Russia Allegedly Hacks US Court Filing System PACER, Putting Confidential Informants at Risk
The U.S. court filing system PACER has reportedly fallen victim to a data breach, with unnamed sources suggesting Russian involvement in the cyberattack.
According to reports from The New York Times, hackers have gained access to sensitive information, although the specific element of the Russian government implicated remains undisclosed.
The hack appears to have focused on mid-level criminal cases within the New York City area and several other jurisdictions, with a particular interest in cases involving individuals bearing Russian or Eastern European surnames.
Last week, Politico reported an intrusion into the federal judiciary’s electronic case filing system, raising concerns about potential exposure of confidential informants’ identities. The stolen data could comprise sealed criminal dockets, indictments, arrest warrants, and other non-public documents, posing a risk to those assisting authorities in apprehending criminals.
Politico further revealed that the compromised data may include sealed records yet to be included in public dockets or documents destined for permanent confidentiality.
Following the admission of a cyberattack on August 7, the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts pledged to bolster system security and prevent future attacks, with a focus on minimizing the impact on litigants.
The Times also cited an internal memo sent to Justice Department officials, clerks, and chief judges, which warned of “persistent and sophisticated cyber threat actors” having breached sealed records. The email labeled the matter as urgent and requiring immediate action.
Previous reports suggest that this may not be Russia’s first foray into targeting the U.S. federal court system. In 2020, a prolonged Russian cyberattack targeted the SolarWinds software, a tool utilized by large tech companies and government agencies, to deliver a tainted software update enabling Russian government hackers backdoor access to the networks of SolarWinds customers.
This widespread intrusion affected numerous U.S. government departments, including PACER, allowing the theft of sealed court documents.
