Warlock Ransomware — Security Threat Analysis & Countermeasures CyberDudeBivash Authority Report
Executive Summary Threat family: Warlock Ransomware (new or evolving strain observed in 2025). Category: Double-extortion ransomware. Encrypts files and threatens data leaks. Distribution: Phishing attachments, RDP brute-force, and exploitation of unpatched software. Impact: Full system encryption, exfiltration of business-critical data, lateral spread across enterprise networks. Action now: Network segmentation, backup validation, strict patch management, and endpoint monitoring. Technical Overview Infection vector: Malicious Office macros/PDFs. RDP brute force attacks. Exploitation of exposed services (VPN gateways, unpatched web servers). Encryption behavior: AES/RSA hybrid scheme. Appends .warlock extension. Drops ransom note WARLOCK_README.txt . Command & Control: HTTP(S) with domain-generated algorithm (DGA). Some samples tunnel over TOR hidden services. Data theft: File exfiltration to attacker-contr...