Babuk code used by 9 ransomware gangs to encrypt VMWare ESXi servers
An increasing number of ransomware operations are adopting the leaked Babuk ransomware source code to create Linux encryptors targeting VMware ESXi servers. [...]
Source code reveals how software works, helping security teams identify vulnerabilities, exposed secrets, and unsafe logic before attackers can exploit them.
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Source code is the human-readable text programmers write in a language such as Python, Java, or C before it is compiled or interpreted into a running program. It defines the program’s logic, data handling, and interactions with operating systems, networks, and other services. Source code may include application code, scripts, and configuration that controls software behavior.
In security, exposed or improperly protected repositories can disclose credentials, private keys, internal endpoints, or details that help attackers find exploitable flaws. Vulnerabilities may also enter through unsafe coding patterns, outdated dependencies, or malicious changes to code and build pipelines. Defenses include least-privilege repository access, secret scanning, peer review, static analysis, dependency and software-composition checks, and integrity controls for releases. Preserving commit history and build provenance helps investigators determine what changed and whether delivered software matches reviewed source.
An increasing number of ransomware operations are adopting the leaked Babuk ransomware source code to create Linux encryptors targeting VMware ESXi servers. [...]
Two years ago, a popular ransomware-as-a-service group's source code got leaked. Now other ransomware groups are using it for their own purposes.
Multiple threat actors have capitalized on the leak of Babuk (aka Babak or Babyk) ransomware code in September 2021 to build as many as nine different ransomware families capable of targeting VMware ESXi systems