*.inc

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This document provides a comprehensive overview of the ransomware variant identified by the file extension *.inc, commonly associated with the INC Ransom group. It covers both technical characteristics and practical recovery strategies to aid individuals and organizations in combating this threat.

Technical Breakdown:

1. File Extension & Renaming Patterns

  • Confirmation of File Extension: The exact file extension used by this ransomware variant is generally .inc.
  • Renaming Convention: Files encrypted by INC Ransom typically follow a pattern where the original filename is appended with the .inc extension. For example, a file named document.docx would be renamed to document.docx.inc. In some cases, the original filename might also be modified (e.g., by adding a unique ID or a base64 encoded string) before the .inc extension is appended, but the .inc suffix remains consistent.

2. Detection & Outbreak Timeline

  • Approximate Start Date/Period: The ransomware group known as “INC Ransom” emerged in late 2022 but gained significant prominence and activity throughout 2023 and into 2024. Their use of the .inc file extension became a distinctive identifier during this period. They are considered a relatively new but highly active and sophisticated threat actor in the ransomware landscape.

3. Primary Attack Vectors

INC Ransom, like many modern ransomware groups, employs a multi-faceted approach to gain initial access and propagate within target networks. Their primary attack vectors include:

  • Exploitation of Public-Facing Applications: A common method involves exploiting known vulnerabilities in internet-facing applications, such as unpatched VPN appliances (e.g., Fortinet, Ivanti Connect Secure), web servers, and other enterprise software. They leverage these vulnerabilities to establish an initial foothold.
  • Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) Exploits: Weak or compromised RDP credentials are a frequent target. Attackers may use brute-force attacks, credential stuffing, or credentials obtained from previous breaches (via dark web markets) to gain unauthorized RDP access.
  • Phishing and Spear-Phishing Campaigns: While less frequently reported as their primary initial access vector compared to exploiting vulnerabilities, sophisticated phishing campaigns (especially spear-phishing targeting specific employees with privileged access) can be used to deliver malware or trick users into revealing credentials, leading to network intrusion.
  • Software Vulnerabilities: Beyond public-facing applications, they may exploit vulnerabilities in common software or operating systems to facilitate lateral movement and privilege escalation once inside a network.
  • Supply Chain Compromise: Although not their primary modus operandi, sophisticated groups like INC Ransom could potentially leverage compromised software updates or third-party services as an entry point, though direct evidence for this specific group’s use is less prevalent.

Remediation & Recovery Strategies:

1. Prevention

Proactive measures are crucial to prevent an INC Ransom infection:

  • Regular, Offline Backups: Implement a robust 3-2-1 backup strategy: at least three copies of your data, stored on two different media types, with one copy offsite and offline/air-gapped. This is the single most important defense against data loss due to ransomware.
  • Patch Management: Promptly apply security patches and updates for all operating systems, applications, firmware, and network devices. Prioritize patches for known vulnerabilities, especially those affecting public-facing services.
  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Implement MFA for all remote access services (RDP, VPNs, cloud services) and sensitive internal systems. This significantly reduces the risk of credential compromise.
  • Strong RDP Security: Disable RDP if not strictly necessary. If required, restrict access to specific IP addresses, use strong passwords/passphrases, implement account lockout policies, and place RDP behind a VPN with MFA.
  • Network Segmentation: Divide your network into smaller, isolated segments. This limits the lateral movement of ransomware and confines an infection to a smaller portion of the network.
  • Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) & Antivirus: Deploy next-generation antivirus (NGAV) and EDR solutions across all endpoints. Ensure they are updated regularly and configured for active monitoring and threat prevention.
  • Security Awareness Training: Educate employees about phishing, suspicious emails, social engineering tactics, and the importance of reporting unusual activity.
  • Least Privilege Principle: Implement the principle of least privilege, ensuring users and applications only have the minimum necessary permissions to perform their tasks.

2. Removal

If an INC Ransom infection is detected, follow these steps for cleanup:

  1. Isolate Infected Systems: Immediately disconnect infected machines from the network (physically or logically) to prevent further spread.
  2. Identify and Contain: Determine the scope of the infection. Use network monitoring tools and EDR to identify all affected systems and potential entry points.
  3. Remove the Ransomware:
    • Boot infected systems into safe mode or use a bootable anti-malware rescue disk.
    • Run comprehensive scans using reputable antivirus/anti-malware software. Ensure the software is fully updated.
    • Manually check for persistence mechanisms (e.g., new registry entries, scheduled tasks, startup programs) created by the ransomware and remove them.
  4. Patch and Secure: Address the initial compromise vector. Patch any exploited vulnerabilities, change compromised credentials, and review security logs for suspicious activity.
  5. Rebuild from Backups: For systems that are severely compromised or where encryption is confirmed, the most secure approach is to wipe the infected system and restore data from clean, verified backups. Do NOT restore from backups taken after the infection occurred.
  6. Post-Incident Analysis: Conduct a thorough forensic analysis to understand how the infection occurred, what data was accessed or exfiltrated, and how to prevent future incidents.

3. File Decryption & Recovery

  • Recovery Feasibility: For files encrypted by INC Ransom, direct decryption without the attacker’s private key is generally not possible. INC Ransom is a relatively new and active group, and as of now, there are no publicly available, universal decryption tools released by security researchers or law enforcement that work for all INC Ransom variants. Paying the ransom is strongly discouraged as it funds criminal activity, does not guarantee decryption, and marks you as a willing target for future attacks.
  • Essential Tools/Patches:
    • Backup Solutions: Reliable backup software and hardware are paramount for recovery.
    • Anti-malware/EDR Solutions: For detection and removal (e.g., CrowdStrike, SentinelOne, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Malwarebytes).
    • Vulnerability Scanners: (e.g., Nessus, OpenVAS) to identify unpatched systems.
    • Network Monitoring Tools: To detect suspicious activity and lateral movement.
    • Operating System & Application Patches: Keep all software up-to-date.
    • Forensic Tools: For incident response and post-mortem analysis (e.g., Autopsy, Volatility Framework).
  • Primary Recovery Method: The most reliable and recommended method for recovering encrypted data is to restore from clean, verified, and isolated backups taken prior to the infection.

4. Other Critical Information

  • Additional Precautions (Double Extortion): A critical characteristic of the INC Ransom group is their engagement in double extortion. This means that before encrypting files, they often exfiltrate sensitive data from the victim’s network. If the victim refuses to pay the ransom for decryption, INC Ransom threatens to publish the stolen data on their leak site (e.g., their Tor-based “Inc Ransom” blog). This adds significant pressure on victims, leading to potential reputational damage, legal ramifications (e.g., data breach notification requirements under GDPR, HIPAA, CCPA), and financial penalties. Therefore, even if you recover from backups, the data exfiltration aspect remains a serious concern.
  • Broader Impact: The impact of an INC Ransom attack extends beyond mere data loss:
    • Significant Financial Costs: This includes incident response, system downtime, data recovery, legal fees, and potential fines for data breaches.
    • Operational Disruption: Business operations can be severely halted, leading to lost revenue and customer dissatisfaction.
    • Reputational Damage: Public disclosure of a breach can erode customer trust and damage a company’s image.
    • Compliance and Legal Issues: Data exfiltration triggers regulatory reporting requirements in many jurisdictions, leading to potential investigations and penalties.
    • Supply Chain Risk: If an organization in a supply chain is hit, it can disrupt operations for its partners and customers.

Understanding these characteristics and implementing robust cybersecurity practices are essential for defending against and recovering from INC Ransom attacks.