 2022 |access-date=27 March 2026 |website=Kiteworks}}</ref> | ||
[[File:Accellion breach hacker group ransom demand message.png|thumb|alt=Hackers' ransom demand message.|Hackers' ransom demand message.]] | [[File:Accellion breach hacker group ransom demand message.png|thumb|alt=Hackers' ransom demand message.|Hackers' ransom demand message.]] | ||
[[File:Accellion breach hacker group last warning message.png|thumb|alt=Hacker group's last warning message.|Hacker group's last warning message.]] | [[File:Accellion breach hacker group last warning message.png|thumb|alt=Hacker group's last warning message.|Hacker group's last warning message.]] | ||
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===Trillium=== | ===Trillium=== | ||
The Company became aware of the attack on 25 January, and a month later released a statement, declaring customers address, date of birth, insurance ID number, and health information has been leaked and posted online. As compensation, the company gave 1 year credit monitoring and identity theft protection services to affected customers on 26 February.<ref>{{Cite web |date= | The Company became aware of the attack on 25 January, and a month later released a statement, declaring customers address, date of birth, insurance ID number, and health information has been leaked and posted online. As compensation, the company gave 1 year credit monitoring and identity theft protection services to affected customers on 26 February.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dissent |date=2021-03-07 |title=Trillium Community Health Plan members impacted by Accellion breach |url=https://databreaches.net/2021/03/07/trillium-community-health-plan-members-impacted-by-accellion-breach/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251008135925/https://databreaches.net/2021/03/07/trillium-community-health-plan-members-impacted-by-accellion-breach/ |archive-date=2025-10-08 |access-date=2026-03-27 |website=[[DataBreaches.Net]]}}</ref> The company discussed plans to move and remove all data from Accellion systems, review files and sharing data practices.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 February 2021 |title=Trillium vendor reports a Data Security Incident |url=https://www.trilliumohp.com/newsroom/trillium-vendor-reports-a-data-security-incident.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260214042648/https://www.trilliumohp.com/newsroom/trillium-vendor-reports-a-data-security-incident.html |archive-date=14 February 2026 |access-date=27 March 2026 |website=Trillium}}</ref> | ||
===Morgan Stanley=== | ===Morgan Stanley=== | ||
[[wikipedia:Morgan_Stanley|Morgan Stanely]] third party vendor Guidehouse, a company that delivers account maintenance services, notified Morgan Stanely of the breach on 20 May 2021 after discovering the breach in March and finding information containing names, addresses, date of birth and social security numbers about Morgan Stanely clients in March.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gatlan |first=Sergiu |date=8 July 2021 |title=Morgan Stanley reports data breach after vendor Accellion hack |url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/morgan-stanley-reports-data-breach-after-vendor-accellion-hack/ |url-status=live |access-date=27 March 2026 |website=BleepingComputer}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Goodin |first=Dan |date=8 July 2021 |title=Morgan Stanley discloses data breach that resulted from Accellion FTA hacks |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/07/morgan-stanley-discloses-data-breach-that-resulted-from-accellion-fta-hacks/ |url-status=live |access-date=27 March 2026 |website=Arstechnica}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Paganini |first=Pierluigi |date=8 July 2021 |title=Morgan Stanley discloses data breach after the hack of a third-party vendor |url=https://securityaffairs.com/119865/data-breach/morgan-stanley-data-breach.html |url-status=live |access-date=27 March 2026 |website=SecurityAffairs}}</ref> Morgan Stanley sent emails to affected victims on 08 June and later on 02 July, sending a email to the attorney general office located in concord informing them of the attack.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gatlan |first=Sergiu |date=8 July 2021 |title=morgan-stanley-bc-20210702 |url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/20985259-morgan-stanley-bc-20210702/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 March 2026 |website=DocumentCloud}}</ref> | [[wikipedia:Morgan_Stanley|Morgan Stanely]] third party vendor Guidehouse, a company that delivers account maintenance services, notified Morgan Stanely of the breach on 20 May 2021 after discovering the breach in March and finding information containing names, addresses, date of birth and social security numbers about Morgan Stanely clients in March.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gatlan |first=Sergiu |date=8 July 2021 |title=Morgan Stanley reports data breach after vendor Accellion hack |url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/morgan-stanley-reports-data-breach-after-vendor-accellion-hack/ |url-status=live |access-date=27 March 2026 |website=BleepingComputer}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Goodin |first=Dan |date=8 July 2021 |title=Morgan Stanley discloses data breach that resulted from Accellion FTA hacks |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/07/morgan-stanley-discloses-data-breach-that-resulted-from-accellion-fta-hacks/ |url-status=live |access-date=27 March 2026 |website=Arstechnica}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Paganini |first=Pierluigi |date=8 July 2021 |title=Morgan Stanley discloses data breach after the hack of a third-party vendor |url=https://securityaffairs.com/119865/data-breach/morgan-stanley-data-breach.html |url-status=live |access-date=27 March 2026 |website=SecurityAffairs}}</ref> Morgan Stanley sent emails to affected victims on 08 June and later on 02 July, sending a email to the attorney general office located in concord informing them of the attack.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gatlan |first=Sergiu |date=8 July 2021 |title=morgan-stanley-bc-20210702 |url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/20985259-morgan-stanley-bc-20210702/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918045209/https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/20985259-morgan-stanley-bc-20210702 |archive-date=2024-09-18 |access-date=28 March 2026 |website=[[DocumentCloud]]}}</ref> | ||
===HealthNet=== | ===HealthNet=== | ||