The Clop (Cl0p) Adapting Tactics in the Shadows

Profile: The Clop (Cl0p) Ransomware Group Post-MOVEit Exploit: A Silent Menace

In the aftermath of the high-profile MOVEit Transfer exploit in mid-2023, the Clop ransomware group, notorious for its audacious cyberattacks, has adopted an uncharacteristically low profile. This shift raises critical questions about their current activities, future intentions, and, notably, their apparent organizational structure.

The MOVEit Exploit: A Brief Recap

In May 2023, Clop exploited a zero-day vulnerability in the MOVEit Transfer software, leading to data breaches across numerous organizations. This attack underscored Clop’s capability to identify and exploit critical vulnerabilities in widely used systems at scale.

While no one can precisely estimate the size of the team required to compromise over 2,500 organizations simultaneously, it’s evident that Clop or Cl0p must have had access to a substantial pool of personnel to execute such a large-scale campaign.

The Subsequent Silence

Following the MOVEit incident, Clop’s overt activities have notably diminished. This silence is atypical for a group known for publicizing their exploits and pressuring victims through data leak sites. Several hypotheses may explain this behavior:

1. Strategic Retrenchment: Clop may be regrouping, refining their tactics, and developing new tools to evade detection. This period of quiet could be a strategic pause to plan more sophisticated attacks.
2. Law Enforcement Pressure: Increased scrutiny from global law enforcement agencies might have forced Clop to reduce their visible activities to avoid detection and arrest.
3. Shift to Covert Operations: Clop could be focusing on less conspicuous, targeted attacks, opting for stealth over the high-profile campaigns that previously characterized their operations.

Ongoing Activities

A brief visit to Clop’s leaks page shows a very slow and small trickle of publications, primarily from small to medium-sized organizations across various sectors. This is of interest as it suggests several possibilities:

1. The group may be staying under the radar while keeping their team engaged.
2. This change in tactics is not feasible under a Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) model, as control over affiliates would be minimal. This suggests Clop may not operate as a RaaS group but rather under a different structure, as affiliates would have the option to defect to other groups.
3. Clop/Cl0p could be preparing for another large-scale campaign, similar to their past attacks on GoAnywhere, MOVEit, and Accellion exploits.

These behaviors indicate that Clop remains active but is operating with greater discretion.

Potential Future Actions

Given Clop’s history and current behavior, several scenarios are plausible:

• Exploitation of Emerging Vulnerabilities: Clop may be identifying and preparing to exploit new zero-day vulnerabilities, as seen in previous campaigns. Such a campaign could entail a long-term strategy focused on maximizing data exfiltration.
• RaaS Direction?: Clop could be developing or enhancing RaaS offerings, although this seems unlikely given the lack of recruitment efforts and the challenges of control in this model.

The Clop ransomware group’s current low visibility does not equate to inactivity. Their adaptability and innovation suggest they are recalibrating their strategies, potentially preparing for more covert and sophisticated operations.

CYPFER’s Expertise and Support

At CYPFER, we bring unmatched expertise in ransomware response and threat intelligence to help organizations understand and mitigate relevant risks associated with groups like Clop and many others. Our team is deeply knowledgeable about threat actor behaviors and tactics, positioning us as a trusted partner in navigating, recovering and preparing defenses against complex cyber threats. With 24/7 support and a recovery-led approach, CYPFER provides the insight and response capability organizations need to safeguard their operations and recover with confidence. Whether through proactive threat intelligence, advisory services, or full incident response, we stand ready to support our clients in addressing and overcoming ransomware challenges.