The Chinese-nexus group UAT-9686 has escalated its campaign against Cisco Secure Email Gateways. New intelligence confirms the deployment of “AquaWipe,” a destructive module that systematically corrupts the appliance’s firmware and file system if it detects forensic analysis tools. This effectively “bricks” the device, causing total service outages.
Business Impact
This moves the threat from “Espionage” to “Destruction.” Organizations attempting to investigate a potential breach may inadvertently trigger the wiper, losing not only the evidence but the critical email infrastructure itself right before the holiday break.
Why It Happened
State actors are increasingly using “scorched earth” tactics to prevent attribution. The wiper is a counter-forensic measure designed to destroy the logs that would link the attack back to UAT-9686.
Recommended Executive Action
Do not attempt live forensics on suspected appliances. Immediately isolate the device from the network and initiate a full disaster recovery capability on clean hardware. Assume the data on the compromised appliance is unrecoverable.
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