# Hydra with Three Heads: BlackByte & The Future of Ransomware Subsidiary Groups **[advintel.io/post/hydra-with-three-heads-blackbyte-the-future-of-ransomware-subsidiary-groups](https://www.advintel.io/post/hydra-with-three-heads-blackbyte-the-future-of-ransomware-subsidiary-groups)** AdvIntel May 17, 2022 May 17 9 min read _By Vitali Kremez & Yelisey Boguslavskiy_ _This redacted report is based on our actual proactive victim technical breach intelligence and_ _subsequent incident response (not a simulated or sandbox environment) identified via unique_ _high-value Conti ransomware collections at AdvIntel via our product “Andariel.”_ ----- **_Prologue: BlackByte’s True Face_** On February 13, 2022, a novel, lesser-known ransomware collective posted the alleged financial documents of the San Francisco 49ers football team on their underground site. The threat group, known as BlackByte, was widely credited with the orchestration of the attack—However, AdvIntel’s sensitive primary-source intelligence and factual data **evidence (including IOCs) point to a different conclusion: that BlackByte was instead** **being used as a shell group to process the breach.** AdvIntel instead attributes the 49ers’ February security compromise to the now-dying Conti **ransomware group. This story hints at the answers to two now pressing questions:** **_How can established ransomware collectives utilize subsidiary groupsfor_** **_operations involving data exfiltration without also utilizing extortion tactics?_** **_What will happen to ransomware groups after Conti’s final shutdown?_** AdvIntel already published primary research regarding these trends, centered around the case study of KaraKurt, (Enter KaraKurt: Data Extortion Arm of Prolific Ransomware **_Group, published April 18). Since these findings became public, AdvIntel’s intelligence team_** has assembled its newest findings into another case: an in-depth analysis of BlackByte, the **Conti affiliate which was created for the sole purpose of maximizing Conti’s monetary** **data extortion.** ----- **_The 49ers Security Incident_** Posted on the group’s “shame blog” in a file labeled “2020 Invoices”, BlackByte’s operatives advertised 292 megabytes of what was allegedly stolen financial data belonging to the NFL team for download, available free of charge. That same day, a statement issued by the 49ers team alluded to a “network security incident”—one which had apparently disrupted corporate IT systems, but had not affected stadium operations or ticketholders (meaning that there may not have been a network lock). The data being offered was not vital to the 49ers’ operations, but rather a sample, perhaps representing an early step in what could become exponentially higher stakes for the team later on. ----- _[Screenshot of the BlackByte page advertising the stolen data. Source: BleepingComputer](https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/nfls-san-francisco-49ers-hit-by-blackbyte-ransomware-attack/)_ **_Attack Anatomy: BlackByte, or Something More?_** Media outlets were quick to speculate on the nature of the attack, noting that BlackByte, [although positioned with a number of successful ransomware attacks under their belt, was](https://www.ic3.gov/Media/News/2022/220211.pdf) still relatively inactive and decentralized as a group. The breach was notable more so for widespread name recognition in regards to its victim, and how it contributed to public anxieties for increasingly common large-scale and high-profile ransomware attacks. After all, ----- the incident raised reasonable questions both in and out of the cybersecurity world—How had this smaller, newer, less-organized group of cybercriminals managed to orchestrate a major data theft from one of the [most valuable franchises of a multi-billion dollar association?](https://www.nfl.com/photos/the-most-valuable-nfl-franchises-according-to-forbes-0ap3000000530683) **The answer is that BlackByte, as a collective, does not exist, at least not** **autonomously. Instead, it’s a working part of something larger, and not only in the** organizational sense. Almost exactly two months prior to this breach on December 14, 2021, AdvIntel published its daily Breach Pulse report via our private security platform, Andariel. Breach Pulse is an ever-updating early alert deliverable sent by AdvIntel to customers and Law Enforcement, _intended to notify them when related companies and organizations have experienced a_ _security breach. The digital newsletter contains both the names and small amounts of_ background information about entities that have experienced a detected security exposure, as well as a full list of domains included in the detected compromise. The bulletin is intended for clients so they can take preemptive action before a breach worsens, tightening their _defenses as needed and notifying relevant parties._ **_On December 14, 2021,_** **_AdvIntel’s Breach Pulse reported a direct network security_** **_breach (via Cobalt Strike) of the San Francisco 49ers football team._** ----- _Redacted screenshots from the 2021-12-14 Breach Pulse sent to AdvIntel clients, from the_ **_Andariel Database. Identifying information of adjacent compromises has been redacted. A_** _full report, containing specific IOCs and details about the scale of compromise is available_ _[per request via support@advintel.tech.](http://10.10.0.46/mailto:support@advintel.tech)_ **The attack developed through the following set of Cobalt Strike commands on the** **targeted 49ers host (the following actual executed commands are listed in chronological** order of execution during this incident). With the use of Cobalt Strike, the Conti team who began the operation against the 49ers on December 14 were able to compromise the victim’s primary domain and get access to the _local shares and core network segments for several departments, including the team’s_ ----- _finance and accounting sectors. Using its unique adversarial insight, AdvIntel was not only_ **able to spot the initial compromise by finding the Cobalt Strike intrusion but also** **identified the actor behind the attack (the likely Patient Zero), as well as the scale of** **the initial intrusion.** It should be noted that Conti’s presence in the network shares enabled them to map internal folders and identify critical information which could be then handled by other groups for exfiltration and data encryption. In this case, Conti used a Cobalt Strike beacon to move _laterally through a network silently in order to investigate it and map it to full capacity, rather_ than hit it directly. _AdvIntel identified at least 14 domain admins that were targeted. Several of the network_ _shares accessed are shown in the above image, such as Accounting, Finance, and_ **_Compensation Plans, along with numerous others, including:_** Compliance Management ----- Corporate Partnerships EngineeringOps Equipment Human Resources IT Legal Payroll-grp Records Management Sales _This reconnaissance and initial mapping operation is the most fundamental stage in any_ _ransomware attack. If Conti’s presence had been addressed when it was reported in_ December, the recent incident involving the 49ers would most likely never have taken place. **_Cut Off the Head & the Body Survives_** AdvIntel’s credible primary source confirmed that Conti was the true architect of the 49ers breach. So how did BlackByte get their hands on the data? The BlackByte-Conti liaison is more than just an organizational nuance—it is a use case for a much bigger trend sweeping the threat landscape: that of ransomware groups creating _sub-divisions that are aimed exclusively at data exfiltration, without any encryption involved._ ----- _[From the FBI’s recent report on BlackByte. [Source]](https://www.ic3.gov/Media/News/2022/220211.pdf)_ The Conti syndicate is not what it was at the beginning of this year. The group, which has until recently been the largest and most enduring ransomware organization to continue well into 2022 (with REvil being dissolved at the top of the new year), is quickly shattering. _Since 2021, AdvIntel has observed Conti creating multiple alliances with other ransomware_ _groups. These dynamics accelerated Conti’s increasing disintegration, but at the same time_ _enabled innovations to develop. One of the main innovations was the data exfiltration without_ _encryption - tactics used by BlackByte in the 49ers case._ ----- In November 2021, AdvIntel reported on Andariel that Conti had formed an alliance with fellow ransomware group HIVEwhile simultaneously attempting to negotiate similar agreements with both BlackCat and HelloKitty. Like a true criminal syndicate, Conti was folding into smaller gangs for peripheral operations to outsource some of its “dirty work”, and by December, Conti and HIVE had infiltrated the networks of an area of over 500,000 in Southern Italy. At first glance, this may appear to cast a shadow of doubt on the notion of future ransomware subsidiaries (AdvIntel has assessed that the reasoning behind the succession _of splits was due to the sanctions involved in belonging to a powerful and well-established_ _syndicate) however, it is possible that this turn of events is instead illuminating the path to_ ransomware’s next evolution—one where fledgling subsidiary groups are poised to become cybercrime’s next major syndicates. By handing over external commands on some of their smaller projects, Conti has, until recently, been able to harness a far greater breadth of control while still ensuring financial gain from all of their targets, in addition to protecting themselves from business interruptions in the case of unforeseen circumstances, such as server failure. _AdvIntel has identified networks initially accessed by Conti on HIVE’s admin panel, listed as_ _active targets._ ----- By the beginning of 2022, the group s reliance on external brands for operations had begun to internalize: Instead of “networking”, trying to build solid business connections within the chaotic and perpetually shifting ecosystem of ransomware groups, Conti began to delegate from within, spawning in-house subgroups specifically designed for data exfiltration. This method was what eventually led to the creation of BlackByte, as well as a second case study for Conti’s expansion, Karakurt. _[Karakurt emerged in December 2021 and quickly amassed records of over forty victims,](https://threatpost.com/extortion-karakurt-threat-ransomware/176911/)_ becoming known for the rapacity with which it moved from target to target. In 2022, AdvIntel published a customer deliverable revealing that Karakurt had been supplied with both _network access and intelligence information prior to their credited compromises by none_ other than Conti themselves. This was done in order to delegate Karakurt with cases in which data theft had to be performed, but not data encryption. The reasons for this decision are embedded in the inherent challenges of the locker-centric model, which have been [explored by AdvIntel in its public blog post, which details the Karakurt-Conti symbiosis as](https://www.advintel.io/post/enter-karakurt-data-extortion-arm-of-prolific-ransomware-group) well as gives further context into the history and psychology of Conti’s various business ventures. What is essential to note in the breach of the San Francisco 49ers is that Conti had already _meticulously mapped the network environment prior to the data theft before handing off the_ final processes of the operation to BlackByte. As relatively small and decentralized collectives that have rarely participated in large-scale attacks, it makes little sense for groups such as Karakurt or BlackByte to emerge alone, seemingly fully formed, from the ether of the criminal underground as a new wave of expansionist cyber-predators. Without Conti’s interventionism at the head of a widespread realm of ransomware operations, the logic of smaller, independent groups like BlackByte as lone actors begins to fall apart. **CONCLUSIONS** _What does this all mean for the future of the threat landscape?_ ----- Although we can only speculate for now, the diversification of Conti s criminal portfolio paired with its shockingly swift dissolution does bring into question whether their business model will be repeated among other groups. Although not a ransomware-focused threat group, the well-known adversarial collective **TrickBot did directly lead to the creation of Conti. Specifically, it was their “Overdose”** division that helped to spawn the threat group Ryuk, which later rebranded as Conti. Conti continued to grow on its own until, in a reversal of its original dynamic with TrickBot, the syndicate essentially absorbed it into its own operations, turning TrickBot into a Conti subsidiary itself. **This is a strong candidate for the projected future of ransomware groups: As groups** grow in size and scope, they will begin to spawn business derivatives to handle some of their smaller operations in return for assistance and resources. This, in turn, will allow those subgroups to grow independently of the larger group, before extenuating circumstances, such as sanctions, struggles for power, or impending dissolution of the parent collective eventually lead that subgroup to split off and become their own threat entity. Using this methodology, affiliates will have more direct pathways to find future groups as their current affiliation begins to die—and then the cycle begins again. As it stands, BlackByte is already coming into their own as an independent group, spurred on by Conti’s sudden fall from power. Only time will tell if they can someday grow into the space _left by the cybercriminal giant._ **Recommendations & Mitigations** BlackByte is a data-stealing venture. Most mitigations should be directed at the detection of abnormal network presence. Special emphasis should be placed on network investigation tools typical for Conti’s sub-divisions such as BlackByte, Black Basta, and Karakurt. These tools include: **Cobalt Strike sessions opened, Metasploit, and customized PowerShell** **commands since all these tools are ubiquitous for Conti attacks.** **Rclone is the main data exfiltration command-line interface. Rclone activity can be** captured through proper logging of process execution with command-line arguments. ----- [For AdvIntel Customers]: Rclone commands can be tracked via the Andariel Cobalt **Strike index.** [For AdvIntel Customers]: Detailed instructions on how to search for data exfiltration commands can be found in AdvIntel’s [Andariel Cookbook] Tracking Adversarial **_Data Exfiltration Attempts Using Andariel’s “Cobalt Strike Ransomware Breach_** **_Logs”_** Action and monitoring for network segmentation, network hierarchy, and abnormal innetwork behavior. BlackByte focuses on extensive lateral movement to be able to find the most important shares containing data. _In addition to AdvIntel mitigations, the FBI has also published several recommended_ _mitigations in regards to BlackByte. These mitigations include the following:_ Implement regular backups of all data to be stored as air-gapped, passwordprotected copies offline. Ensure these copies are not accessible for modification or deletion from any system where the original data resides. Install and regularly update antivirus software on all hosts, and enable real-time **detection.** Install updates/patch operating systems, software, and firmware as soon as updates/patches are released. **Review domain controllers, servers, workstations, and active directories for new** or unrecognized user accounts. ----- **Audit user accounts with administrative privileges and configure access controls** with least privilege in mind. Do not give all users administrative privileges. **Disable unused remote access/Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) ports and monitor** remote access/RDP logs for any unusual activity. Consider adding an email banner to emails received from outside your organization. **Disable hyperlinks in received emails.** Use double authentication when logging into accounts or services. Ensure routine auditing is conducted for all accounts. **Ensure all the identified IOCs are input into the network SIEM for continuous** monitoring and alerts. **Adversarial Assessment Summary [BlackByte]** **BlackByte [Threat Group]** Malware Type: Ransomware Origin: Eastern Europe Intelligence Source: High Confidence Functionality: Data encryption Data exfiltration Backup removal Utilization of legitimate software agents MITRE ATT&CK Framework: T1486 - Data Encrypted for Impact T1068 - Exploitation for Privilege Escalation T1083 - File and Directory Discovery T1140 - Deobfuscate/Decode Files or Information ----- T1489 - Service Stop Distribution: Microsoft Exchange Server CVE Cobalt Strike PowerShell Persistency: Very High Infection Rate: High Decrypter: Not Released **_Threat Assessment: Critical_** BlackByte is a Ransomware as a Service (RaaS) group that encrypts files on compromised Windows host systems, including physical and virtual servers. As of November 2021, BlackByte ransomware had compromised multiple US and foreign businesses, including entities in at least three US critical infrastructure sectors (government facilities, financial, and food & agriculture), although the group has remained relatively uncentralized. In February of 2022, AdvIntel found evidence that BlackByte was working as a subsidiary group of Conti [when the group was credited for a breach of the San Francisco 49ers.](https://adv-gate.com/andariel/new/#/platform/intelligence/report/-breach-report-nbsp-2022-02-16-san-francisco-49ers-target-of-financial-data-leak-despite-early-warning-from-advintel) **_For more information on BlackByte or the connections between Conti and other_** **_known threat groups, please reach out directly to_** **_[support@advintel.tech.](http://10.10.0.46/mailto:support@advintel.tech)_** -----