Ethical Hacking News
Inotiv, a pharmaceutical company specializing in drug development and research, has been hit by a ransomware attack attributed to the Qilin ransomware gang. The attack has caused disruptions to some of its systems and data, resulting in the theft of approximately 162,000 files amounting to 176GB. Inotiv is working to restore affected systems and mitigate the impact of the outages caused by the cyberattack.
Inotiv disclosed a ransomware attack attributed to the Qilin ransomware gang that impacted its systems and data on August 8, 2025. The threat actor gained unauthorized access, encrypted files, and stole approximately 162,000 files amounting to 176GB. Inotiv's preliminary investigation linked the attack to the Qilin ransomware gang, with published data samples on their leak site possibly related to the incident. The cyberattack caused disruptions to databases and internal applications used in business processes. No estimated time for return to normal operations has been provided, but it's expected to persist for some time.
Pharma firm Inotiv has disclosed that a ransomware attack, attributed to the Qilin ransomware gang, has impacted some of its systems and data, causing disruptions to business operations. The cyberattack occurred on August 8, 2025, and took action to contain the breach.
In a filing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Inotiv states that the threat actor gained unauthorized access to and encrypted certain of the company's systems, resulting in the theft of approximately 162,000 files amounting to 176GB.
The company's preliminary investigation determined that the Qilin ransomware gang claimed responsibility for the attack. The threat actor published data samples on their leak site, which may be linked to the incident.
Inotiv listed on the Qilin ransomware websiteSource: BleepingComputer
The organization is an Indiana-based contract research organization specializing in drug development, drug discovery, and safety assessment, as well as live animal research modeling. It employs around 2,000 specialists and has an annual revenue of more than $500 million.
However, the cyberattack has caused disruptions to certain networks and systems that include databases and internal applications used in business processes. Inotiv's IT team is working to restore these systems and migrated some of the affected operations to offline alternatives in order to mitigate the impact of the outages caused by the cyberattack.
No estimation has been provided for a return to normal operations, but the company expects the adverse effects to persist for some time.
In conclusion, Inotiv's ransomware attack highlights the growing threat of cyberattacks on pharmaceutical companies and other critical industries. As more organizations adopt cloud-based solutions and rely heavily on digital systems, they become increasingly vulnerable to these types of attacks.
It is essential for businesses to prioritize cybersecurity measures, including regular backups, robust security protocols, and employee training programs. By taking proactive steps, organizations can minimize the impact of cyberattacks and ensure business continuity.
As we continue to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of cyber threats, it's crucial for individuals, organizations, and governments to work together to promote awareness and support the development of effective cybersecurity solutions.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/Inotiv-Ransomware-Attack-Disruption-to-Pharmaceutical-Companys-Operations-ehn.shtml
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/pharma-firm-inotiv-says-ransomware-attack-impacted-operations/
Published: Tue Aug 19 11:13:49 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
