News
Kaseya Unlocking REvil-Encrypted Data Using Universal Key
- By Kurt Mackie
- July 23, 2021
IT solutions firm Kaseya is now using a "universal decryptor key" for customers affected by a REvil ransomware attack, according to an announcement this week.
As reported by Kaseya on July 2, a REvil ransomware-as-a-service group had encrypted Kaseya's customers' data, promising to unlock it for a price. The group had carried out the attacks by leveraging a zero-day vulnerability in Kaseya's VSA management solution. The attacks were described as potentially affecting about 60 of Kaseya's managed service provider (MSP) customers plus almost 1,500 of their business customers.
In a July 22 notice, Kaseya indicated that it had obtained a universal decryptor key from "a third party," which wasn't named. Kaseya's announcement left it unclear whether the third party might be the REvil gang that had launched the ransomware or some more helpful entity.
The note added that there have been "no reports of any problem or issues associated with the decryptor." Kaseya is currently contacting customers affected by the ransomware.
Customers that had used Kaseya's premises-installed VSA management solution were the ones affected by the REvil ransomware. Kaseya also offers VSA as a hosted service, but it apparently wasn't affected. The company, which provides IT management solutions to MSPs and organizations, has since patched both VSA product implementations.
Kaseya is working with New Zealand-based Emsisoft to support affected customers. "Emsisoft has confirmed the key is effective at unlocking victims," Kaseya's announcement indicated.
The attack reportedly affected 800 of Sweden's Coop grocery stores, which had be closed, according to Reuters. The ransomware had infiltrated Coop's IT service provider, which used Kaseya's product.
The REvil attackers had at one point demanded $70 million to restore all of the encrypted data.
About the Author
Kurt Mackie is senior news producer for 1105 Media's Converge360 group.