LockBit Hacked British Military Data

Uploaded on 2023-09-06 in TECHNOLOGY--Hackers, GOVERNMENT-Defence, FREE TO VIEW

More details are emerging of the recent supply chain attack on the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) in whch a norious Russian hacking group known as LockBit have successfully hacked and accessed gigabytes of sensitive data related to British military and intelligence sites.

The hackers reportedly targeted Zaun, a manufacturer provider of metal fences for military applications at maximum security sites.

According to the company, LockBit breached a heavily outdtated Windows 7 computer that was running software for one of its manufacturing machines. “In an otherwise up-to-date network, the breach occurred through a rogue Windows 7 PC that was running software for one of our manufacturing machines. Our own cyber security prevented the server from being encrypted. The machine has been removed and the vulnerability closed. We have been able to continue work as normal with no interruptions to service,” the company said in a statement.

Microsoft made a commitment to provide 10 years of product support for Windows 7 when it was released on October 22, 2009 and Windows 7 support ended on January 14, 2020

"We can now confirm that during the attack LockBit managed to download some data, possibly limited to the vulnerable PC but with a risk that some data on the server was accessed. It is believed that this is 10 GB of data, 0.74% of our stored data."

The Wolverhampton-based Zaun, said it believed that no classified information was downloaded, however reports indicated that attackers were able to obtain data that could be used to gain access to some of the UK's most sensitive military and research sites.

The LockBit Ransom group conducted the attack on the company's network and exfiltrated 10GB of data. The company has admittedd that the attack might have reached its server beyond the Windows 7 entry point. “Zaun was subjected to a sophisticated cyberattack on our IT network by the LockBit ransom group," read Zaun’s company statement on its website. "Our own cyber security prevented the server from being encrypted. We have been able to continue work as normal with no interruptions to service."

The obsolete Windows 7 PC that was running software for one of the firm's manufacturing machines has been removed and the vulnerability closed, according to Zaun.

Members of the British Parliament warned that any sensitive security information could be transferred to UK enemies, creating a “huge concern” for the country. A source from the defense industry said the issue is now being taken “very seriously,” but assured that there is no indication that the stolen data presents a real threat to national security.

Zaun: Microsft: The Register: The Defense Post: CSO Online: Infosecurity Magazine:

Image: Public Domain

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