Attack alert: nitrogen targets Golden Artist Colors - US

Introduction

On December 3, 2025, the Nitrogen ransomware group claimed responsibility for a cyberattack against Golden Artist Colors, a US manufacturer of high-end artist paints established in 1980. This breach, classified as XC SIGNAL according to our assessment protocol, exposed strategic data belonging to a company with 100 to 250 employees and $50 million in annual revenue. The incident occurred amidst a surge in attacks targeting the manufacturing sector in the United States, where proprietary chemical formulas and manufacturing processes represent critical assets for cybercriminals. Our analysis of the verified data reveals a significant threat to the US industrial ecosystem, particularly for companies holding trade secrets.

The Nitrogen group operates using a double extortion model characteristic of modern ransomware groups. This cybercriminal organization combines the encryption of computer systems with the prior exfiltration of sensitive data, thereby maximizing the pressure on its victims. Active for several years, Nitrogen primarily targets mid-sized companies with strategic digital assets but limited defense capabilities. The malicious collective favors the manufacturing and industrial sectors, where operational disruption generates immediate financial losses. Their tactics include exploiting unpatched vulnerabilities, targeted phishing against senior executives, and initial access via poorly secured Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) services. Nitrogen's previous victims demonstrate a preference for US organizations holding intellectual property that is valuable on the black market. Nitrogen's operational model suggests a professionalized structure, with teams dedicated to reconnaissance, intrusion, exfiltration, and negotiation. The malicious actor maintains a leak site on the dark web where the data of victims who refuse to pay is progressively published, amplifying the psychological and reputational pressure.

Analyse détaillée

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Founded in 1980, Golden Artist Colors has established itself as a recognized manufacturer of high-end artist paints in the U.S. market. The company employs between 100 and 250 people and generates approximately $50 million in annual revenue, demonstrating a strong position in a demanding niche sector. Specializing in the production of paints for professional artists, the organization holds proprietary chemical formulas developed over four decades, constituting its main competitive advantage. This intellectual property includes unique pigment compositions, specific binders, and optimized manufacturing processes that guarantee the quality and durability of its products. Golden Artist Colors' B2B customer base includes specialized distributors, art schools, and cultural institutions across the United States and internationally. The breach exposes not only sensitive business information but also technical data that could be exploited by competitors or resold on the black market. For a company of this size, the financial impact of a prolonged production shutdown could reach several million dollars, not to mention the reputational damage with a demanding professional clientele. Golden Artist Colors' location in the United States subjects it to strict regulatory obligations regarding data protection and incident notification.

The XC SIGNAL classification assigned to this attack indicates a level of exposure requiring heightened vigilance, although the exact extent of the exfiltrated data is still under analysis. According to our XC-Classify methodology, this level suggests that strategic information has been compromised, but not reaching the critical threshold of massive exposure characteristic of higher levels. The likely exposed data includes proprietary chemical formulas developed since 1980, which constitute the core of the company's intellectual property. B2B customer files, containing business contact information, purchase volumes, and negotiated pricing terms, also represent valuable assets for competitors. Documented manufacturing processes, including production parameters, quality controls, and technical optimizations, are among the most sensitive information compromised. The incident timeline indicates a discovery on December 3, 2025, suggesting that the initial intrusion likely occurred several weeks earlier, during which time nitrogen was able to map the network and identify critical data. The initial attack vector has not been publicly confirmed, but nitrogen's typical TTPs suggest a compromise via exposed RDP access or a targeted phishing campaign. Review of available metadata shows that the malicious actor prioritized file servers containing technical documentation and customer databases, confirming a methodical approach targeting higher-value assets. Immediate risks to Golden Artist Colors include the commercial exploitation of formulas by competitors, aggressive solicitation of B2B customers by other suppliers, and the loss of competitive advantage accumulated over four decades.

→ Understanding XC Criticality Levels

The US manufacturing sector is facing a surge in cyberattacks specifically targeting intellectual property and trade secrets. For Golden Artist Colors, this compromise comes within a complex regulatory environment where manufacturers must comply with various federal and state obligations. While the company likely does not process personal data on a large scale requiring GDPR notification (European regulation), US business intelligence and cybersecurity laws impose stringent requirements. Manufacturing companies with proprietary formulas are particularly vulnerable because the value of their intellectual property on the black market incentivizes cybercriminals to target them systematically. The compromise of Golden Artist Colors could trigger a chain reaction affecting its raw material suppliers, distributors, and logistics partners, all interconnected through shared digital systems. Past experience in the industry demonstrates that attacks against mid-sized manufacturers often generate lasting disruptions, with recovery times exceeding six months to fully restore operational capabilities. US authorities, including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), recommend that manufacturing companies immediately notify any significant security incident, especially when critical data is compromised. For Golden Artist Colors' competitors and partners, this incident underscores the urgent need to strengthen defenses against Nitrogen and similar groups targeting the industrial sector.

→ Other attacks in the Manufacturing sector

Conclusion

Thanks to the XC-Audit protocol, this attack against Golden Artist Colors is certified on the Polygon blockchain, guaranteeing immutable and verifiable traceability, unlike traditional, opaque, centralized systems. Every piece of evidence related to this compromise is time-stamped and permanently recorded, allowing analysts, victims, and authorities to verify the authenticity of the information without relying on intermediaries. This blockchain certification provides a decisive advantage for establishing accurate timelines during forensic investigations or post-incident analyses. The unique cryptographic hash generated for this incident allows for tracing the evolution of the threat from initial discovery to subsequent developments, creating an immutable audit trail. Unlike traditional databases vulnerable to manipulation, the Polygon blockchain offers a mathematical guarantee of the integrity of certified data. This transparency strengthens the confidence of companies using our intelligence for their risk assessments and security decisions. For Golden Artist Colors and similar organizations, verifiability via XC-Audit means that the evidence of compromise documented today will remain accessible and verifiable for years, facilitating insurance claims and legal proceedings.