[Redacted U.S.-based Manufacturing Company]

A U.S.-based manufacturing company fell victim to a **Yanluowang ransomware attack** between **July 2021 and November 2022**, facilitated by a Russian initial access broker (IAB). The attack began with the exploitation of **compromised credentials and unpatched vulnerabilities**, granting threat actors entry into the corporate network. Once inside, the Yanluowang group deployed **dual-extortion tactics**, encrypting critical systems while exfiltrating sensitive operational and proprietary data.The incident caused **significant operational disruption**, halting production lines and delaying order fulfillment for weeks. The stolen data included **proprietary manufacturing processes, customer contracts, and employee records**, some of which were threatened for public exposure unless a ransom was paid. The financial toll included **recovery costs, regulatory fines, and lost revenue**, while the company’s reputation suffered due to **public disclosure of the breach** in industry reports. The attack forced a temporary shutdown of key facilities, leading to **supply chain delays** and strained partnerships with clients who relied on just-in-time deliveries.Law enforcement later linked the intrusion to a broader campaign targeting eight U.S. organizations, highlighting the **systemic risk posed by ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) ecosystems**. The company’s cybersecurity posture was subsequently overhauled, but the long-term impact on **market trust and competitive advantage** remains a concern.

Source: https://dailysecurityreview.com/cyber-security/russian-initial-access-broker-pleads-guilty-in-yanluowang-ransomware-campaign/

Winsupply cybersecurity rating report: https://www.rankiteo.com/company/winsupply

"id": "win3532335111125",
"linkid": "winsupply",
"type": "Ransomware",
"date": "7/2021",
"severity": "100",
"impact": "5",
"explanation": "Attack threatening the organization’s existence"

{'affected_entities': [{'industry': ['Manufacturing',
                                     'Technology',
                                     'Logistics'],
                        'location': 'United States',
                        'type': ['Manufacturing',
                                 'Technology Services',
                                 'Logistics']}],
 'attack_vector': ['Compromised Credentials',
                   'Unpatched Software Vulnerabilities'],
 'data_breach': {'data_encryption': True,
                 'data_exfiltration': True,
                 'sensitivity_of_data': 'High',
                 'type_of_data_compromised': ['Sensitive Corporate Data']},
 'date_publicly_disclosed': '2023-09-01',
 'description': 'A 2023 indictment revealed that a Russian national acted as '
                'an initial access broker (IAB) for the Yanluowang ransomware '
                'group, facilitating high-impact intrusions into at least '
                'eight U.S.-based companies across manufacturing, technology '
                'services, and logistics sectors between July 2021 and '
                'November 2022. The attacks involved compromised credentials '
                'and unpatched vulnerabilities, leading to ransomware '
                'deployment, data exfiltration, and operational disruption. '
                'The individual pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges and faces '
                'sentencing under U.S. federal law.',
 'impact': {'brand_reputation_impact': 'High (Data Theft and Ransomware '
                                       'Publicity)',
            'data_compromised': True,
            'downtime': True,
            'operational_impact': 'Significant Disruption',
            'systems_affected': True},
 'initial_access_broker': {'backdoors_established': True,
                           'data_sold_on_dark_web': True,
                           'entry_point': ['Compromised Credentials',
                                           'Unpatched Vulnerabilities'],
                           'high_value_targets': ['Manufacturing',
                                                  'Technology Services',
                                                  'Logistics']},
 'investigation_status': 'Ongoing (Sentencing Pending for IAB)',
 'lessons_learned': ['Initial access brokers (IABs) play a critical role in '
                     'scaling ransomware operations by separating breach and '
                     'deployment phases.',
                     'Organizations must prioritize early detection of IAB '
                     'activity to prevent ransomware payload delivery.',
                     'Ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) models rely on '
                     'compartmentalized roles, requiring holistic defense '
                     'strategies.',
                     'U.S. law enforcement is increasingly targeting '
                     'ransomware supply chains, including IABs, developers, '
                     'and cryptocurrency launderers.'],
 'motivation': 'Financial Gain (Ransomware-as-a-Service)',
 'post_incident_analysis': {'corrective_actions': ['Enhanced MFA '
                                                   'implementation',
                                                   'Proactive vulnerability '
                                                   'patching',
                                                   'Improved threat '
                                                   'intelligence integration',
                                                   'Behavioral monitoring for '
                                                   'lateral movement'],
                            'root_causes': ['Weak credential management',
                                            'Unpatched software '
                                            'vulnerabilities',
                                            'Lack of early detection for IAB '
                                            'activity']},
 'ransomware': {'data_encryption': True,
                'data_exfiltration': True,
                'ransom_demanded': True,
                'ransomware_strain': 'Yanluowang'},
 'recommendations': ['Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for remote '
                     'and administrative access.',
                     'Monitor for suspicious lateral movement and privilege '
                     'escalation.',
                     'Patch enterprise software and infrastructure against '
                     'known vulnerabilities.',
                     'Leverage threat intelligence to track IAB activity in '
                     'criminal marketplaces.',
                     'Adopt dynamic defense and detection strategies to '
                     'disrupt early-stage intrusions.'],
 'references': [{'source': 'U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)'},
                {'source': 'FBI Cyber Division'}],
 'regulatory_compliance': {'legal_actions': ['U.S. Federal Indictment '
                                             '(Conspiracy to Commit Computer '
                                             'Fraud and Abuse)']},
 'response': {'incident_response_plan_activated': True,
              'law_enforcement_notified': True},
 'threat_actor': ['Yanluowang Ransomware Group',
                  'Russian Initial Access Broker (IAB)'],
 'title': 'Russian National Pleads Guilty as Initial Access Broker for '
          'Yanluowang Ransomware Group (2021–2022)',
 'type': ['Ransomware', 'Data Breach', 'Initial Access Broker Activity']}