GhostLock Tool Abuses Windows API to Block File Access
A new proof-of-concept tool named GhostLock demonstrates how legitimate Windows file APIs can be abused to block access to local and network files.
A security researcher has released a proof-of-concept tool called GhostLock that demonstrates how legitimate Windows file APIs can be weaponized to block access to local files and SMB network shares. By abusing these APIs, an attacker can effectively lock files, preventing users or applications from reading, modifying, or deleting them [BleepingComputer].
The tool highlights a potential avenue for ransomware-like behavior or denial-of-service attacks, where an attacker could hold files hostage or disrupt critical business operations by making data inaccessible. Because the tool uses legitimate Windows functions, it may bypass some traditional signature-based security detections [BleepingComputer].
Organizations should be aware of this technique and ensure that their endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions are configured to monitor for suspicious API usage patterns. While GhostLock is currently a proof-of-concept, it serves as a warning for security teams to harden their systems against the abuse of built-in operating system features. Further research into mitigating such API-based threats is ongoing [BleepingComputer].