Ingram Micro Grapples WIth SafePay Ransomware Attack

Uploaded on 2025-07-09 in NEWS-Cybersecurity News, FREE TO VIEW, BUSINESS-Services-IT & Telecoms

Ingram Micro, a leader in business-to-business technology distribution, has fallen victim to a ransomware attack perpetrated by the SafePay cybercrime group. The exploit, which was first detetected on 3rd July, has disrupted critical internal systems, forcing the company to take urgent defensive measures.

The attack has sent ripples through the global IT supply chain, highlighting vulnerabilities in even the most robust technology ecosystems.

Ingram Micro, which serves over 160,000 customers worldwide with hardware, software, and cloud services, confirmed the incident in a statement, noting that it had identified ransomware on certain systems and was working to restore operations.

Anatomy Of The Breach

The SafePay ransomware group, a relatively new but prolific actor in the cybercrime landscape, is believed to have infiltrated Ingram Micro’s network via its GlobalProtect VPN platform, likely exploiting compromised credentials or password-spraying techniques.

Active since November 2024, SafePay has claimed over 220 victims, targeting organisations through vulnerabilities in VPN gateways and remote access software.

The attack prompted Ingram to shut down key systems, including its AI-powered Xvantage distribution platform and Impulse license provisioning tool, which are integral to order processing and software licensing.

While productivity tools like Microsoft 365 and Teams remained operational, the outage caused significant disruptions, with estimated daily losses of $136 million during the peak of the crisis.

Response & Mitigation

In response to the breach, Ingram Micro acted decisively, taking affected systems offline and engaging third-party cybersecurity experts to investigate. The company also notified law enforcement. Howver its has not disclosed specific details, notably including the timing of the attack, the extent of data compromised, and SafePay’s ransom demands. Employees were instructed to work from home, and access to the GlobalProtect VPN was suspended to contain the threat.

By 8 July, Ingram Micro reported progress in restoring transactional systems, with subscription orders being processed centrally. However, full recovery of platforms like Xvantage and Impulse remains ongoing, leaving partners and customers grappling with delays.

Broader Implications

The attack highlights the established and fast-growing threat posed by ransomware groups like SafePay, which has emerged as a leading cybercriminal outfit in 2025, responsible for 18% of global ransomware attacks in May alone.

Unlike many ransomware-as-a-service operations, SafePay operates a closed system, directly controlling its attacks.

This incident deonstares the fragility of global IT supply chains, where a single breach can disrupt operations for thousands of downstream partners, including major clients like Apple, HP, and Cisco. The exploitation of VPN vulnerabilities also raises questions about the adequacy of current cybersecurity measures, particularly for critical vendors like Ingram Micro.

In expert comment, Tim Grievson, who is CSO at ThingsRecon said "Organisations often assume that spreading suppliers across different regions or sectors provides enough insulation. In reality, many of these vendors are nested, relying on the same upstream cloud infrastructure, data centres or even security providers...

A successful attack on one layer can ripple across multiple companies, sectors or even nations...

This is where modern supply chain mapping and risk intelligence tools must be used not just for compliance, but for genuine insight. Understanding who your vendors depend on, and who their vendors depend on, is now a critical step in assessing systemic risk." Grievson concludes.

Urgent Need Of Resilience

For Ingram Micro and its partners, the attack is a sharp reminder of the need for robust cybersecurity protocols. Experts recommend implementing phishing-resistant multi-factor authentication, regular patching of remote access software, and continuous monitoring for suspicious activity.

The incident also underscores the importance of transparency in communicating with stakeholders to maintain trust. As Ingram Micro works to restore its systems, the broader IT industry must heed this warning, strengthening defences to mitigate the escalating risks posed by sophisticated cyber threats.

Image: @IngramMicroInc

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