Acme Manufacturing Co., a global supplier of precision automotive components, experienced a sophisticated double-extortion intrusion by the Gunra ransomware strain. The attack began with reconnaissance activities including running process enumeration, shadow copy removal, and detailed system data gathering. Threat actors then manipulated processes to evade detection, escalate privileges, and inject malicious code before deploying FindNextFileExW-based file encryption across network shares and critical servers. Production lines stalled as encrypted archives replaced original assets, triggering operational disruptions that halted assembly plants and delayed customer deliveries. In addition, attackers exfiltrated financial records, vendor agreements, and employee credentials, threatening to publish sensitive datasets within five days unless a significant ransom was paid. The incident exposed weaknesses in endpoint defenses, network segmentation, and administrative controls, resulting in extensive forensic investigations, regulatory reporting obligations, reputational damage, and projected losses of multiple millions of dollars. The forced encryption of CAD models, inventory databases, and payroll systems underscores the high stakes of modern ransomware with data extortion tactics. In response, the company enacted crisis communications, engaged specialized cyber negotiators, and accelerated investments in advanced threat detection, secure backups, and employee training programs to strengthen its resilience against future attacks.
Source: https://www.scworld.com/brief/newly-emergent-gunra-ransomware-examined
TPRM report: https://scoringcyber.rankiteo.com/company/acmemanufacturing
"id": "acm850050725",
"linkid": "acmemanufacturing",
"type": "Ransomware",
"date": "5/2025",
"severity": "100",
"impact": "5",
"explanation": "Attack threatening the organization’s existence"{'affected_entities': [{'industry': 'Automotive',
'name': 'Acme Manufacturing Co.',
'type': 'Manufacturing'}],
'attack_vector': ['Process Enumeration',
'Shadow Copy Removal',
'System Data Gathering',
'Privilege Escalation',
'Malicious Code Injection'],
'data_breach': {'data_encryption': 'Yes',
'data_exfiltration': 'Yes',
'personally_identifiable_information': 'Employee Credentials',
'sensitivity_of_data': 'High',
'type_of_data_compromised': ['Financial Records',
'Vendor Agreements',
'Employee Credentials']},
'description': 'Acme Manufacturing Co., a global supplier of precision '
'automotive components, experienced a sophisticated '
'double-extortion intrusion by the Gunra ransomware strain. '
'The attack began with reconnaissance activities including '
'running process enumeration, shadow copy removal, and '
'detailed system data gathering. Threat actors then '
'manipulated processes to evade detection, escalate '
'privileges, and inject malicious code before deploying '
'FindNextFileExW-based file encryption across network shares '
'and critical servers. Production lines stalled as encrypted '
'archives replaced original assets, triggering operational '
'disruptions that halted assembly plants and delayed customer '
'deliveries. In addition, attackers exfiltrated financial '
'records, vendor agreements, and employee credentials, '
'threatening to publish sensitive datasets within five days '
'unless a significant ransom was paid. The incident exposed '
'weaknesses in endpoint defenses, network segmentation, and '
'administrative controls, resulting in extensive forensic '
'investigations, regulatory reporting obligations, '
'reputational damage, and projected losses of multiple '
'millions of dollars. The forced encryption of CAD models, '
'inventory databases, and payroll systems underscores the high '
'stakes of modern ransomware with data extortion tactics. In '
'response, the company enacted crisis communications, engaged '
'specialized cyber negotiators, and accelerated investments in '
'advanced threat detection, secure backups, and employee '
'training programs to strengthen its resilience against future '
'attacks.',
'impact': {'brand_reputation_impact': 'Reputational damage',
'data_compromised': ['Financial Records',
'Vendor Agreements',
'Employee Credentials'],
'downtime': 'Production lines stalled',
'financial_loss': 'Multiple millions of dollars',
'operational_impact': 'Halted assembly plants and delayed customer '
'deliveries',
'systems_affected': ['Network Shares',
'Critical Servers',
'CAD Models',
'Inventory Databases',
'Payroll Systems']},
'initial_access_broker': {'entry_point': ['Process Enumeration',
'Shadow Copy Removal',
'System Data Gathering']},
'investigation_status': 'Extensive forensic investigations',
'motivation': 'Financial Gain',
'post_incident_analysis': {'corrective_actions': ['Advanced threat detection',
'Secure backups',
'Employee training '
'programs'],
'root_causes': ['Weaknesses in endpoint defenses',
'Network segmentation',
'Administrative controls']},
'ransomware': {'data_encryption': 'Yes',
'data_exfiltration': 'Yes',
'ransom_demanded': 'Significant',
'ransomware_strain': 'Gunra'},
'regulatory_compliance': {'regulatory_notifications': 'Regulatory reporting '
'obligations'},
'response': {'communication_strategy': 'Crisis communications',
'recovery_measures': ['Advanced threat detection',
'Secure backups',
'Employee training programs'],
'third_party_assistance': 'Specialized cyber negotiators'},
'threat_actor': 'Gunra Ransomware Operators',
'title': 'Double-Extortion Ransomware Attack on Acme Manufacturing Co.',
'type': 'Ransomware'}