SK Telecom data exposure threatened by new hacking operation

Newly emergent ransomware gang CoinbaseCartel has warned exposing leading South Korean telecommunications provider SK Telecom's source code and sensitive project files stolen in a cyberattack last month should it refuse to commence negotiations, Cybernews reports.

Alleged infiltration of SK Telecom's network in mid-September enabled the exfiltration of the firm's source code containing various internal corporate projects, Docker files, build configurations, and AWS access keys, according to CoinbaseCartel, which has offered a download link to a ZIP file with the stolen Python extensions and other files to prove the legitimacy of the compromise.

Threat actors may have obtained such information by hacking an SK Telecom employee's Bitbucket account, noted Cybernews researchers. Aside from SK Telecom, more than a dozen other organizations were also claimed by the CoinbaseCartel since its emergence last month. CoinbaseCartel's assertions come after Qilin admitted to having stolen 1 TB of files from SK Telecom earlier this year.