VanHelsingRaaS, a new ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) operation, launched on March 7, 2025, has already targeted multiple platforms. The threat rapidly evolved, claiming three victims within two weeks and demanding Bitcoin ransoms of $500,000. VanHelsingRaaS allows cybercriminals to join as affiliates by paying a $5,000 deposit, with affiliates keeping 80% of ransom payments while the core operators retain 20%. Notably, the ransomware targets Windows, Linux, BSD, ARM, and ESXi systems, expanding its reach across enterprise environments.
The operation has shown quick development, with researchers identifying two distinct variants compiled just five days apart. This quick pace demonstrates the malware authors’ focus on evolving and improving their threat capabilities. Affiliates benefit from an intuitive control panel that simplifies executing ransomware attacks, making it accessible to less technically skilled cybercriminals. The RaaS operators impose one key restriction: affiliates are prohibited from targeting systems within the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries.
VanHelsingRaaS employs advanced encryption techniques using a Curve 25519 public key embedded in the ransomware’s code.
For each encrypted file, the ransomware generates two random ephemeral values, which are used in the ChaCha20 encryption algorithm. Encrypted files are renamed with the “.vanhelsing” extension, and a ransom note is left in each affected folder. This encryption process highlights the sophistication of the ransomware, which can target multiple operating systems and evade detection with its unique encryption methods.
A notable feature of VanHelsingRaaS is its “Silent mode,” which helps evade detection systems. In Silent mode, the ransomware performs a two-stage encryption process, first encrypting files without renaming them.
Afterward, it renames the files in a second pass. This evasion technique allows the malware to bypass behavioral detection systems that flag simultaneous encryption and renaming as suspicious activity. As VanHelsingRaaS evolves, security professionals must remain vigilant to combat its expanding and increasingly sophisticated threat.
