Latest Hack Of Federal Court Filing System Exploited Flaws Known Since 2020

A sweeping hack of the federal judiciary’s case filing system exploited unresolved security holes discovered five years ago—allowing hacking groups to steal reams of sensitive court data in the ongoing breach, John Sakellariadis and Maggie Miller reported for Politico.

The attack mirrored another major breach of the court filing system in 2020 under the first Trump administration. (Photo: Toohool Wikimedia Commons)

Politico first reported last week that officials are concerned nation-state and criminal hacking groups exfiltrated sealed case data from at least a dozen district courts since at least July.

The attack mirrored another major breach of the court filing system in 2020 under the first Trump administration, though it was unclear until now how the hackers gained access or whether the two incidents were connected, Reuters, the Associated Press (AP), and The New York Times also reported.

Despite the sensitivity of the exposed court data, the ongoing intrusion was not especially sophisticated. The system—known as CM/ECF—enables legal professionals to upload and manage court documents.

The latest breach is a “continuation of the same rudimentary security issues” that have persisted since 2020, the law enforcement official said. This person, like others cited in the report, was granted anonymity because of the sensitive and ongoing nature of the incident.

Words

Words

Words

Words

Words

Words

Words

Words

Words

Words