Muji Halts Online Sales After Supply Chain Ransomware Hits Logistics Partner
In June 2024, Japanese retail giant Muji was forced to suspend its online sales after a logistics outage caused by a ransomware attack on Askul, its major delivery partner. The incident was triggered when attackers compromised Askul's systems, encrypting critical operational data and disrupting supply chain operations. As a result, Muji's ability to fulfill customer orders was severely impacted, highlighting the downstream risk associated with third-party vendors in an interconnected retail ecosystem. This breach not only halted Muji's core e-commerce activities but also underscored the vulnerability of global supply chains to cyber extortion. This event is particularly relevant as ransomware groups increasingly leverage supply chain attacks to maximize disruption and extort multiple victims. It reflects a rapid evolution in attacker tactics, where targeting essential providers amplifies business risk, and regulatory scrutiny on supply chain resilience continues to intensify.
Kill Chain