Many cyber threats today act as entry points for more significant and devastating attacks. By using deceptive techniques to gain initial access, bad actors can establish a foothold in a system and open the door to larger-scale attacks.
These threats pose a serious risk to government agencies in particular, due to the vast amounts of sensitive information they manage. Quick containment and remediation is crucial in preventing threats from escalating and causing further damage. In this case study, we examine how one municipal prosecutor’s office navigated the aftermath of a malware attack that disrupted its legal operations.
Redpoint Case Overview
This use case explores how Redpoint Cybersecurity supported a local government agency in responding to a security incident through quick incident response and strategic containment.
The Scenario
A municipal prosecutor’s office with fewer than 1,000 employees fell victim to a cyberattack in 2024. The threat actors initiated the attack through GootLoader malware, which can exploit search engine optimization (SEO) poisoning techniques to lure users into unknowingly downloading malicious software. GootLoader malware typically serves as the first-stage payload, setting the stage for a more extensive cyberattack.
The Stakes
The attack rendered a laptop with critical and sensitive legal data inaccessible, significantly disrupting ongoing legal proceedings. The affected device had to be isolated instantly or else the threat actors could exploit the vulnerability for reconnaissance and conduct a larger scale attack using ransomware-as-a-service. The agency was also concerned that the legal data on the device could be exposed or manipulated, putting its reputation and ongoing cases at risk.
Redpoint’s Reaction
Due to the privileged nature of the compromised data, Redpoint’s investigators conducted a careful review of only the data in their designated scope. They isolated the affected systems and ensured all other network devices were clean before conducting a thorough investigation. Redpoint’s team then identified the malicious file and reconstructed the sequence of events leading to the malware download.
The Outcome
Once they determined how the threat actor entered the system, the investigators remediated the device and enabled the client to restore operations. By reverse-engineering the attack, they also pinpointed scheduled tasks and PowerShell scripting that the threat actors used to maintain persistence and avoid detection. This strategy enabled the organization to secure their systems and prevent further unauthorized access.
Lessons Learned
Redpoint emphasizes the importance of user security training that focuses on phishing awareness and safe web browsing practices. It’s also smart to isolate workstations used for open-source research so workstations containing case data or sensitive data remain protected when individual users are browsing the web.
This approach helps mitigate the risk of network-wide compromise if a user inadvertently clicks on a malicious download, safeguarding critical data from potential exfiltration. Additionally, users must always be cautious about the URLs they click on — especially those ending in unfamiliar file extensions like .php.
Redpoint: Swift Incident Response to Protect Your Organization
This case study highlights the importance of swift action and strategic measures in the face of cyber threats. Redpoint’s expertise and containment of the affected device helped the local government agency mitigate the impact of the attack, enabling them to protect sensitive legal data and restore operations sooner.
Reach out to our team of experts for tailored cybersecurity solutions and guidance to protect your organization from potential threats.