Beware Iran cyber threat to US healthcare entities, federal agencies warn

TLDR:

• Federal agencies issue warning about Iran-based cyber threats targeting U.S. healthcare entities
• Main actors identified as “Pioneer Kitten” connected to the Government of Iran

In a recent advisory issued by the U.S. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the FBI, and the Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center, it was warned that Iran-backed malicious cyber actors are targeting U.S. organizations, including healthcare organizations, to obtain access to their networks for future ransomware attacks. These actors, such as “Pioneer Kitten,” are connected with the Government of Iran and seek to sell access to other bad actors worldwide. The federal agencies recommend implementing mitigation measures provided in the advisory to improve cybersecurity posture against the Iranian cyber group’s activity.

The advisory contains technical details, identifies vulnerable devices and software, and urges critical infrastructure organizations to review and implement the listed mitigation measures to reduce the likelihood and impact of ransomware incidents. It is crucial for U.S. healthcare entities to take necessary steps to protect their networks and data from these ongoing cyber threats.