Cybersecurity researchers have identified a new ransomware family called Reynolds that incorporates a dangerous defense evasion technique directly within its payload. This ransomware embeds a bring your own vulnerable driver (BYOVD) component, which allows attackers to abuse legitimate but flawed driver software to disable endpoint detection and response (EDR) security tools on compromised systems.

The BYOVD technique represents a significant escalation in ransomware tactics, enabling threat actors to bypass critical security defenses by exploiting vulnerabilities in trusted drivers. This approach allows Reynolds ransomware to operate with elevated privileges and neutralize EDR protections before encrypting victim data, making detection and response more challenging for security teams.

Key Takeaways

  • Reynolds ransomware includes built-in BYOVD driver for defense evasion
  • BYOVD technique abuses legitimate vulnerable drivers to disable EDR security tools
  • Attackers use this method to escalate privileges and bypass endpoint protections
  • This represents an evolution in ransomware tactics to overcome security defenses

Source: The Hacker News