The SolarWinds cyber attack, identified in December 2020, stands as one of the most significant and widespread cybersecurity breaches involving a supply chain attack vector. Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) operatives executed this meticulously planned operation, subtly compromising the software development process of SolarWinds' Orion Platform. By inserting a malicious code into the software updates, the attackers managed to infiltrate the networks of approximately 18,000 SolarWinds customers, including U.S. federal agencies, critical infrastructure entities, and numerous private sector organizations globally. The severity of this breach lies not only in the scale and high-profile nature of the targeted entities but also in the potential access gained to sensitive information and the compromise of national security interests. The attackers demonstrated advanced capabilities, staying undetected for months while accessing sensitive data. This incident highlighted the vulnerabilities in the supply chain and the significant impact such breaches can have on national security, corporate governance, and consumer trust.
Source: https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa22-110a
TPRM report: https://scoringcyber.rankiteo.com/company/solarwinds
"id": "sol201050824",
"linkid": "solarwinds",
"type": "Cyber Attack",
"date": "05/2022",
"severity": "100",
"impact": "5",
"explanation": "Attack threatening the organization’s existence"{'affected_entities': [{'customers_affected': '18,000',
'location': 'Global',
'name': 'SolarWinds Customers',
'type': ['U.S. Federal Agencies',
'Critical Infrastructure Entities',
'Private Sector Organizations']}],
'attack_vector': 'Malicious Code Insertion in Software Updates',
'data_breach': {'type_of_data_compromised': 'Sensitive Information'},
'date_detected': 'December 2020',
'description': 'The SolarWinds cyber attack, identified in December 2020, '
'stands as one of the most significant and widespread '
'cybersecurity breaches involving a supply chain attack '
'vector. Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) operatives '
'executed this meticulously planned operation, subtly '
"compromising the software development process of SolarWinds' "
'Orion Platform. By inserting a malicious code into the '
'software updates, the attackers managed to infiltrate the '
'networks of approximately 18,000 SolarWinds customers, '
'including U.S. federal agencies, critical infrastructure '
'entities, and numerous private sector organizations globally. '
'The severity of this breach lies not only in the scale and '
'high-profile nature of the targeted entities but also in the '
'potential access gained to sensitive information and the '
'compromise of national security interests. The attackers '
'demonstrated advanced capabilities, staying undetected for '
'months while accessing sensitive data. This incident '
'highlighted the vulnerabilities in the supply chain and the '
'significant impact such breaches can have on national '
'security, corporate governance, and consumer trust.',
'impact': {'data_compromised': 'Sensitive Information',
'systems_affected': '18,000 SolarWinds Customers'},
'initial_access_broker': {'entry_point': 'Malicious Code in Software Updates'},
'lessons_learned': 'Highlighted vulnerabilities in the supply chain and the '
'significant impact such breaches can have on national '
'security, corporate governance, and consumer trust.',
'motivation': 'Access to Sensitive Information and Compromise of National '
'Security Interests',
'post_incident_analysis': {'root_causes': 'Compromised Software Development '
'Process'},
'threat_actor': 'Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR)',
'title': 'SolarWinds Cyber Attack',
'type': 'Supply Chain Attack',
'vulnerability_exploited': 'Software Development Process'}