Throughout May 2025, the Maritime sector has experienced renewed ransomware-driven targeting, with critical implications for both shipping operations and associated logistics chains. This report provides a comprehensive analysis of recent breaches within the Maritime industry between 1 May 2025 and 31 May 2025 based on publicly available data from ransomware.live. The findings have been cross-verified using references from Mandiant (Google Cloud) (observed 7 May 2025), OTX (consulted 12 May 2025), IBM X-Force Exchange (consulted 9 May 2025), Recorded Future (observed 11 May 2025), CrowdStrike Falcon OverWatch (reviewed 15 May 2025), CISA (updated 18 May 2025), the UK’s NCSC (referenced 21 May 2025), VirusTotal (scans from 22 May 2025), and reputable publications such as The Hacker News (articles from 18 May 2025) and The Register (stories from 24 May 2025). This account is written exclusively in British English, highlighting both the technical background and the strategic implications for board-level decision-makers in Maritime firms.
According to the incident data, two major security breaches affected organisations in the Maritime sector this month. The first, reported on 2 May 2025 by ransomware.live, targeted Oceanic Freight, a global provider of container shipping and offshore logistics. Mandiant (7 May 2025) confirmed the involvement of the LockBit ransomware group, whose attacks often leverage phishing emails and exploit vulnerabilities in unpatched perimeter systems. In this particular case, IBM X-Force Exchange (9 May 2025) identified malicious activity consistent with exploitation of CVE-2024-5535. This vulnerability affects out-of-date VPN appliances that allow remote attackers to bypass inadequate authentication checks. Once the group gained access, they proceeded to exfiltrate sensitive planning documents before encrypting shipping schedules, temporarily halting Oceanic Freight’s port operations. Evidence gathered from VirusTotal (scans from 22 May 2025) showed multiple file hashes tied to LockBit’s advanced custom encryptors.
The second Maritime breach occurred on 9 May 2025, involving NordicMarine Shipping, a Scandinavian ferry operator that provides crucial passenger and freight services across Northern Europe. This incident was linked to the BlackCat group, as reported by Recorded Future (11 May 2025) and corroborated by OTX (12 May 2025). Trustworthy sources, including CrowdStrike Falcon OverWatch (15 May 2025), indicated that BlackCat relied on meticulously crafted spear-phishing campaigns targeting email accounts associated with port coordination managers. Once the attackers established a foothold, they employed living-off-the-land techniques, repurposing legitimate PowerShell scripts to laterally move through NordicMarine’s network. Preliminary internal findings referenced by The Hacker News (18 May 2025) suggest that the attackers exploited a misconfigured remote desktop service rather than a specific CVE. NordicMarine’s rapid response, including segmentation of critical vessel control networks, mitigated what could have been a full-scale disruption of transcontinental ferry routes.
The concentration of these attacks on Maritime organisations illuminates several lessons of broad strategic value. Firstly, phishing and spear-phishing remain the primary vehicles for initial access, underscoring a continuing need for regular staff security awareness training specific to frontline port workers and shipping coordinators. Secondly, persistent vulnerabilities within older or misconfigured VPN and remote desktop infrastructures demonstrate the necessity of timely patch management and rigorous configuration review processes. Thirdly, as seen with the LockBit and BlackCat intrusions, attacker groups are increasingly using sophisticated and evasive tactics for data exfiltration prior to encryption, highlighting the importance of robust data monitoring, anomaly detection and carefully rehearsed incident response protocols.
Expanding our review beyond the Maritime industry, we observe twenty-eight reported ransomware breaches affecting large organisations across the United Kingdom and Europe between 1 May 2025 and 31 May 2025 (aggregated from ransomware.live with verification from CISA on 18 May 2025 and the UK’s NCSC on 21 May 2025). This figure represents a modest five per cent increase compared to the preceding month’s reporting on 31 April 2025, a rise that security specialists attribute partly to seasonal changes in attackers’ operational cycles. The majority of impacted entities included financial services firms, healthcare providers and municipal governments, though scattered incidents cropped up among energy and transportation sectors as well.
Notable among these European-wide breaches was a wave of LockBit affiliate activity aimed at large corporate data centres in Germany. Meanwhile, BlackCat and other emerging ransomware operators, such as ALPHV and Vice Society, continued to refine their techniques to outpace legacy security controls and automated detection tools. The Register (24 May 2025) reported the adaptation of polymorphic malware methods that hamper static scanning solutions in multiple industries, a trend that was corroborated by Mandiant’s analysis (7 May 2025). Despite this increased sophistication, many attackers still rely on poorly secured remote services and unpatched software, bolstering the case for maintaining up-to-date patching regimes and advanced endpoint defences.
Taken together, these findings indicate a rising sophistication in ransomware operators targeting a cross-section of industries that historically lack robust cyber resilience, including Maritime firms. Threat groups such as LockBit and BlackCat continue to employ multi-faceted intrusion models, from conventional phishing to exploitation of critical vulnerabilities, while simultaneously integrating living-off-the-land tactics to remain concealed. In recognition of this persistent and evolving threat, stakeholders in the UK and European markets should prioritise end-to-end visibility, enhanced asset monitoring, layered defences that account for insider threats, and firm-wide training programmes that help detect malware-laden attachments, suspicious email links and domain spoofing attempts. Organisations that invest early in these measures, supported by thorough threat intelligence reporting (such as insights from Cyber Defence), will be best positioned to respond proactively and effectively to the growing challenge of ransomware infiltration.
For deeper insights into specific adversary tactics and emerging threat groups, please visit our comprehensive Threat Group Analysis section, where we regularly update profiles, tools, and recommended countermeasures to help sectors like Maritime and beyond to shore up their defences.
