Maritime Computer Emergency Response Team ADMIRAL dataset ADMIRAL dataset

Publicly disclosed information for this event

Index Number:
Title:
2013_001
Viruses on offshore company platform computers having an impact on OT systems.
Day Month Year Country Activity Incident Type
XX N/A 2013 United States Offshore Virus/Ransomware

Summary

According to sources, a Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU) in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Texas was compromised by malicious software downloaded by offshore oil workers through various sources which could have been direct satellite connections, laptops, or USB drives contaminated onshore.

The infection had an impact on the Operational Technology (OT) of the MODU, and especially on the operational status of the Dynamic Positioning system (DP), causing the MODU to drift from the dwelling site. The Blow Out Preventer (BOP) kicked in and shut down the drilling, preventing environmental risk.

While some sources mention multiple infections on several offshore platforms, the US Coast Guard commander only mentions one MODU impacted.

Victim

N/A

Claimed/Reported Threat Actor

N/A

Origin

Human error

Main impact

Availability

References

  1. http://aapa.files.cms-plus.com/SeminarPresentations/2016Seminars/2016SecurityIT/K.%20Belmont%20-%20AAPA%20Maritime%20Cybersecurity%20FINAL.pdf
  2. https://www.csis.org/blogs/strategic-technologies-blog/coast-guard-commandant-addresses-cybersecurity-vulnerabilities
  3. https://www.isssource.com/malware-on-oil-rigs/
  4. https://youtu.be/DLT7tjbics0?feature=shared&t=1022

Recommendations to Offshore to reduce Virus/Ransomware risks:

  • Map, understand, patch and secure your exposed assets on the Internet.
  • Implement email filtering systems to detect and block phishing emails.
  • Train your organisation, personnel regularly against these threats.
  • Install efficient Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) tools.
  • Work with your CSIRT organization to better understand the Tactics, Techniques and Procedures used by threat actors.
  • Monitor your IT and OT systems to quickly detect potential pre-ransomware activity.
  • Implement an efficient offline backup policy.
  • Encrypt all sensitive data to avoid further data leaks.
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Disclaimer: the data are provided as is. France Cyber Maritime and the M-CERT take no responsibility for the soundness, quality, precision, nor the eventual attribution made by the referenced URLs. We give a lot of respect and support to the victims of attacks.
Files generated on Monday, 11th December 2023.
ADMIRAL is licensed under the Creative Commons CC-BY-NC license. Copyright © France Cyber Maritime 2023.