Introduction
The mass-exploitation of MOVEit Transfer software has cemented itself as the largest hack of 2023, with over 1,000 known victims and a staggering 60 million impacted individuals. The full impact of this attack will likely remain untold for months to come, but one thing is certain: the fallout from the MOVEit breach is severe.
The Breach Begins
In May, Progress disclosed a zero-day vulnerability in MOVEit Transfer, its managed file transfer service used by thousands of organizations worldwide. The critical-rated vulnerability allowed attackers, specifically the notorious Clop ransomware and extortion gang, to raid MOVEit Transfer servers and steal customers’ sensitive data.
The Aftermath
Since then, Clop’s attacks and threats to publish stolen data if payments are not received have continued unabated. The number of known victim organizations has surpassed 1,000, with a corresponding increase in the number of individuals impacted.
By the Numbers
- 60,144,069: The number of impacted individuals, according to Emsisoft.
- 83.9%: The percentage of U.S.-based organizations among known MOVEit corporate victims.
- 11 million: The number of individuals affected in the Maximus breach.
- $9,923,771,385: The estimated total cost of the MOVEit mass-hacks so far.
The Victims
The list of victims is staggering:
- Maximus: The largest victim, with 11 million impacted individuals.
- Pôle emploi: The French government’s unemployment agency, which confirmed a breach affecting up to 10 million people.
- Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles: With 6 million affected individuals.
- Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing: With 4 million impacted individuals.
- Oregon Department of Transportation: With 3.5 million affected individuals.
The Financial Toll
The cost of the MOVEit mass-hacks is estimated to be over $9 billion, with some victims paying significant ransom payments.
Clop’s Staggering Demand
- $100,000,000: The amount that Clop could earn from the MOVEit mass-hacking campaign.
- Zero: The amount of government data that Clop claims to hold on government, city or police services.
Lessons Learned
The MOVEit mass hacks hold a valuable lesson for the software industry: vulnerabilities in critical systems can have devastating consequences. It is essential to prioritize security and invest in robust measures to prevent such breaches from occurring in the future.
Industry Response
- Progress: The company behind MOVEit Transfer has issued patches and updates to address the vulnerability.
- Software Industry: The industry as a whole must take steps to improve security and prevent similar breaches from happening again.
Conclusion
The MOVEit mass hack is a wake-up call for the software industry. It highlights the need for robust security measures, regular updates, and patches to prevent such devastating breaches from occurring in the future.
