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Supply Chain Cyberattacks Surge After SafePay’s Massive Hit on Ingram Micro

by | Jul 11, 2025 | Cybercrime

Supply chain cyberattacks struck global technology distributor Ingram Micro on July 3, 2025, via a devastating ransomware attack by the SafePay group, a prolific operation that emerged in late 2024. The attack disrupted critical systems, including the AI-powered Xvantage platform and Impulse license provisioning tool, causing widespread outages in order processing and shipping across the U.S., Europe, and Asia. The SafePay group, responsible for over 220 attacks since November 2024, reportedly exploited vulnerabilities in Ingram Micro’s GlobalProtect VPN platform, though Palo Alto Networks is investigating these claims. As of July 9, 2025, Ingram Micro has made progress in restoring operations, with limited order processing via phone and email in regions like the U.S. and Canada, but full recovery remains ongoing. The attack highlights the rising threat of supply chain cyberattacks, which target critical intermediaries like Ingram Micro—connecting vendors such as Apple, Cisco, and HP to global markets—disrupting managed service providers (MSPs), resellers, and end customers. Ingram Micro is collaborating with cybersecurity experts and law enforcement, including the FBI, to investigate and remediate the incident, but concerns persist about potential data exfiltration and long-term trust in their cybersecurity measures. This incident underscores the urgent need to address supply chain cyberattacks to protect global tech ecosystems.

Anatomy of the SafePay Supply Chain Cyberattack

The SafePay ransomware attack on Ingram Micro began on July 3, 2025, when anomalous network activity was detected, prompting the company to take systems offline. Ransom notes found on employee devices claimed SafePay accessed sensitive data, including financial records, customer files, and intellectual property, though these claims remain unverified due to SafePay’s boilerplate language. The attack disrupted key platforms like Xvantage, which handles order tracking and billing, and Impulse, used for software licensing, causing delays for MSPs and resellers worldwide. Sources suggest SafePay exploited misconfigurations in Ingram Micro’s GlobalProtect VPN, a known tactic involving compromised credentials or password spray attacks. The attack’s timing—before the July 4 holiday—amplified disruptions, as many businesses were unprepared for prolonged outages. SafePay’s rapid encryption and data theft tactics, with attacks often moving from breach to deployment in under 24 hours, highlight their sophistication. This supply chain cyberattack demonstrates how vulnerabilities in a single distributor can ripple across global tech ecosystems.

Why Supply Chain Cyberattacks Are Surging

Supply chain cyberattacks are escalating, with a 40% increase in attacks targeting tech distributors and MSPs in 2024, per CrowdStrike’s 2025 Global Threat Report. Several factors drive this trend:

  • Critical Intermediaries: Companies like Ingram Micro, serving 90% of the global population, are high-value targets due to their role in connecting vendors and customers. A single breach can disrupt thousands of businesses.
  • Vulnerable Access Points: VPN gateways and remote desktop protocols (RDP) are prime targets, with SafePay exploiting weak credentials or misconfigurations.
  • Legacy Systems: Outdated infrastructure, as seen in Ingram Micro’s case, lacks modern security controls, enabling lateral movement across networks.
  • Data Theft Potential: SafePay’s double-extortion tactics (encryption and data theft) target sensitive data like financial records and intellectual property.
  • Supply Chain Ripple Effects: Breaches in distributors affect MSPs, resellers, and end customers, amplifying economic and operational impacts.

SafePay, responsible for 18% of ransomware attacks in May 2025, has targeted sectors like healthcare, education, and IT, making it a leading threat. The Ingram Micro attack underscores the need for robust defenses against supply chain cyberattacks.

Broader Implications of Supply Chain Cyberattacks

Supply chain cyberattacks, like the Ingram Micro breach, have far-reaching consequences:

  • Global Disruptions: Outages halted order processing and shipments, impacting MSPs, resellers, and enterprises in government, telecom, and retail.
  • Economic Impact: The attack caused billions in deferred transactions and potential SLA penalties, threatening Ingram Micro’s $48 billion revenue stream.
  • Trust Erosion: Prolonged outages and potential data leaks undermine confidence in distributors, prompting partners to seek alternatives like TD Synnex or D&H.
  • Data Exposure Risks: If SafePay’s data theft claims are verified, stolen data could be leaked on their dark web site, leading to regulatory fines or lawsuits.
  • Industry Vulnerability: The attack highlights weak links in cloud-centric supply chains, where reliance on distributors amplifies risks.

With SafePay’s 220+ victims since November 2024, the threat to supply chains is escalating, requiring urgent action.

Comprehensive Strategies to Prevent Supply Chain Cyberattacks

To counter supply chain cyberattacks like the SafePay hit on Ingram Micro, Black Belt Secure recommends eight strategies tailored for tech distributors and their partners:

  1. Secure VPN Access: Enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) and IP allowlists on VPN gateways to prevent credential-based attacks, as seen in the Ingram Micro breach.
  2. Patch Systems Promptly: Update legacy systems and business applications to close vulnerabilities, addressing the misconfigurations exploited by SafePay.
  3. Implement Network Segmentation: Isolate critical platforms like Xvantage from other systems to limit lateral movement during supply chain cyberattacks.
  4. Enhance Threat Detection: Deploy AI-powered tools and SIEM systems to monitor for anomalies, enabling early detection of supply chain cyberattacks.
  5. Strengthen Supply Chain Security: Enforce strict security standards for partners and conduct third-party attack surface monitoring to mitigate risks.
  6. Train Employees: Provide regular training on phishing and credential theft to reduce human error, a common entry point for SafePay attacks.
  7. Develop Incident Response Plans: Maintain offline, encrypted backups and test response plans to ensure rapid recovery, as Ingram Micro did to contain the attack.
  8. Encrypt and Minimize Data: Encrypt sensitive data and implement data minimization to reduce exposure in supply chain cyberattacks.

Protect Your Supply Chain Today

Don’t let supply chain cyberattacks like the SafePay hit on Ingram Micro cripple your operations. Act now with Black Belt Secure’s MSSP services, offering AI-powered threat detection, network segmentation, and incident response solutions. Click here for a free cybersecurity assessment. Contact us to fortify your defenses against supply chain cyberattacks. Subscribe to our blog for the latest updates and stay resilient. Get in touch today!