Luxury Brand Cartier Hit by Cyberattack

Company: Cartier (Luxury Watch and Jewelry Brand)
Date of Breach: August 5, 2024
Threat Actors: Users "IntelBroker" and "EnergyWeaponUser"
Forum: BreachForums
Breach Announcement: Posted by "IntelBroker" at 11:17 PM on August 5, 2024

Company Background

Cartier is a globally recognized luxury brand known for its exquisite watches, jewelry, and other high-end accessories. Founded in Paris in 1847, Cartier has built a reputation for craftsmanship, elegance, and exclusivity. With a vast network of stores and a significant online presence, Cartier caters to a wealthy clientele worldwide.

Breach Details

• Target: Cartier's digital infrastructure, specifically their AWS S3 storage system.
• Data Compromised: The attackers reportedly exfiltrated various sensitive files, including source code, images, and other random files from Cartier’s AWS S3 storage. They also claimed to have used a vulnerability known as Local File Inclusion (LFI) to access this data.
• Motivation: Although the attackers did not explicitly state their motivation, the theft and sale of valuable intellectual property suggest financial gain as a primary driver.

User Statistics

IntelBroker

• Role: Moderator on BreachForums
• Posts: 1,494
• Threads: 272
• Reputation: 4,157
• Joined: June 2023

EnergyWeaponUser

• Role: Co-conspirator
• Profile: See Threat Actor Profile HERE

Attack Methodology

AWS S3 (Amazon Web Services Simple Storage Service): A widely used cloud storage service, AWS S3 stores data in scalable object storage. While S3 is highly secure when configured correctly, misconfigurations can expose sensitive data to unauthorized access.

Local File Inclusion (LFI): LFI is a type of vulnerability found in web applications. An attacker can trick the server into exposing or executing files on the server. In this case, LFI might have been used to gain access to server-side files that were not intended to be publicly accessible, potentially exposing sensitive data.

Impact Analysis

• Reputation Damage: Given Cartier's status as a luxury brand, the breach could severely tarnish its image, affecting customer trust and brand value.
• Financial Impact: The exposure of proprietary source code and other sensitive information could result in significant financial losses, either through direct theft, loss of competitive advantage, or potential legal costs.
• Customer Trust: The breach will likely erode customer trust, particularly among high-net-worth individuals who expect the highest levels of privacy and security.