Volvo Group disclosed a ransomware attack on its third-party HR software provider, **Miljödata**, which may have exposed personal data of its **North American workforce**. The breach, detected on **August 23, 2025**, involved unauthorized access to **employee names and Social Security numbers (SSNs)**, though no payroll, bank, or insurance details were compromised. While Volvo’s own IT systems remained unaffected, the incident highlights **third-party vendor risks** and the potential for **identity theft and fraud** due to the exposure of sensitive SSNs. Volvo is collaborating with Miljödata for forensic investigations, enhancing vendor security protocols, and offering affected employees **18 months of free identity protection services**, including credit monitoring and dark-web surveillance. The company has also advised employees to monitor financial statements and place fraud alerts. This breach underscores the critical need for **robust vendor cybersecurity oversight** to mitigate future risks.
Source: https://gbhackers.com/volvo-group-reports-data-breach/
TPRM report: https://www.rankiteo.com/company/volvo-group
"id": "vol5192851092525",
"linkid": "volvo-group",
"type": "Ransomware",
"date": "5/2025",
"severity": "85",
"impact": "3",
"explanation": "Attack with significant impact with internal employee data leaks"{'affected_entities': [{'customers_affected': '0 (employees affected)',
'industry': 'automotive/manufacturing',
'location': 'North America (workforce affected)',
'name': 'Volvo Group',
'type': 'corporation'},
{'industry': 'HR software/services',
'name': 'Miljödata',
'type': 'third-party vendor'}],
'attack_vector': 'third-party vendor compromise',
'customer_advisories': ['employees advised to monitor bank/credit card '
'statements for suspicious activity',
'recommendation to obtain free annual credit reports '
'and place fraud alerts/security freezes',
'enrollment instructions for identity protection '
'services to be sent via email and postal mail'],
'data_breach': {'data_encryption': 'yes (systems encrypted by ransomware)',
'data_exfiltration': 'presumed (based on ransomware attack '
'and data exposure)',
'personally_identifiable_information': ['full names',
'Social Security '
'numbers'],
'sensitivity_of_data': 'high (includes Social Security '
'numbers)',
'type_of_data_compromised': ['personally identifiable '
'information (PII)']},
'date_detected': '2025-08-23',
'description': 'Volvo Group disclosed a ransomware attack on its third-party '
'HR software provider, Miljödata, which may have resulted in '
'unauthorized access to personal information of its North '
"American workforce. The attack encrypted Miljödata's systems "
'and disrupted operations, with the breach confined to the '
'vendor’s environment. Basic personal identifiers, including '
'first and last names and Social Security numbers, were '
'compromised, elevating the risk of identity theft for '
'affected employees. Volvo Group is providing 18 months of '
'complimentary identity protection services to impacted '
'individuals and reviewing its vendor management and '
'data-protection policies to prevent future incidents.',
'impact': {'brand_reputation_impact': 'potential reputational harm due to '
'third-party breach and exposure of '
'sensitive employee data',
'data_compromised': ['first names',
'last names',
'Social Security numbers'],
'downtime': '2025-08-20 to at least 2025-09-02 (ongoing '
'investigation)',
'identity_theft_risk': 'elevated (due to exposure of Social '
'Security numbers)',
'operational_impact': "disruption of HR services for Volvo Group's "
'North American workforce',
'payment_information_risk': 'none (no payroll, bank account, or '
'insurance details accessed)',
'systems_affected': ["Miljödata's HR management systems"]},
'initial_access_broker': {'high_value_targets': ['HR management systems '
'(Miljödata)']},
'investigation_status': 'ongoing (as of 2025-09-02, validating full extent of '
'exposure)',
'lessons_learned': ['importance of third-party vendor security oversight',
'need for robust vendor management and data-protection '
'policies',
'proactive measures (e.g., identity protection services) '
'to mitigate harm from breaches'],
'motivation': 'financial (presumed, based on ransomware attack)',
'post_incident_analysis': {'corrective_actions': ['Miljödata: forensic '
'investigation and security '
'enhancements',
'Volvo Group: review of '
'vendor management and '
'data-protection policies'],
'root_causes': ['third-party vendor (Miljödata) '
'security vulnerabilities',
'delayed detection of suspicious '
'activity (3 days post-attack)']},
'ransomware': {'data_encryption': 'yes',
'data_exfiltration': 'unconfirmed (potential exposure of PII)'},
'recommendations': ['enhance third-party risk assessments and continuous '
'monitoring',
'implement stricter contractual security requirements for '
'vendors',
'expand employee training on recognizing and responding '
'to identity theft risks',
'consider multi-factor authentication (MFA) and '
'encryption for sensitive data shared with vendors'],
'references': [{'source': 'GBHackers (GBH)'}],
'response': {'communication_strategy': ['notification to affected employees '
'via email and postal mail',
'provision of identity protection '
'services (Allstate Identity '
'Protection Pro+)',
"guidance from Volvo Group's People "
'Services team'],
'containment_measures': ['isolation of affected systems',
'notification to Volvo Group'],
'enhanced_monitoring': 'yes (implemented by Miljödata '
'post-incident)',
'incident_response_plan_activated': 'yes (by Miljödata on '
'2025-08-23)',
'remediation_measures': ["enhancement of Miljödata's hosted "
'environment security'],
'third_party_assistance': 'external cybersecurity experts '
'engaged by Miljödata for forensic '
'investigation'},
'stakeholder_advisories': ["Volvo Group's People Services team available for "
'employee support',
'identity protection services (Allstate Identity '
'Protection Pro+) offered to affected employees'],
'title': "Ransomware Attack on Volvo Group's HR Software Provider Miljödata "
'Exposes Employee Data',
'type': 'ransomware'}