Names | Lapsus$ (self given) DEV-0537 (Microsoft) Strawberry Tempest (Microsoft) |
Country | Brazil |
Motivation | Financial gain |
First seen | 2021 |
Description | (Flashpoint) LAPSUS$ is an extortionist threat group that became active on December 10, 2921. Unlike the majority of extortionist groups that typically rely on a combination of ransomware and data leaks, LAPSUS$ is focused on monetizing their operations exclusively through data leaks advertised on Telegram without the use of ransomware.
Initially, the group focused on data breaches against Latin American and Portuguese targets but in late February 2022, LAPSUS$ began widening the scope of its targeting by announcing it had successfully breached US-based graphics and computing chip manufacturer Nvidia. Since then, LAPSUS$ has continued to focus on large-scale international technology companies, including Microsoft, Okta, and Samsung, as the financial incentive for stealing source code and extorting companies for sensitive proprietary technical data is high. |
Observed | Countries: Argentina, Brazil, Portugal, USA. |
Tools used | |
Operations performed | Dec 2021 | Brazil health ministry website hit by hackers, vaccination data targeted <https://www.reuters.com/technology/brazils-health-ministry-website-hit-by-hacker-attack-systems-down-2021-12-10/> |
Dec 2021 | The Lapsus$ ransomware gang has hacked and is currently extorting Impresa, the largest media conglomerate in Portugal and the owner of SIC and Expresso, the country’s largest TV channel and weekly newspaper, respectively. <https://therecord.media/lapsus-ransomware-gang-hits-sic-portugals-largest-tv-channel/> |
Jan 2022 | Lapsus$ Attacks Localiza, Redirects Users to Porn Site <https://www.databreachtoday.com/lapsus-attacks-localiza-redirects-users-to-porn-site-a-18286> |
Jan 2022 | Okta confirms 2.5% customers impacted by hack in January <https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/okta-confirms-25-percent-customers-impacted-by-hack-in-january/> <https://thehackernews.com/2022/03/new-report-on-okta-hack-reveals-entire.html> |
Feb 2022 | In the wake of the attack last month on the Impresa group, the latest victims – Correio da Manhã (the country’s most widely-read tabloid), Sábado, Jornal de Negócios and CMTV – belong to the Cofina media group. <https://www.portugalresident.com/hackers-bring-down-new-media-sites-pj-cybercrime-unit-investigating/> |
Feb 2022 | Cyberattack brings down Vodafone Portugal mobile, voice, and TV services <https://therecord.media/cyberattack-brings-down-vodafone-portugal-mobile-voice-and-tv-services/> <https://www.securityweek.com/vodafone-investigating-source-code-theft-claims> |
Feb 2022 | GPU giant NVIDIA is investigating a potential cyberattack <https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/gpu-giant-nvidia-is-investigating-a-potential-cyberattack/> <https://www.databreaches.net/lapsus-and-the-terrible-horrible-no-good-very-bad-ransom-day1/> |
Mar 2022 | Hackers leak 190GB of alleged Samsung data, source code <https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hackers-leak-190gb-of-alleged-samsung-data-source-code/> |
Mar 2022 | E-commerce giant Mercado Libre confirms source code data breach <https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/e-commerce-giant-mercado-libre-confirms-source-code-data-breach/> |
Mar 2022 | Lapsus$ Ransomware Group is hiring, it announced recruitment of insiders <https://securityaffairs.co/wordpress/128912/cyber-crime/lapsus-ransomware-is-hiring.html> |
Mar 2022 | Ubisoft confirms 'cyber security incident', resets staff passwords <https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/ubisoft-confirms-cyber-security-incident-resets-staff-passwords/> |
Mar 2022 | Lapsus$ hackers leak 37GB of Microsoft's alleged source code <https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/lapsus-hackers-leak-37gb-of-microsofts-alleged-source-code/> |
Mar 2022 | Globant confirms hack after Lapsus$ leaks 70GB of stolen data <https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/globant-confirms-hack-after-lapsus-leaks-70gb-of-stolen-data/> |
Mar 2022 | Leaked Chats Show LAPSUS$ Stole T-Mobile Source Code <https://krebsonsecurity.com/2022/04/leaked-chats-show-lapsus-stole-t-mobile-source-code/> |
Sep 2022 | Uber attributes hack to Lapsus$, working with FBI and DOJ on investigation <https://therecord.media/uber-attributes-hack-to-lapsus-working-with-fbi-and-doj-on-investigation/> |
Sep 2022 | 2K Games says hacked help desk targeted players with malware <https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/2k-games-says-hacked-help-desk-targeted-players-with-malware/> |
Sep 2022 | Rockstar confirms cyberattack, leak of confidential data including GTA 6 footage <https://therecord.media/rockstar-confirms-cyberattack-leak-of-confidential-data-including-gta-6-footage/> |
Counter operations | Mar 2022 | Lapsus$ suspects arrested for Microsoft, Nvidia, Okta hacks <https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/lapsus-suspects-arrested-for-microsoft-nvidia-okta-hacks/> |
Apr 2022 | Two teenagers charged in connection with investigation into hacking group <https://www.cityoflondon.police.uk/news/city-of-london/news/2022/march/two-teenagers-charged-in-connection-with-investigation-into-hacking-group/> |
Aug 2022 | Brazilian police launch investigation targeting Lapsus$ group <https://therecord.media/brazilian-police-launch-investigation-targeting-lapsus-group/> |
Sep 2022 | UK Police arrests teen believed to be behind Uber, Rockstar hacks <https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/uk-police-arrests-teen-believed-to-be-behind-uber-rockstar-hacks/> |
Oct 2022 | Brazil arrests suspect believed to be a Lapsus$ gang member <https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/brazil-arrests-suspect-believed-to-be-a-lapsus-gang-member/> |
Jul 2023 | British prosecutors say teen Lapsus$ member was behind hacks on Uber, Rockstar <https://therecord.media/british-prosecutors-accuse-teen-lapsus-member-of-uber-revolut-rockstar-hacks> |
Aug 2023 | Lapsus$ teen hackers convicted of high-profile cyberattacks <https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/lapsus-teen-hackers-convicted-of-high-profile-cyberattacks/> |
Dec 2023 | Lapsus$ hacker behind GTA 6 leak gets indefinite hospital sentence <https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/lapsus-hacker-behind-gta-6-leak-gets-indefinite-hospital-sentence/> |
Information | <https://www.flashpoint-intel.com/blog/lapsus/> <https://www.silentpush.com/blog/lapsus-group-an-emerging-dark-net-threat-actor> <https://krebsonsecurity.com/2022/03/a-closer-look-at-the-lapsus-data-extortion-group/> <https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/lapsus-group/> <https://www.cybereason.com/blog/lapsus-activity-betrays-nation-state-motivation> <https://research.nccgroup.com/2022/04/28/lapsus-recent-techniques-tactics-and-procedures/> <https://thehackernews.com/2022/05/everything-we-learned-from-lapsus.html> <https://www.tenable.com/blog/brazen-unsophisticated-and-illogical-understanding-the-lapsus-extortion-group> <https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/dhs-cyber-safety-board-to-review-lapsus-gang-s-hacking-tactics/> <https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/2023-08/CSRB_Lapsus%24_508c.pdf> |
MITRE ATT&CK | <https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G1004/> |