Qilin Ransomware Analysis: Critical TTPs and Defense
There are publicly available proofs of concept that demonstrate how to exploit CVE-2023-27532 to gain access to the backup server.
4 passages name itOriginal (opens in a new tab) ↗
CVE-2023-27532 KEVRansomwarePublic exploit High · 7.5 EPSS 80.6%
Veeam Backup & Replication Cloud Connect Missing Authentication for Critical Function Vulnerability
Veeam · Backup & Replication
Summary
The flaw is a missing authentication check in the Cloud Connect component of Veeam Backup & Replication, a Veeam product. It lets encrypted credentials stored in the configuration database be obtained, which can lead to access to backup infrastructure hosts. An attacker can exploit this over the network without authenticating, requiring no user interaction and no particular configuration.
Official description · NVD
Vulnerability in Veeam Backup & Replication component allows encrypted credentials stored in the configuration database to be obtained. This may lead to gaining access to the backup infrastructure hosts.
Priority scorePatchfirst’s 0 to 100 ranking. It adds points for CISA KEV listing, ransomware use, EPSS, threat reports, public exploit code and CVSS. Every CVE page shows the breakdown. Breakdown
82.0 / 100
- Exploited
- Yes, in CISA KEV
- Reports
- 1
- Tactics
- 6/15
How an attack unfolds
Based on MITRE ATT&CKA public catalogue of the techniques attackers use, maintained by MITRE. Patchfirst uses it to describe what attackers do with a vulnerability. mappings. Select a step to see the evidence.How attackers get in
What they do
What can follow
Exploitation timelineDated milestones for a CVE: when it was disclosed, when exploit code became public, when exploitation was confirmed, and when threat reports named it.
First seen exploited 47 days after disclosure. Public exploit code (PoC-in-GitHub) appeared 8 days after disclosure.
- Disclosedday 0
- Public exploit codePoC-in-GitHub+8 days
- First seen exploitedVulnCheck KEV evidence+47 days
- Added to CISA KEVknown ransomware use; EU database agrees+5 mo
CISA KEV listing is when exploitation was confirmed, not necessarily the first attack.
MITRE ATT&CKA public catalogue of the techniques attackers use, maintained by MITRE. Patchfirst uses it to describe what attackers do with a vulnerability. techniques
6 TechniqueOne specific attacker behaviour in MITRE ATT&CK, such as T1190 “Exploit Public-Facing Application”. IDs with a dot, like T1059.004, are sub-techniques., grouped by TacticThe attacker’s goal at a stage of an attack in MITRE ATT&CK, such as Initial Access or Persistence. Each technique belongs to one or more tactics. in kill-chain order 6Initial AccessTA0001
MITRE CTID mapping of the KEV entry · how it is exploited
CVE-2023-27532 is a vulnerability in their backup & replication servers exposed online which allows unauthenticated users to request encrypted credentials. Public reporting has indicated that various ransomware groups have exploited vulnerability to gain access and crash the backup infrastructure hosts, extract stored encrypted credentials, and deploy additional tools.
ExecutionTA0002
Windows Command Shell T1059.003
MITRE CTID mapping of the KEV entry · primary impact
Credential AccessTA0006
MITRE CTID mapping of the KEV entry · follow-on activity
DiscoveryTA0007
Account Discovery T1087
MITRE CTID mapping of the KEV entry · follow-on activity
Local Account T1087.001
MITRE CTID mapping of the KEV entry · follow-on activity
ImpactTA0040
MITRE CTID mapping of the KEV entry · follow-on activity
Detection
0 rules for this CVE · 120 general rules for its techniquesRules for this CVE
0Sigma ruleAn open, vendor-neutral detection rule for log data. Security teams convert Sigma rules into searches for their own SIEM. that reference CVE-2023-27532 directly.CVE-specific rules are not available in this build. Search SigmaHQ ↗
General rules for this CVE’s techniques
These detect the technique in general, not this specific vulnerability.
External Remote ServicesT113320 general rules
- External Remote SMB Logon from Public IPhightest
- OpenCanary - SSH Login Attempthightest
- OpenCanary - SSH New Connection Attempthightest
- OpenCanary - Telnet Login Attempthightest
- Running Chrome VPN Extensions via the Registry 2 VPN Extensionhightest
- Unusual Child Process of dns.exehightest
- Unusual File Deletion by Dns.exehightest
- Unusual File Modification by dns.exehightest
Windows Command ShellT1059.00346 general rules
- Elise Backdoor Activitycriticaltest
- Rorschach Ransomware Execution Activitycriticaltest
- ZxShell Malwarecriticaltest
- HackTool - CrackMapExec Execution Patternshighstable
- AWS EC2 Startup Shell Script Changehightest
- Conhost.exe CommandLine Path Traversalhightest
- Exploited CVE-2020-10189 Zoho ManageEnginehightest
- Exploiting SetupComplete.cmd CVE-2019-1378hightest
Credentials from Password StoresT15558 general rules
- HackTool - SecurityXploded Executioncriticalstable
- DPAPI Backup Keys And Certificate Export Activity IOChightest
- HackTool - WinPwn Executionhightest
- HackTool - WinPwn Execution - ScriptBlockhightest
- Suspicious Serv-U Process Patternhightest
- Dump Credentials from Windows Credential Manager With PowerShellmediumtest
- Enumerate Credentials from Windows Credential Manager With PowerShellmediumtest
- PUA - AWS TruffleHog Executionmediumexperimental
Account DiscoveryT108716 general rules
- Chopper Webshell Process Patternhightest
- HackTool - SOAPHound Executionhightest
- HackTool - winPEAS Executionhightest
- Hacktool Rulerhightest
- Malicious PowerShell Commandlets - PoshModulehightest
- Malicious PowerShell Commandlets - ProcessCreationhightest
- Malicious PowerShell Commandlets - ScriptBlockhightest
- Network Reconnaissance Activityhightest
Local AccountT1087.00113 general rules
- BloodHound Collection Fileshightest
- HackTool - Bloodhound/Sharphound Executionhightest
- Malicious PowerShell Commandlets - PoshModulehightest
- Malicious PowerShell Commandlets - ProcessCreationhightest
- Malicious PowerShell Commandlets - ScriptBlockhightest
- Suspicious Group And Account Reconnaissance Activity Using Net.EXEmediumtest
- Suspicious Reconnaissance Activity Using Get-LocalGroupMember Cmdletmediumtest
- Suspicious Use of PsLogListmediumtest
Data Encrypted for ImpactT148617 general rules
- LockerGoga Ransomware Activitycriticalstable
- Antivirus - Ransomware Signaturecriticaltest
- Potential Conti Ransomware Activitycriticaltest
- WannaCry Ransomware Activitycriticaltest
- BlueSky Ransomware Artefactshightest
- Load Of RstrtMgr.DLL By A Suspicious Processhightest
- Renamed Gpg.EXE Executionhightest
- Suspicious Reg Add BitLockerhightest
Sigma rules © SigmaHQ, Detection Rule License 1.1; linked, not reproduced.
What security researchers reported
Named in 1 threat report1 reportpicussecurity.com
Reports are matched by finding the exact id CVE-2023-27532 in their text; nobody has reviewed the match. One passage is shown per report, at most 320 characters, linked to the original.
Also mentioned in 50 community threat pulses (AlienVault OTX)
Weaker evidencePulses are indicator collections that anyone can publish. A mention is not confirmation of exploitation.
- INC and The Gentlemen Ransomware: Exposed AI Infrastructure28 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 29, 202628 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 28, 202627 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 27, 202626 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 24, 202623 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 23, 202622 Oct 2026
- 44 more on OTX