Venezuela energy sector targeted by highly destructive Lotus wiper

Security Affairs

April 22, 2026 at 7:53 AM

Actively Exploited

Overview

In a significant cyberattack, the Lotus Wiper malware targeted Venezuela's energy sector, causing extensive damage to critical infrastructure. Researchers from Kaspersky reported that attackers first executed batch scripts to disable security measures and prepare the systems for the wiper's deployment. Once the environment was compromised, the wiper erased all data, making recovery impossible. This assault on the energy and utilities sector comes amid rising regional tensions, highlighting vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure. The incident raises concerns about the potential for similar attacks in other regions, emphasizing the need for enhanced cybersecurity measures in vital sectors.

Key Takeaways

Active Exploitation: This vulnerability is being actively exploited by attackers. Immediate action is recommended.
Affected Systems: Venezuelan energy systems, utilities sector
Action Required: Strengthening cybersecurity defenses, implementing regular data backups, and monitoring systems for unusual activity.
Timeline: Ongoing since 2025

Original Article Summary

Lotus Wiper hit Venezuelan energy systems, used scripts to disable defenses, then erased all data beyond recovery. Kaspersky researchers found Lotus Wiper targeting Venezuela’s energy and utilities sector amid regional tensions in 2025–2026. Attackers first used batch scripts to weaken systems, disable defenses, and prepare the environment. Then they deployed the wiper, which erased recovery […]

Impact

Venezuelan energy systems, utilities sector

Exploitation Status

This vulnerability is confirmed to be actively exploited by attackers in real-world attacks. Organizations should prioritize patching or implementing workarounds immediately.

Timeline

Ongoing since 2025

Remediation

Strengthening cybersecurity defenses, implementing regular data backups, and monitoring systems for unusual activity.

Additional Information

This threat intelligence is aggregated from trusted cybersecurity sources. For the most up-to-date information, technical details, and official vendor guidance, please refer to the original article linked below.

Related Topics: This incident relates to Malware, Critical, Kaspersky.

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