Safepay Ransomware: Analysis Of The New Threat Behind The Ingram Micro Attack

A major cyberattack on IT distribution giant Ingram Micro has sent shockwaves through the tech world. The incident, attributed to the aggressive SafePay ransomware group, not only crippled critical systems but also highlighted the absolute necessity of expert Digital Forensics and Incident Response (DFIR) teams and robust ransomware recovery services.

The Ingram Micro attack timeline and consequences

The attack on Ingram Micro happened around July 3, 2025, and disrupted core operations, including the AI-powered Xvantage platform, bringing online ordering and product shipments to a halt. However, it took the company approximately 36 hours to officially confirm the ransomware incident, a delay that drew criticism and contrasted with more transparent approaches seen in past industry attacks.

This communication gap reportedly contributed to a 4% drop in Ingram Micro's stock price. The lesson: in a crisis, customers and partners are often less concerned about the attack itself than they are about being kept in the dark.

In a statement released on July 5, 2025, Ingram Micro confirmed it had "identified ransomware on certain of its internal systems." The company assured stakeholders it was taking immediate action, including taking systems offline, implementing protective measures, and launching an investigation with cybersecurity experts.

Sources indicate the attackers likely gained their initial foothold through the company's GlobalProtect VPN platform, a common entry point for ransomware groups. As Porthas’ cybersecurity expert, Mohamed Talaat, noted, "Initial access was pretty standard to what usual ransomware operators do. Somehow, they obtained VPN credentials. These could have been stolen, leaked on the dark web, or an insider may have been bribed to provide them for initial access."

What is SafePay ransomware and how does it work

SafePay first appeared in late 2024 and quickly claimed several victims worldwide. The threat is designed to be sneaky and effective. When it encrypts files, it adds a .safepay extension and leaves a ransom note named readme_safepay.txt. To avoid being caught by security software, it often uses a legitimate Microsoft tool (regsvr32.exe) to load its malicious component, a technique that helps it blend in with normal system activity. It also employs advanced methods to hide its code and can even fake its creation date to throw investigators off the trail.

Attack configuration and control

The ransomware operates based on a set of internal instructions. These settings, which are often password-protected, tell the malware what to do. This includes the text of the ransom note, a "kill list" of programs and services to shut down before encryption begins, and the all-important encryption key. SafePay can be commanded to encrypt only a portion of a file (often just 10%), which speeds up the attack while still rendering the data useless.

Self-protection and pre-encryption steps

Before it starts locking up files, SafePay takes several steps to protect itself and ensure the attack is successful:

• Disabling Defenses: It terminates a wide range of programs and services. This includes database servers like SQL and Oracle, email clients, and, most importantly, backup and security software from vendors like Sophos and Veeam.
• Preventing Recovery: SafePay actively works to make recovery difficult. It empties the Recycle Bin, deletes Volume Shadow Copies (Windows' built-in backup snapshots), and disables the automatic recovery environment.
• Gaining Control: The ransomware attempts to gain the highest level of system privileges. It can even bypass the User Account Control (UAC) – the pop-up that asks for permission before making system changes – to operate without restriction.

The encryption process

This is where the real damage is done and where the need for recovery services becomes urgent:

• Smart and Fast: SafePay chooses the fastest encryption method available based on the computer's hardware, using either AES-256-CBC or XChaCha20. It uses multiple "threads" to encrypt files simultaneously, making the process incredibly fast.
• Widespread Impact: It searches all local and network drives for files to encrypt, ensuring it hits as much data as possible.
• Partial Encryption Strategy: The partial encryption is much faster than full encryption, and just as effective at making the file unusable. This speed makes a rapid response absolutely critical.
• Data Exfiltration: While the ransomware itself may not steal data, Mohamed Talaat points out that attackers "may have done this through other means and tool used in the attack." This "double extortion" tactic—encrypting data and threatening to leak it—is a common pressure tactic.

Ransomware Recovery Services

Having a ransomware recovery plan and expert services on standby is not a luxury; it's a necessity. These services are vital for:

• Data Restoration: Utilizing clean backups and specialized techniques to recover encrypted data.
• System Rebuilding: Getting critical business applications and infrastructure back online as quickly as possible.
• Minimizing Downtime: Reducing the financial and reputational fallout from a prolonged outage.

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Ultimately, the events at Ingram Micro underscore a fundamental truth of cybersecurity in 2025: resilience is as important as resistance. A successful defense strategy isn't just about building high walls; it's about having the expert teams, tested plans, and recovery strategies in place to get back on your feet when an attacker inevitably gets through.