• VPN vulnerabilities: Akira operators actively exploit unpatched VPN appliances, particularly those lacking multi-factor authentication (MFA). Fortinet and Cisco VPN solutions have been frequent targets.
• Spear phishing campaigns: Carefully crafted emails containing malicious attachments or links target specific employees with access to sensitive systems.
• Stolen credentials: Purchased from dark web marketplaces or obtained through previous breaches, compromised login information provides attackers with legitimate access.
• Public-facing application exploits: Unpatched web applications, particularly those with remote code execution vulnerabilities, serve as entry points to internal networks.

Once inside the network, attackers focus on privilege escalation to gain administrative rights. They utilize legitimate administrative tools like PowerShell and Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) to blend in with normal system activities.

This “living off the land” approach helps evade detection by security tools programmed to flag unusual software. Attackers also disable security tools, delete volume shadow copies, and modify Windows Registry settings to prevent recovery attempts.

The attack continues with lateral movement throughout the network, identifying critical data repositories and backup systems. Attackers deploy specialized tools to exfiltrate sensitive data before encryption begins, often compressing files to avoid detection by network monitoring tools. This stage typically lasts several days to weeks, allowing thorough exploration of the victim’s environment and maximum data theft.

The final phase involves deploying the encryption payload across all accessible systems simultaneously. Akira ransomware encrypts files with the “.akira” extension and places ransom notes in each affected directory.

The encryption process targets databases, document repositories, financial records, and backup files, with attackers often waiting for weekends or holidays to maximize damage before discovery. Once encryption completes, victims receive instructions for contacting the attackers through a Tor-based payment portal.

Immediate Response Actions

When facing an Akira ransomware attack, organizations should follow these critical first steps:

• Isolation: Immediately disconnect infected systems from the network to prevent lateral movement while maintaining evidence for investigation.
• Authority notification: Contact law enforcement agencies including the FBI and CISA to report the incident and receive guidance.
• Incident response activation: Engage internal or external incident response teams with experience handling ransomware events.

Restoration Strategies

Effective recovery from Akira attacks requires preparation and tested backup systems:

• Secure backups: Maintain offline, immutable backups that cannot be modified or deleted by attackers with network access.
• Validation testing: Regularly test backup restoration processes to verify data integrity and recovery procedures.
• Prioritized recovery: Restore critical business systems first based on predetermined business impact analysis.

1. System hygiene: Implement regular patching cycles for all systems with priority for internet-facing applications and VPN solutions.
2. Authentication security: Require MFA for all remote access services and administrative accounts to prevent credential-based attacks.
3. User awareness: Conduct regular phishing simulations and security awareness training focused on current attack techniques.
4. Network segmentation: Implement zero-trust architecture principles to limit lateral movement capabilities for attackers who gain initial access.
5. Monitoring capabilities: Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions with specific ransomware detection rules.

These preventive measures create multiple layers of defense against Akira ransomware, addressing vulnerabilities across the attack chain from initial access through encryption stages.