The French Ministry of Finance has disclosed a cybersecurity incident that impacted knowledge related to 1.2 million person accounts.
The investigation found that hackers gained entry to the nationwide checking account registry (FICOBA) and stole a database containing delicate data.
The Ministry’s announcement notes that in late January, a risk actor used credentials stolen from a civil servant with entry to the interministerial data sharing platform.
The credentials gave the hacker entry to a part of a database that contained all financial institution accounts opened in French banking establishments and private knowledge:
- Checking account particulars, together with RIBs/IBANs
- Account holder identification
- Bodily tackle
- Taxpayer identification quantity (solely in some instances)
The Ministry states that it took rapid motion to limit the risk actor’s entry to its programs instantly after detecting the incident. Nevertheless, it’s believed that knowledge of about 1.2 million accounts had been already uncovered to potential exfiltration.
FICOBA is a centralized state-managed registry of financial institution accounts in France, operated by the French tax authority, the Route générale des Funds publiques (DGFiP).
It operates as a database that information the existence and identifiers of accounts, with knowledge offered by French banking establishments in accordance with tax enforcement regulation necessities.
The cyberattack has disrupted the system’s operations, and work is underway to revive it with enhanced security. Nevertheless, there isn’t any estimation of when FICOBA will be again on-line.
The Ministry additionally acknowledged that customers affected by the incident will probably be notified individually over the subsequent few days.
Banking establishments within the nation have been knowledgeable accordingly, and they’re anticipated to take motion to lift consciousness amongst their clients of the necessity for elevated vigilance.
The announcement mentions quite a few rip-off makes an attempt circulating by way of e mail and SMS that purpose to steal knowledge or cash instantly from recipients, and residents are suggested not to answer them.
“The tax administration by no means asks on your login credentials or financial institution card quantity by way of message,” the French ministry warns.
The French knowledge safety authority, CNIL, has additionally been knowledgeable concerning the incident.
DGFiP’s IT crew is presently working with the Ministry of Finance and the Nationwide Cybersecurity Company of France (ANSSI) to strengthen system security and convey it again to full operational standing.
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