ROME, 5 February (Reuters) – A worldwide ransomware cyber attempt targeting VMware (VMW.N) ESXi servers has attacked thousands of computer servers, Italy’s National Cybersecurity Agency (ACN) warned on Sunday, advising organizations to take steps to safeguard their systems.
According to ACN Director General Roberto Baldoni, the significant cyber attack tried to exploit a software weakness.
According to a VMware spokesman, the software company is aware of the report and says it delivered remedies in February 2021 when it found the vulnerability currently being exploited, recommending users to deploy the patch if they still need to do so.
“Security hygiene is a vital component of thwarting ransom attempts, and customers who are using versions of ESXi affected by CVE-2021-21974, but have not yet updated the two-year-old fix,” the firm added. a VMware representative stated on Sunday.
Officials in the United States said they were looking into the implications of the reported incidents.
The malware might lock any firms that were targeted out of their systems.
“CISA is working with our public and private sector partners to investigate the consequences of these reported occurrences and provide assistance as needed,” the United States Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency stated.