Health Organization Records Stolen via Welltok’s MOVEit - 930k+ Including Minors
Table of Contents
- By Steven
- Published: Dec 07, 2023
- Last Updated: Dec 08, 2023
The number of victims caused by the global MOVEit data breach continues to climb; Welltok has announced more exposures, this time from three more health organizations. Welltok is an online provider of lifestyle health services and allows health professionals to communicate quickly with their patients. This most recent announcement involves Elixir RX Solutions from Ohio, OrthoNebraska from Nebraska, and OSF HealthCare System from Illinois.
How Did the Attack Occur?
MOVEit is a file transfer system that allows users to manage files between otherwise different systems. The MOVEit breach is a global cybersecurity event where a zero-day vulnerability allowed cybercriminals to access thousands of organizations’ systems. The ransomware gang CL0P has claimed the breach as their handiwork; however, it is unclear if these new announcements connect to them or other cybercriminals. Welltok previously released a statement on the event with a list of organizations believed to be impacted by the breach; the three healthcare organizations featured today did not appear on this list.
What Information Was Viewed or Stolen?
The information stolen from each organization is different, and each individual’s data may have one or multiple pieces of exposure. Additionally, some patients, like minors who have relationships with the OSF HealthCare System, are at exceptionally high risk for data misuse.
The data stolen from Elixir RX Solutions, operating as Elixir Pharmacy, includes patient’s full names, birthdays, other personally identifiable information, patient ID numbers, health insurance information, and prescription information.
The data stolen from Orthowest includes patient details from OrthoNebraska Clinics, Nebraska Orthopaedic Hospital, and OrthoNebraska Hospital; it involves patient names, addresses, contact information like phone number and email address, date of birth, patient ID number, health insurance information, treatment cost data, medical record information, provider names, and treatment/diagnosis records.
The data stolen from the OSF HealthCare System involves patients’ and minors’ information. The exposed elements include names, dates of birth, Social Security Numbers, patient ID numbers, provider names, treatment information and diagnosis, and health insurance information.
How Did Welltok Admit to the Breach?
The creators of MOVEit, Progress Software, publicly announced the zero-day vulnerability around May 31st, 2023; consequently, organizations worldwide began internal investigations. Welltok’s preliminary investigation concluded around July 26th, and they subsequently began notifying organizations of their MOVEit server breach. Welltok notified the three healthcare organizations above on or around September 22nd, causing them to start internal reviews.
OSF HealthCare System officials made their breach discovery the earliest, at or around October 13th; Elixir RX Solutions’ discovery came next, on or around October 18th; and OrthoNebraska’s discovery came soon after, on or around October 19th. Officials immediately worked to notify parties, sending official notifications around December 4th.
What Will Become of the Stolen Information?
The data stolen from Welltok’s MOVEit breach totals millions of records. This newest installment suggests that 931,316 patients and minors had data exposed in the event. What the bad actors intend to do with the information remains unclear; however, victims don’t need to wait to find out what happens to their data. Victims can influence what happens with their (and their children’s) data by taking defensive precautions.
What Should Affected Parties Do in the Aftermath of the Breach?
Victims of this breach can still protect themselves, regardless of what the bad actors have planned for their data. Victims can secure their accounts by changing passwords and enabling multi-factor authentications; they could also invest in medical accounts, credit, identity and financial monitoring services.
