Akira
aka Storm-1567, Howling Scorpius, Punk Spider, Gold Sahara
A ransomware group that gets in through VPNs lacking multi-factor authentication or with old flaws, steals and encrypts data, and demands payment. It hits manufacturing, IT, healthcare and more, and encrypts whole virtualization hosts.
- Alert level
- 3/ 5
- Reports & advisories (90 days)
- 0
- Known exploited CVEs
- 8
- Personal data leaked (disclosed)
- None confirmed
Exploited vulnerabilities and targeted products
CVE-2020-3259 CVE-2023-20269 CVE-2020-3580 CVE-2023-28252 CVE-2024-37085 CVE-2023-27532 CVE-2024-40711 CVE-2024-40766
If you run any of these products, first make sure they are updated to a fixed version.
How they attack
Entry
VPNs without multi-factor authentication
Like finding a back door that opens with a single key, then using a stolen or guessed one.
Inside
Destroying backups first
Like disabling the fire extinguishers and emergency exits before starting the fire.
Goal
Encrypting whole virtualization hosts
Like seizing the building's power room to shut every floor at once instead of going room by room.
Goal
Double extortion: encrypt and leak
Like locking your safe and also taking copies of the papers inside, threatening to publish them unless you pay.
Sources
Attributions are quoted as assessed by governments and security vendors. VulnPulse does not make attributions itself.
Leak counts only add up figures disclosed by the affected companies or authorities, never the attackers' own claims. We do not list victim names or link to leak sites.
The alert level is calculated automatically from reports and advisories in the last 90 days, known exploited vulnerabilities, and whether the group has targeted Japan.
Updated 2026-10-23 · daily