Renault UK suffered a significant data breach via a third-party supplier, exposing customers' personal information including names, contact details, and vehicle registration numbers though financial data (passwords, banking) remained unaffected. The breach, part of a broader trend targeting automotive supply chains, was linked to a sophisticated threat actor group also responsible for attacks on Boeing and Samsung. While no direct financial theft occurred, the exposed data heightens risks of identity theft, phishing scams, and targeted fraud for affected individuals, including vehicle buyers and competition entrants. Renault’s UK operations (including Dacia) were impacted, with customers advised to monitor for suspicious activity. The incident underscores vulnerabilities in vendor vetting and data encryption, as the auto industry’s digital expansion (connected vehicles, online sales) widens attack surfaces. Regulatory scrutiny and calls for zero-trust architectures and third-party audits have intensified, though Renault’s response focused on notifications and vigilance rather than compensation or structural security overhauls.
Source: https://www.webpronews.com/renault-uk-data-breach-exposes-customer-details-in-supply-chain-hack/
TPRM report: https://www.rankiteo.com/company/renault-retail-group-uk-ltd-
"id": "ren0792607100625",
"linkid": "renault-retail-group-uk-ltd-",
"type": "Breach",
"date": "10/2025",
"severity": "85",
"impact": "4",
"explanation": "Attack with significant impact with customers data leaks"{'affected_entities': [{'customers_affected': 'Buyers and Promotional '
'Competition Participants (Exact '
'Number Unspecified)',
'industry': 'Automotive',
'location': 'United Kingdom',
'name': 'Renault UK',
'type': 'Automotive Manufacturer'},
{'customers_affected': 'Included in Renault UK Breach',
'industry': 'Automotive',
'location': 'United Kingdom',
'name': 'Dacia (Sister Brand of Renault UK)',
'type': 'Automotive Manufacturer'},
{'industry': 'Data Processing',
'name': 'Unnamed Third-Party Data Processor',
'type': 'Service Provider'}],
'attack_vector': 'Third-Party Data Processor Exploitation',
'customer_advisories': 'Emails Urging Vigilance Against Phishing, Credit '
'Monitoring Recommendations',
'data_breach': {'data_encryption': 'Inadequate (Per Industry Insiders)',
'data_exfiltration': 'Likely (Hackers Claimed Involvement in '
'Similar Breaches)',
'personally_identifiable_information': ['Names',
'Contact Details',
'Vehicle Registration '
'Numbers'],
'sensitivity_of_data': 'Moderate (No Financial/Password Data, '
'but PII Enables Scams)',
'type_of_data_compromised': ['Personally Identifiable '
'Information (PII)',
'Vehicle Registration Data']},
'description': 'Renault UK alerted customers to a significant data breach '
'targeting a third-party provider, exposing personal '
'information such as names, contact details, and vehicle '
'registration numbers. The breach is part of a broader trend '
'of supply-chain attacks in the automotive sector, with '
'potential links to sophisticated threat actors involved in '
'similar incidents affecting Boeing and Samsung. Customers are '
'advised to monitor for phishing attempts and fraudulent '
'activity.',
'impact': {'brand_reputation_impact': 'Moderate to High (Industry-Wide '
'Ramifications, Erosion of Customer '
'Trust)',
'customer_complaints': 'Expected (Vigilance Advisories Issued)',
'data_compromised': ['Names',
'Contact Information (e.g., phone numbers, '
'emails)',
'Vehicle Registration Numbers'],
'identity_theft_risk': 'High (Exposed PII Enables Targeted Scams)',
'legal_liabilities': 'Potential (Regulatory Notifications Made)',
'operational_impact': 'Customer Notifications, Regulatory '
'Scrutiny, Reputation Damage',
'payment_information_risk': 'None (Banking Data Unaffected)',
'systems_affected': ['Third-Party Data Processor Systems']},
'initial_access_broker': {'data_sold_on_dark_web': 'Possible (Hackers Claimed '
'Similar Breaches)',
'entry_point': 'Third-Party Data Processor',
'high_value_targets': ['Customer PII',
'Vehicle Registration Data']},
'investigation_status': 'Ongoing (Details Emerging)',
'lessons_learned': ['Need for Stricter Third-Party Vendor Vetting and Audits',
'Importance of Zero-Trust Architectures in Supply Chains',
'Criticality of Encrypted Data Silos and Penetration '
'Testing',
'Proactive Customer Communication and Transparency'],
'motivation': ['Data Theft',
'Potential Identity Theft/Scams',
'Possible Ransomware/Espionage (Industry Trend)'],
'post_incident_analysis': {'corrective_actions': ['Enhanced Third-Party '
'Audits',
'Implementation of '
'Zero-Trust Architectures',
'Investment in Advanced '
'Threat Detection',
'Customer Education on '
'Phishing Risks'],
'root_causes': ['Inadequate Vendor Security '
'Vetting',
'Lack of Encryption/Monitoring in '
'Data Flows',
'Supply-Chain Vulnerabilities in '
'Digital Ecosystems']},
'recommendations': ['Implement Robust Third-Party Risk Management Frameworks',
'Adopt Zero-Trust Security Models for Data Flows',
'Enhance Threat Detection and Monitoring Capabilities',
'Conduct Regular Security Awareness Training for '
'Customers/Employees',
'Invest in Resilient Cybersecurity Defenses (e.g., '
'Advanced Encryption, Network Segmentation)'],
'references': [{'source': 'TechRadar'},
{'source': 'The Independent'},
{'source': 'The Register'},
{'source': 'Cybersecurity Dive'},
{'source': 'BleepingComputer'}],
'regulatory_compliance': {'regulatory_notifications': 'Yes (Regulators '
'Informed)'},
'response': {'communication_strategy': 'Email Notifications to Affected '
'Individuals, Media Statements',
'enhanced_monitoring': 'Recommended (Industry Experts)',
'incident_response_plan_activated': 'Yes (Customer '
'Notifications, Regulatory '
'Alerts)',
'remediation_measures': ['Customer Advisories (Phishing '
'Vigilance)',
'Credit Monitoring Recommendations']},
'stakeholder_advisories': 'Regulatory Notifications, Industry-Wide Alerts on '
'Supply-Chain Risks',
'title': 'Renault UK Data Breach via Third-Party Provider',
'type': ['Data Breach', 'Supply-Chain Attack'],
'vulnerability_exploited': ['Inadequate Vendor Vetting',
'Lack of Robust Encryption/Monitoring in Data '
'Flows']}