RansomHub Ransomware Group
Introduction
RansomHub is a ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) group that emerged in early 2024 and has rapidly gained notoriety in the cybercrime ecosystem. The group employs a double extortion model, encrypting victims' data while also stealing sensitive information to increase ransom pressure.
RansomHub is particularly noteworthy due to its connections with former ALPHV (BlackCat) and Royal ransomware affiliates. After ALPHV’s exit scam in early 2024, many cybercriminals sought alternative RaaS platforms, leading to RansomHub’s rapid rise.
Key Information
Active Since: Early 2024
Group Type: Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS)
Targeted Sectors: Healthcare, Finance, Retail, Manufacturing, Education, Critical Infrastructure
Ransom Demands: Hundreds of thousands to millions of USD
Leak Site: Active dark web leak platform
Affiliate Base: Suspected ex-ALPHV (BlackCat) and Royal ransomware operators
Tactics Used: Double Extortion, Stolen Credentials, Supply Chain Attacks
Similarities to ALPHV:
Nearly identical negotiation tactics
Recruiting model focused on experienced affiliates
Similar dark web leak site structure
Attack Methods & Tactics
RansomHub follows well-documented attack patterns based on the MITRE ATT&CK framework.
Initial Access
Phishing Emails (T1566): Fake invoices, malicious attachments.
Exploiting Public-Facing Applications (T1190): VPN, RDP, and vulnerable web services.
Use of Stolen Credentials (T1078): Harvesting credentials via dark web markets or phishing.
Privilege Escalation
Access Token Manipulation (T1134): Gaining elevated permissions.
Creating or Modifying System Processes (T1543): Establishing persistence.
Process Injection (T1055): Hiding malicious code execution.
Execution & Lateral Movement
Command & Scripting Interpreter (T1059): Running scripts via PowerShell and CMD.
RDP Exploitation (T1021): Moving within a network via compromised remote desktop sessions.
Data Exfiltration & Encryption
Exfiltration Over C2 Channel (T1041): Sending stolen data to external servers before encryption.
Data Encrypted for Impact (T1486): Using strong encryption algorithms (typically AES).
Indicator Removal on Host (T1070.004): Deleting logs and forensic traces to evade detection.
Ransom Demands & Negotiation
RansomHub actively engages in negotiations via encrypted chat portals.
They offer discounts for fast payments, urging victims to comply quickly.
If a victim refuses to pay, data is leaked on their dark web platform.
Notable Attacks
February 2024 – Healthcare Industry Attack
A large U.S. healthcare provider suffered an attack, leading to encrypted medical records.
Impact: Delayed surgeries and disrupted patient care.
Leaked Data: Patient records, administrative logs, and financial reports.
March 2024 – Financial Sector Breach
Multiple banks and investment firms fell victim to RansomHub.
Estimated ransom demand: $5M+, making it one of their most expensive ransom cases.
Leaked Data: Transaction histories, employee credentials, and customer financial records.
April 2024 – ALPHV (BlackCat) Affiliates Join RansomHub
After ALPHV's exit scam, many of its former affiliates migrated to RansomHub.
RansomHub’s operations and negotiation style are nearly identical to ALPHV, reinforcing speculation that they absorbed some of ALPHV’s infrastructure.
Financial Impact
Although the total earnings of RansomHub remain undisclosed, security analysts estimate the group has already amassed millions in ransom payments from various victims. Given its target profile—which includes healthcare, financial institutions, and critical infrastructure—RansomHub is likely to demand higher ransoms compared to smaller ransomware groups.
Unlike some cybercriminal groups that stick to fixed ransom amounts, RansomHub appears to adjust its demands based on the victim’s financial capabilities, often performing financial reconnaissance before an attack. Their ransom demands range from hundreds of thousands to over $10 million, depending on the size of the organization and the sensitivity of the stolen data.
The group has demonstrated flexibility in negotiations, sometimes accepting partial payments if victims cannot afford the full ransom. This suggests that RansomHub prioritizes consistent financial gain over outright extortion, making it less rigid than groups like LockBit, which typically refuse negotiations.
For victims who refuse to pay, RansomHub follows a strict data-leak policy, posting sample files on their dark web leak site as an initial threat. If the ransom is not paid, they gradually release more sensitive data, increasing pressure on the victim. Unlike some ransomware groups that bluff about data deletion, RansomHub has already proven its willingness to leak full datasets, making it a high-risk group for organizations handling confidential information.
Affiliations & Evolution
Links to ALPHV (BlackCat)
RansomHub’s rapid expansion coincides with ALPHV’s collapse in early 2024, strongly indicating that it absorbed many of ALPHV’s former affiliates. The group’s ransomware infrastructure, negotiation style, and dark web leak site operations are nearly identical to ALPHV, leading cybersecurity researchers to speculate that RansomHub either adopted ALPHV’s abandoned resources or is being run by former ALPHV members.
One key similarity is how they handle ransom negotiations. ALPHV was known for its structured, business-like communication with victims, often evaluating financial reports before setting ransom prices. RansomHub follows this exact model, reinforcing the theory that ex-ALPHV affiliates are now running RansomHub’s operations.
Additionally, some of ALPHV’s unfinished ransom negotiations suddenly reappeared on RansomHub’s dark web leak site, further proving that there may be a direct link between the two groups.
Potential Connection to Royal Ransomware
Royal Ransomware, another major player in the 2022-2023 ransomware landscape, vanished in early 2024, with no official shutdown announcement. Many cybersecurity experts believe that Royal’s remaining affiliates either formed or joined new groups, with RansomHub being one of the primary successors.
There are several reasons for this suspicion:
Royal’s unique approach to extortion, which involved directly calling victims to pressure them into paying, is now seen in RansomHub’s playbook.
Royal frequently targeted U.S. and European critical infrastructure, a pattern that RansomHub has now adopted.
Some of the same financial institutions attacked by Royal in 2023 reappeared as RansomHub victims in 2024, suggesting insider knowledge or shared attack vectors.
While direct evidence of Royal’s operators joining RansomHub remains limited, the overlap in target selection, negotiation strategies, and infrastructure usage makes it highly probable that at least some former Royal affiliates are now working under RansomHub’s brand.
How to Defend Against RansomHub
Given its highly adaptive attack methods, RansomHub poses a significant threat to organizations with weak cybersecurity postures. To minimize the risk of an attack, organizations should focus on proactive security measures rather than reactive incident response.
Preventative Measures
✅ Patch known vulnerabilities—RansomHub frequently exploits unpatched VPN, RDP, and web application flaws to gain initial access. Keeping systems updated significantly reduces the attack surface.
✅ Enforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)—Over 80% of ransomware attacks involve stolen credentials. MFA blocks unauthorized logins, even if an attacker gains access to valid credentials.
✅ Monitor for unusual RDP activity—Since RansomHub heavily relies on Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) for lateral movement, monitoring and restricting RDP access reduces the chances of network-wide infection.
✅ Deploy Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR/XDR)—Advanced detection tools help identify malicious PowerShell execution, unauthorized privilege escalation, and data exfiltration attempts before encryption occurs.
✅ Implement strict access controls—By following the principle of least privilege (PoLP), organizations can limit administrative access to only essential personnel, making it harder for ransomware to escalate privileges.
✅ Regularly back up data & test disaster recovery plans—RansomHub’s double extortion model means data loss and leaks are both risks. Having offline, immutable backups ensures recovery, while incident response drills help minimize downtime.
Additional Recommendations for High-Risk Industries
📌 Healthcare & Financial Institutions—Given RansomHub’s target focus, organizations in these industries should conduct regular cybersecurity assessments and improve SOC (Security Operations Center) visibility.
📌 Implement Data Loss Prevention (DLP) tools—Since RansomHub exfiltrates sensitive data before encryption, DLP solutions can detect and block unauthorized data transfers, reducing ransom leverage.
📌 Threat Intelligence & Dark Web Monitoring—Tracking emerging RaaS trends and monitoring dark web forums for leaked credentials can provide early warnings of potential attacks.
Final Thoughts
RansomHub is rapidly evolving, positioning itself as a major player in the ransomware landscape. Its aggressive extortion tactics, flexible ransom negotiations, and high-profile targets suggest it will continue to expand throughout 2025. With former ALPHV and Royal ransomware operators likely involved, RansomHub is not just another short-lived ransomware group—it is a well-structured criminal operation with long-term ambitions.
Organizations must act now to strengthen their cybersecurity posture, as waiting until after an attack could mean financial losses, regulatory fines, and reputational damage.
Conclusion
RansomHub has quickly established itself as a major ransomware threat, largely due to its strategic recruitment of experienced affiliates. Following the collapse of ALPHV and Royal ransomware, many displaced cybercriminals joined RansomHub, allowing it to rapidly expand.
Its adaptive negotiation tactics, aggressive double extortion approach, and highly targeted ransomware operations make it one of the most significant ransomware threats in 2024.
Organizations must take proactive cybersecurity measures to mitigate risks and harden their defenses against this highly active threat group.
