Sam’s Club Investigates Possible Ransomware Breach as Clop Claims Responsibility

Sam’s Club, the warehouse supermarket chain owned by Walmart, is looking into claims of a potential data breach linked to the Clop ransomware group. While the company hasn’t confirmed any breach, cybercriminals claim otherwise, fueling concerns over data security at one of America’s largest wholesale retailers.

Clop’s Claims and the Growing Cyber Threat

On Friday, Clop, a notorious ransomware gang, listed Sam’s Club on its dark web leak site. The group alleges that the retailer has neglected security measures, putting customer data at risk. However, unlike its usual pattern, Clop has not yet provided evidence to support its claim.

This isn’t the first time Clop has been in the headlines. The group recently exploited a vulnerability (CVE-2024-50623) in Cleo secure file transfer software, launching a series of data theft attacks. Western Alliance Bank, one of the impacted companies, admitted that nearly 22,000 customers had their personal information stolen in the breach.

Sam’s Club has yet to determine if it was a direct victim of Clop’s tactics or if its alleged involvement is another instance of cybercriminals seeking leverage.

Sam’s Club Responds but Keeps Details Sparse

A spokesperson for Sam’s Club addressed the concerns but provided little information about the situation.

“We are aware of reports regarding a potential security incident and are actively investigating the matter,” the company told BleepingComputer. “Protecting the privacy and security of our members’ information is a top priority at Sam’s Club.”

The company has not disclosed whether customer or employee data has been compromised, nor has it acknowledged any vulnerability in its systems.

One sentence is enough to make people uneasy—especially when it comes to cybersecurity. For a company with over 2.3 million employees and $84.3 billion in annual revenue, even the suggestion of a breach could be damaging to its reputation.

Clop’s History: A Trail of Cyber Attacks

Clop isn’t a new name in the cybercrime world. The group has been behind several major attacks, primarily exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities in widely used file transfer services. Some of its previous targets include:

• Accellion FTA: A breach that led to data theft incidents at multiple corporations and institutions.
• MOVEit Transfer: Another widespread attack, exposing data from numerous companies.
• GoAnywhere MFT: Used to compromise multiple organizations.

The gang’s usual approach involves stealing data first, then demanding a ransom. If victims refuse to pay, Clop releases the stolen information publicly, putting customers and businesses at risk.

Not the First Security Incident for Sam’s Club

Sam’s Club customers might remember a previous scare back in October 2020. That time, the company had to reset some user accounts after detecting unauthorized access. However, it attributed the incident to credential stuffing—when hackers use stolen usernames and passwords from previous breaches to access accounts on other platforms.

The company reassured customers at the time that its systems were not breached but warned of the dangers of weak or reused passwords.

The Bigger Picture: How Safe is Customer Data?

Cyberattacks on large retailers and financial institutions have become more frequent, and ransomware gangs like Clop continue to refine their tactics. With companies like Sam’s Club handling vast amounts of consumer data, any lapse in security could have serious consequences.

While there is no official confirmation of a breach, the mere possibility is enough to raise alarms. If Clop’s claims turn out to be true, Sam’s Club could be looking at a costly and reputationally damaging situation.

Until further details emerge, customers are advised to monitor their accounts for suspicious activity and be cautious with any unsolicited communications claiming to be from the retailer.