**Cyberattack Disrupts Venezuela’s PDVSA, Operations Reportedly Unaffected Despite System Outages**
Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, PDVSA, confirmed a cyberattack targeting its systems, though officials claimed operations remained unaffected. Multiple sources, however, reported widespread disruptions, including suspended oil cargo deliveries and a shutdown of administrative systems, forcing employees to revert to manual record-keeping.
PDVSA and the Venezuelan oil ministry attributed the attack to "foreign interests," explicitly blaming the U.S. in an effort to destabilize the country’s energy sector. A company insider suggested the incident was a ransomware attack, which led to containment measures that paralyzed digital infrastructure.
The cyberattack occurs amid escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas. Recent U.S. actions include a heightened military presence in the Caribbean, strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels, and the seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker carrying 1.85 million barrels of crude—the first such interception since 2019 sanctions. The Venezuelan government has framed these moves as part of a broader U.S. strategy to exert control over the country’s oil resources and push for regime change.
Source: https://safety4sea.com/venezuelas-state-oil-company-hit-by-cyber-attack/
PDVSA TPRM report: https://www.rankiteo.com/company/pdvsa-ve
"id": "pdv1765887300",
"linkid": "pdvsa-ve",
"type": "Ransomware",
"date": "12/2025",
"severity": "100",
"impact": "5",
"explanation": "Attack threatening the organization's existence"{'affected_entities': [{'industry': 'Oil and gas',
'location': 'Venezuela',
'name': 'PDVSA (Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A.)',
'size': 'Large',
'type': 'State-owned oil company'}],
'description': 'Venezuela’s state oil company PDVSA reported a cyber attack, '
'claiming operations were unaffected, though multiple sources '
'indicated key systems were down and oil cargo deliveries were '
'suspended. The incident was described as an attack by '
"'foreign interests' aimed at undermining Venezuela’s "
'sovereign energy development, but a company source suggested '
'it was a ransomware attack that disrupted PDVSA’s entire '
'administrative system.',
'impact': {'brand_reputation_impact': 'Potential reputational damage due to '
'operational disruptions',
'operational_impact': 'Forced staff to rely on handwritten '
'records, suspension of oil cargo deliveries',
'systems_affected': 'Administrative systems, oil cargo delivery '
'systems'},
'motivation': 'Undermine Venezuela’s sovereign energy development, potential '
'financial gain (ransomware)',
'ransomware': {'data_encryption': 'Likely (implied by ransomware attack)'},
'references': [{'source': 'Reuters'}],
'response': {'communication_strategy': "Public statement blaming 'foreign "
"interests'",
'containment_measures': 'Efforts to contain the attack disrupted '
'administrative systems'},
'threat_actor': 'Foreign interests (allegedly U.S.-linked)',
'title': 'Cyber Attack on PDVSA',
'type': 'Ransomware'}