CyberWire Daily - CISA Alert AA23-039A – ESXiArgs ransomware virtual machine recovery guidance. [CISA Cybersecurity Alerts]

Episode Date: February 9, 2023

CISA and the FBI are releasing this alert in response to the ongoing ransomware campaign, known as “ESXiArgs.” Malicious actors are exploiting known vulnerabilities in VMware ESXi servers that are likely running unpatched and out-of-service or out-of-date versions of VMware ESXi software to gain access and deploy ransomware. AA23-039A Alert, Technical Details, and Mitigations CISA has released an ESXiArgs recovery script at github.com/cisagov/ESXiArgs-Recover VMware Security Response Center (vSRC) Response to 'ESXiArgs' Ransomware Attack… Enes Sonmez and Ahmet Aykac, YoreGroup Tech Team: decrypt your crypted files in… See Stopransomware.gov, a whole-of-government approach, for ransomware resources and alerts. No-cost cyber hygiene services: Cyber Hygiene Services and Ransomware Readiness Assessment. See CISA Insights Mitigations and Hardening Guidance for MSPs and Small- and Mid-sized Businesses for guidance on hardening MSP and customer infrastructure. U.S. DIB sector organizations may consider signing up for the NSA Cybersecurity Collaboration Center’s DIB Cybersecurity Service Offerings, including Protective Domain Name System services, vulnerability scanning, and threat intelligence collaboration for eligible organizations. For more information on how to enroll in these services, email [e-mail]  To report incidents and anomalous activity or to request incident response resources or technical assistance related to these threats, contact CISA at [e-mail], or call [phone], or report incidents to your local FBI field office. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You're listening to the Cyber Wire Network, powered by N2K. This is a CISA cybersecurity alert. ID number Alpha Alpha two three tack zero three nine Alpha. Original release date, February 8th, 2023. Alpha. Original release date, February 8th, 2023. CISA and the FBI are releasing this alert in response to the ongoing ransomware campaign known as ESXi ARGs. Malicious actors are exploiting known vulnerabilities in VMware ESXi servers that are likely running unpatched and out-of-service or out-of-date versions of VMware ESXi software to gain access and deploy ransomware. The ESXi ARGs ransomware encrypts configuration files on ESXi servers, potentially rendering virtual machines unusable.

CISA has released an ESXi ARGs recovery script available for download on GitHub. The verified link to this script can be found in the show notes. Organizations that have fallen victim to ESXi ARGs ransomware can use this script to attempt to recover their files. The full alert documentation linked in the show notes provides additional guidance on how to use the script. Malicious actors have compromised over 3,800 servers globally. CISA and FBI encourage all organizations

managing VMware ESXi servers to update servers to the latest version of VMware ESXi software, harden ESXi hypervisors by disabling the service location protocol service, and ensure the ESXi hypervisor is not exposed to the public internet. If malicious actors have compromised your organizations with ESXi ARGs ransomware, CISA and FBI recommend following the scripting guidance provided in this alert to attempt to recover access to your files. The alert documentation linked in the show notes includes additional technical details, recovery guidance, mitigations, and response recommendations.

CISA and FBI would like to thank VMware for their contributions to this alert. To report incidents and anomalous activity or to request incident response resources or technical assistance, contact CISA at report at cisa.gov or call 888-282-0870 or report incidents to your local FBI field office. incidents to your local FBI field office. This report was written by CISA, the United States Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and edited and adapted for audio by the Cyber Wire as a public service. Please visit www.cisa.gov to read the full report, which may include additional details, links, and illustrations. A link to this report can be found in the show notes. This has been a CISA Cybersecurity Alert.