In a sweeping international crackdown, law enforcement agencies dismantled the infrastructure behind multiple ransomware operations from 19 to 22 May 2025. Dubbed Operation ENDGAME, this unprecedented action disabled initial access malware services, neutralized 650 domains, and seized over €21.2 million in cryptocurrency crippling the ransomware ecosystem at its root.
A coalition of law enforcement agencies executed simultaneous takedowns across Canada, France, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States, supported by Europol and Eurojust. This wave of action targeted the infrastructure enabling some of the most dangerous malware strains used for ransomware deployment.
According to Europol’s statement released on 20 May 2025, authorities:
- Took down over 300 servers
- Neutralized 650 domains
- Seized over €3.5 million in crypto, adding to the previously recovered €17.7 million
- Issued 20 international arrest warrants
- Targeted and neutralized seven malware variants (see TTPs section)
This joint strike is the second major phase of the Operation ENDGAME, which first launched in May 2024 against global botnets. In 2025, the focus sharpened on initial access malware, a critical link in the ransomware kill chain.
Disrupting the Malware-as-a-Service Market
The malware variants taken down include:
- Qakbot
- Trickbot
- DanaBot
- HijackLoader
- Warmcookie
- Bumblebee
- Lactrodectus
These are instrumental in providing access for ransomware operators and are typically distributed via phishing, drive-by downloads, or malicious ads. Their removal represents a significant blow to the cybercrime-as-a-service economy.
“By disrupting the services criminals rely on to deploy ransomware, we are breaking the kill chain at its source.”
— Catherine De Bolle, Europol Executive Director
The MEA Perspective: Vigilance in a Shifting Threat Landscape
Why This Matters for Middle East and Africa
The MEA region has become an increasingly lucrative target for cybercrime due to rapid digital transformation, expanding cloud adoption, and emerging fintech ecosystems.
While Operation ENDGAME was largely centered in Europe and North America, its implications ripple across MEA:
- Several domains and servers disrupted were hosted in African cloud regions.
- Agencies like CERT-MU (Mauritius) and NCA-ZA (South Africa) reported increased attempted connections from takedown-linked IPs before the operation.
- With the rise of data protection laws like Nigeria’s NDPR, the crackdown provides a blueprint for regional policymakers to regulate initial access brokers.
“This operation sets a global precedent. Regional CSIRTs must now proactively update their IOCs and revamp their awareness campaigns.”
— Ayodele Badmus, CTO at Lagos-based CyberSecure360
Global Comparison: Law Enforcement Learns to Fight Smart
Operation ENDGAME shows growing maturity in international cybercrime coordination:
| Operation | Focus | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Operation Endgame 2024 | Botnets (Qakbot, Emotet) | Takedown of command-and-control infrastructure |
| Endgame 2025 | Initial Access Malware | Kill chain disrupted, 20 suspects wanted |
| Operation Cronos (2023) | Lockbit gang disruption | Arrests, crypto seizure, partial restoration of services |
Where 2024 was about cleanup, 2025 is about prevention—striking at ransomware’s entry points before payloads are deployed.
Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs)
MITRE ATT&CK Mapping & IOCs (Boxed section)
- Initial Access: Spear phishing (T1566.001), malicious ads (T1189)
- Execution: DLL side-loading (T1574.002)
- Persistence: Scheduled tasks (T1053.005), registry run keys (T1547.001)
- Defense Evasion: Obfuscated files/scripts (T1027), signed binary proxy execution (T1218.011)
- Command and Control: Encrypted C2 via HTTPS (T1071.001)
- IOC Samples:
- Domains:
bumpsecure[.]xyz,danatrace[.]top - IPs:
185.202.2.111,45.77.99.64 - File hashes (DanaBot variant):
e5f4cd9f...,c9a25de2...
- Domains:
Actionable Takeaways for CISOs and Security Leaders
- Update blocklists with domains and IPs linked to Operation ENDGAME.
- Audit endpoints for presence of any initial access malware such as Qakbot or HijackLoader.
- Use threat intelligence feeds from cybercory.com to monitor evolving IOCs.
- Increase user awareness training to identify phishing and malvertising campaigns.
- Patch early, patch often—many malware variants exploit known CVEs.
- Deploy EDR/XDR solutions to detect lateral movement and anomalous persistence mechanisms.
- Monitor for exfiltration via encrypted C2 channels.
- Engage with local CERTs for updated guidance and mitigation strategies.
- Review third-party access and enforce MFA across all externally facing portals.
- Include initial access scenarios in red teaming and tabletop exercises.
Conclusion: Disruption Is Not Defeat—But It Buys Time
Operation ENDGAME proves that dismantling the infrastructure of cybercrime is possible when global cooperation is prioritized. But cybercriminals are agile they will retool, rebuild, and return.
For defenders, this is a critical window to harden systems, update security controls, and disrupt future attack chains before they start. As the upcoming IOCTA 2025 report highlights, the war against ransomware begins at its point of entry. Let’s act accordingly.
Sources
- Europol – Operation Endgame Strikes Again (20 May 2025)
- Eurojust – Judicial Coordination for Operation ENDGAME
- IOCTA 2024 – Europol Threat Report
- NCA UK Press Release (20 May 2025)
- U.S. DOJ Statement on Operation ENDGAME
- CyberSecure360 (Nigeria) – Operation Endgame Regional Analysis
- MITRE ATT&CK Framework
- Saintynet: Pentesting & Awareness Services
- CyberCory News: Ransomware Trends and Alerts
- CERT South Africa Alerts (May 2025)
