Gov.UK Database Leak 2024
Over 1 million users affected by Gov.UK data breach due to a CDN misconfiguration. Partial data already leaked by hacker USDoD. Users urged to change passwords immediately and enable MFA. More details on the potential risks and what you can do to stay safe. #DataBreach #CyberSecurity
Company Overview
- Organization: Gov.UK
- Industry: Government
- Service: Official government services and information for the United Kingdom
Breach Details
- Date of Incident: May 6, 2024
- Threat Actor: User "USDoD" on a dark web forum
- Method of Breach: Exploitation of a misconfigured Content Delivery Network (CDN) system
- Data Compromised: Usernames and passwords of over 1 million users; approximately 80,000 records released in the initial leak
- Leak Description: The attacker claimed to have extracted data from the Gov.UK system due to a misconfiguration, providing a partial CSV database download link with 80,000 user records.
- Data Exfiltration: The attacker made it clear they have more data and are monitoring global reactions before releasing the full database.
Threat Actor Profile
- Alias: USDoD
- Forum Activity: The attacker was active on a well-known dark web forum and has since self-banned their account after posting the breach.
- Motivation: Unclear, but the threat actor warned that they are monitoring global activities, hinting at possible future releases or extortion.
Impact Analysis
- Potential Risks:
- User Credential Exposure: The leaked usernames and passwords could lead to account takeovers, particularly if users reuse passwords across different services.
- Phishing & Fraud: Attackers may use the compromised data for phishing attacks, potentially leading to identity theft or financial fraud.
- Government Services Disruption: The breach could undermine trust in UK government services, leading to a significant public relations issue and a need for increased security measures.
- Scale of Impact: The leak affects over 1 million users, with 80,000 records already exposed. This could escalate if the full database is released.
