Interlock Ransomware Targeting Defense Contractors and Supply Chain Networks | #hacking | #cybersecurity | #infosec | #comptia | #pentest | #ransomware

The Interlock Ransomware group has emerged as a significant adversary targeting defense contractors and their intricate supply chain networks.

First identified in September 2024, Interlock has rapidly shifted from opportunistic attacks across sectors like healthcare and technology to highly targeted assaults on the defense industrial base.

A recent attack on National Defense Corporation (NDC) and its subsidiary AMTEC, a manufacturer of lethal and non-lethal ammunition, underscores this shift.

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The breach, reported by National Presto Industries to the SEC on March 6 as a “system outage caused by a cybersecurity incident,” led to sensitive data being exfiltrated and published on Interlock’s Data Leak Site (DLS) within the TOR network, known as “Worldwide Secrets Blog.”

This incident highlights how ransomware groups can exploit geopolitical tensions and local conflicts as cover for espionage or strategic disruption, often with potential backing from nation-state actors.

Escalating Cyber Threats in the Defense Sector

The implications of Interlock’s attack on AMTEC are profound, exposing critical details about global defense supply chains, including connections to major players like Raytheon, SpaceX, Thales, and Leonardo.

Leaked documents reveal sensitive information on logistics, shipment destinations, production capacities, and contracts with entities such as the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and even the Ministry of Defense of Turkmenistan.

Such disclosures pose a direct threat to national security by enabling adversaries to map military supply chains, redirect shipments, or gain strategic insights during ongoing geopolitical conflicts.

According to Resecurity Report, beyond immediate data theft, the cascading effects disrupt defense operations, delay critical projects, and threaten military readiness.

National Security Risks

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) within the supply chain, often lacking robust cybersecurity, become weak links that amplify these risks.

Additionally, the theft of intellectual property (IP) related to cutting-edge military technologies could undermine competitive advantages and empower foreign intelligence or rival states.

Interlock’s strategy of double extortion-combining data leaks with potential ransomware deployment-further compounds the pressure on victims to pay hefty ransoms or face operational paralysis.

To combat such threats, frameworks like the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), aligned with NIST 800-171, mandate stringent access controls, data encryption, and regular backups for defense contractors handling Federal Contract Information (FCI) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).

Non-compliance risks loss of DoD contracts and legal liabilities under the False Claims Act.

However, as ransomware attacks grow in sophistication, extending cybersecurity measures to third and fourth-party suppliers remains a critical challenge.

Key Indicators of Attack (IOAs)

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