Draft:Crimson Collective
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|  |
| File:O0lrei8.jpeg Wordmark associated with the Crimson Collective | |
| Founded | 2025 |
|---|---|
| Years active | 2025–present |
| Territory | Worldwide |
| Membership | Unknown |
| Activities | Cyber extortion, data breaches, website defacement |
The Crimson Collective is an international cybercrime and extortion group that emerged in 2025, known for conducting high-profile data breaches and website defacements primarily targeting large corporations in the technology, telecommunications, and entertainment sectors. Operating primarily through their Telegram channel (t.me/thecrimsoncollective), the group describes itself as a "hacktivist group motivated by money." They publicize their operations via Telegram, sharing proof-of-concept leaks and demanding ransoms. As of October 2025, their activities have impacted organizations across North America, Latin America, and Asia, with no publicly identified members or confirmed arrests.
History
[edit]The Crimson Collective gained attention in September 2025 with a rapid series of cyberattacks. Their first notable operation was a website defacement against Nintendo on September 24, 2025,[1] followed by a data breach at Claro Colombia the next day.[2] By early October, they escalated to a significant breach of Red Hat's private GitHub repositories.[3][4] The group uses their Telegram channel, @thecrimsoncollective, to announce breaches, share data samples (e.g., screenshots, ZIP archives), and communicate with victims and media.[5] A backup channel (@crimsonbackup) and contact methods (PGP key, email: crimson[at]cock.lu) are also promoted.
In a statement on their Telegram channel following the Claro breach, the group stated: "No paguen por empresas que no cuidan sus datos" (Don't pay for companies that don't care for their data).[2] The collective focuses on exploiting corporate security lapses for profit.
Notable operations
[edit]Nintendo defacement (September 2025)
[edit]On September 24, 2025, the Crimson Collective defaced Nintendo's Japanese-language "Topics" news page (topics.nintendo.co.jp), replacing it with a black background featuring ASCII art of a cat followed by the word "CRIMSON" in crimson-colored text, along with links to their Telegram channel (t.me/thecrimsoncollective), a backup channel, PGP encryption details, and Simplex messaging contacts. An archived screenshot of the defacement is available at [1]. The defacement was reversed within minutes. No data theft was reported, and the attack was likely a publicity stunt exploiting a content management system vulnerability or exposed credentials. Nintendo issued no official statement.[1]
Claro Colombia breach (September 2025)
[edit]On September 25, 2025, the Crimson Collective claimed to have breached Claro Colombia, a subsidiary of América Móvil, accessing over 50 million customer records from S3 cloud storage and repositories linked to claro.com.co/personas/. The stolen data included invoices (names, addresses, citizenship IDs) and a comprehensive file with emails and account details. They shared redacted invoice screenshots, a sample CSV, and ZIP archives on their Telegram channel (t.me/thecrimsoncollective) as proof. Claro and vendor Siesa were notified but did not respond. No public ransom demands were detailed, though private negotiations are likely.[2]
Claro Colombia has not confirmed the breach, prompting concerns about compliance with Colombia's data protection laws and risks of identity theft or fraud for affected customers.[2]
Red Hat breach (September–October 2025)
[edit]In late September 2025, the Crimson Collective claimed to have infiltrated Red Hat's private GitHub repositories, exfiltrating ~570 GB of data from over 28,000 projects, including ~800 Customer Engagement Reports (CERs) from 2020–2025. These CERs contained client IT infrastructure details (diagrams, configurations, tokens) for organizations like Bank of America, T-Mobile, Kaiser, Walmart, and U.S. government entities. The group used their Telegram channel (t.me/thecrimsoncollective) to share directory listings and CER samples, claiming they warned downstream clients of vulnerabilities.[3][4]
Red Hat confirmed a "security incident related to our consulting business" on October 2, 2025, stating remediation was underway and no products or supply chain were affected. The group reported receiving only automated responses from Red Hat's vulnerability reporting system.[3][4]
Methods and tactics
[edit]The Crimson Collective exploits misconfigured cloud storage (e.g., AWS S3 buckets), exposed secrets in codebases, and vulnerable web applications. They prioritize data exfiltration and extortion, using Telegram (t.me/thecrimsoncollective) to leak samples and pressure targets. Their operations blend "ethical" warnings with profit-driven demands, though no specific malware or tools have been publicly identified.
Impact and reception
[edit]The group's attacks have exposed significant vulnerabilities, raising alarms about supply-chain risks and data privacy. Online discussions, particularly on X, range from concern over exposed PII to amusement at the Nintendo defacement's aesthetics. No full datasets have been leaked as of October 2025, but the potential for targeted attacks persists. Users are advised to monitor accounts and rotate credentials.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "Nintendo Topics defacement archive". archive.ph. 2025-09-24. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
- ^ a b c d "Colectivo Crimson tras ataque a Claro: "No paguen por empresas que no cuidan sus datos"". MuchoHacker. 2025-09-26. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
- ^ a b c "Red Hat confirms security incident after hackers claim GitHub breach". BleepingComputer. 2025-10-02. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
- ^ a b c "Red Hat repos raided, claims cybercrew, files stolen". The Register. 2025-10-02. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
- ^ "The Crimson Collective". Telegram. 2025-09-24. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
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