The Play ransomware gang has emerged as a formidable threat in the cybercrime landscape, with its impact growing at an alarming rate. According to a recently updated joint advisory from the FBI, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and the Australian Cyber Security Centre, the Play ransomware gang has compromised approximately 900 organizations worldwide as of May 2025. This marks a staggering tripling of the victim count reported in October 2023, underscoring the gang’s relentless pace and evolving tactics. High-profile targets, including Rackspace, the City of Oakland, Krispy Kreme, and Microchip Technology, highlight the gang’s reach across diverse sectors such as cloud computing, government, retail, and semiconductors.
Unpacking the Play Ransomware Strategy
A Sophisticated and Evasive Threat
The Play ransomware gang employs a range of sophisticated techniques to infiltrate and compromise their targets. Their primary method involves exploiting unpatched vulnerabilities in widely used software and systems. By targeting known vulnerabilities, such as the recently identified CVE-2024-57726, CVE-2024-57727, and CVE-2024-57728, the gang gains initial access to networks. These vulnerabilities have been used to deploy Sliver beacons, a covert tool that allows attackers to maintain persistence and prepare systems for ransomware deployment.
Beyond exploiting vulnerabilities, the gang uses recompiled malware to evade detection by traditional antivirus solutions. This approach ensures that their malicious payloads remain undetected for longer periods, giving them ample time to map networks, escalate privileges, and deploy Play ransomware. One of their preferred tools is SimpleHelp RMM, a remote monitoring and management software that, when compromised, provides attackers with extensive control over victim systems. This combination of advanced evasion tactics and targeted exploitation makes Play ransomware a particularly dangerous adversary.
The Impact on Organizations
The consequences of a Play ransomware attack can be devastating. For organizations like the City of Oakland, disruptions to critical government services can erode public trust and hamper essential operations. Similarly, companies like Krispy Kreme and Microchip Technology face not only financial losses but also reputational damage and potential supply chain disruptions. Rackspace, a cloud computing provider, highlights the risks to critical infrastructure, where a single breach can have cascading effects across multiple clients and industries.
The financial toll of ransomware attacks is well-documented, with costs often extending beyond the ransom payment itself. Organizations face downtime, data loss, legal liabilities, and the expense of rebuilding compromised systems. In many cases, paying the ransom does not guarantee data recovery, as attackers may provide faulty decryption keys or leak sensitive information on the dark web. The Play ransomware gang, in particular, is known for its double-extortion tactics, where they not only encrypt data but also threaten to leak it unless their demands are met.
Why the Threat is Growing
The tripling of victims since October 2023 points to several factors driving the Play ransomware gang’s success. First, the proliferation of unpatched systems remains a critical weak point for organizations worldwide. Many businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, struggle to implement timely patch management due to resource constraints or lack of awareness. Second, the increasing sophistication of ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) models allows groups like Play to scale their operations rapidly. By providing affiliates with ready-to-use tools and infrastructure, the gang can target a broader range of victims with minimal effort.
Additionally, the growing reliance on remote work and cloud-based infrastructure has expanded the attack surface for cybercriminals. Remote monitoring and management tools, while essential for modern IT operations, have become a prime target for attackers. The exploitation of SimpleHelp RMM in recent Play ransomware attacks is a stark reminder that even trusted tools can be weaponized if not properly secured.
Protecting Your Organization
The Play ransomware gang’s success underscores the urgent need for organizations to bolster their cybersecurity defenses. The joint advisory from the FBI, CISA, and the Australian Cyber Security Centre provides clear recommendations to mitigate the risk of ransomware attacks:
- Prioritize Patch Management: Regularly update software, operating systems, and firmware to address known vulnerabilities. Automated patch management tools can help streamline this process and ensure timely updates.
- Implement Multi-Layered Security: Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions, intrusion detection systems, and robust firewalls to detect and block malicious activity.
- Secure Remote Access Tools: Harden remote monitoring and management tools like SimpleHelp RMM by enforcing strong authentication, restricting access, and monitoring for suspicious activity.
- Conduct Regular Backups: Maintain secure, offline backups of critical data to minimize the impact of a ransomware attack. Test backups regularly to ensure they can be restored quickly and reliably.
- Educate Employees: Train staff to recognize phishing attempts, suspicious links, and other common attack vectors used by ransomware gangs.
- Perform Vulnerability Assessments: Regularly scan systems for vulnerabilities and prioritize remediation based on risk severity.
By adopting these measures, organizations can significantly reduce their exposure to Play ransomware threats. However, implementing these changes requires expertise and a proactive approach to cybersecurity.
Don’t let your organization become the next victim of the Play ransomware gang. Strengthen your defenses by conducting a thorough vulnerability assessment and implementing robust patch management practices. Our cybersecurity experts are here to help you navigate the evolving threat landscape. Contact us today for a free consultation to secure your systems, protect your data, and stay one step ahead of cybercriminals. Act now—because when it comes to ransomware, there’s no fun and games.