Brinztech Alert: Unauthorized RDP Accesses Sale is Detected for Many Corporate Companies

Dark Web News Analysis

A threat actor on a known cybercrime forum is auctioning what they claim is a collection of unauthorized Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) accesses to multiple corporate companies. According to the seller’s post, the access was obtained through brute-force attacks and provides domain user rights. The targets are described as companies with revenues between $5 million and $80 million, located primarily in the USA, Italy, Canada, Spain, Belgium, Great Britain, Germany, and Norway. The access is being sold as a package, with a starting bid of $1800 and a “Blitz” (buy-it-now) price of $2800.

This listing is a classic example of an Initial Access Broker (IAB) operation, which forms the first stage of the ransomware attack chain. The seller specializes in breaching networks and then sells that access to other criminal groups who deploy the final payload. The claim that the access was gained via brute-force attacks indicates that the victim companies likely had weak security controls, such as exposing RDP to the internet with weak passwords and no Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).

Key Cybersecurity Insights

This alleged access sale is a direct precursor to more destructive attacks and highlights several key trends:

• RDP as a Primary Vector for Ransomware: Compromised RDP access remains one of the most common entry points for ransomware attacks. For a ransomware gang, purchasing this access package is a shortcut that allows them to bypass the initial intrusion phase and move directly to deploying their malware inside a victim’s network.  
• Exploitation of Weak Credential Security: The seller’s claim of using brute-force attacks is a clear signal that the victim organizations failed to implement basic security hygiene. This includes using weak or default passwords, not having an account lockout policy to stop repeated login attempts, and failing to protect remote access with MFA.
• Calculated Targeting of Mid-Sized Enterprises: The focus on companies in the $5M to $80M revenue range is a deliberate strategy. These organizations are often seen by attackers as a “sweet spot”—large enough to afford a significant ransom payment but often lacking the dedicated cybersecurity resources of a larger enterprise.

Mitigation Strategies

In response to the constant threat of RDP-based attacks, all organizations must prioritize the following security controls:

• Eliminate Direct RDP Internet Exposure: RDP should never be directly exposed to the public internet. Remote access to internal networks should be provided through a secure gateway, such as a Virtual Private Network (VPN) or a Zero-Trust Network Access (ZTNA) solution.  
• Enforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): This is the single most effective control to prevent brute-force and credential theft attacks. MFA must be mandated for all remote access, especially for privileged accounts. This ensures that a stolen password alone is not enough to grant an attacker access.  
• Implement Strong Password Policies and Monitoring: Organizations must enforce strong, complex passwords and implement strict account lockout policies that temporarily disable an account after a small number of failed login attempts. RDP and VPN logs should be continuously monitored for suspicious activity, such as logins from unusual geographic locations or impossible travel scenarios.  

Secure Your Organization with Brinztech As a cybersecurity provider, we can protect your business from the threats discussed here. Contact us to learn more about our services.

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