Alleged SpaceX Database Breach Published on BreachForums

Pietro Melillo : 21 September 2024 16:01

A recent post on a dark web forum has caught the attention of the international cybersecurity community. A user, identified by the nickname l33tfg, claimed to have published a supposed data leak from SpaceX, the aerospace company owned by Elon Musk. According to the post, the breach allegedly contains sensitive data including emails, password hashes, phone numbers, hosts, and IP addresses. While the news has not yet been officially confirmed by SpaceX or other verified sources, the incident could pose a serious threat to the organization and the security of its corporate data.

Attack Overview: Attacker Profile and Motivations

The post, dated September 21, 2024, was published by the user l33tfg, an individual registered on a well-known dark web forum since July 2024. Despite the relatively recent account, the user is classified as an “Advanced User,” which may indicate some level of experience or involvement in cybercriminal activities.

The declared motivation for the attack seems personal: “Because I have a problem with you, Elon Musk, that’s why.” However, this statement could be masking deeper reasons, such as revenge driven by ideological disputes or, more likely, an attempt to attract attention from the hacker community and potential buyers of the data.

Content of the Data Leak: Technical Analysis

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The post claims that the exfiltrated data includes:

• Emails: Likely corporate and personal email addresses of SpaceX employees and collaborators. These could be exploited for phishing activities or targeted attacks such as spear phishing, which could further compromise the company’s security.
• Password Hashes: The presence of password hashes could be particularly critical. However, it’s unclear what hashing algorithm was used to protect these credentials. If SpaceX uses weak or outdated algorithms such as MD5 or SHA-1, hackers could easily crack the passwords through brute-force techniques or by using rainbow tables. More advanced algorithms such as bcrypt or Argon2 would be much more difficult to crack.
• Phone Numbers: These data points can be used for vishing (voice phishing) attacks or other forms of social engineering. Additionally, phone numbers associated with high-profile individuals within SpaceX could be targeted for SIM swapping attacks, a technique allowing malicious actors to intercept two-factor authentication (2FA) codes.
• Hosts and IP Addresses: The release of this data opens the door to potential DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks or exploits on publicly exposed vulnerable services. Knowledge of internal hosts could also facilitate lateral movement within the company’s network.

The malicious actor has also shared a sample of the data to prove the legitimacy of the breach, although no independent evidence has yet confirmed its authenticity. This strategy is commonly used to attract potential buyers or to inflict reputational damage.

The Potential Impact on SpaceX

If confirmed, the breach could have devastating consequences for SpaceX. The company, which handles globally significant projects such as satellite launches and space missions, heavily depends on the confidentiality of its operations, especially given its contracts with government entities and sensitive defense projects. The release of data related to collaborations with government or military agencies could have implications for U.S. national security.

Furthermore, SpaceX’s reputation could suffer a major blow. A cyberattack of this magnitude would reveal vulnerabilities in the security systems of one of the most advanced technology companies in the world, raising questions about the company’s ability to protect the sensitive information of its clients and partners.

Uncertainty Around the Breach’s Veracity

Despite the seriousness of the claims, there is no official confirmation from SpaceX regarding the alleged breach at this time. The company has yet to issue press releases or data breach notifications, as required by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for companies operating in the European market. This may indicate that SpaceX is still assessing the situation or that the breach may be a false alarm.

Another factor to consider is the possibility that the attack was not directly aimed at SpaceX but at one of its suppliers or business partners, a tactic malicious actors are increasingly using to gain indirect access to high-profile targets. The supply chain remains a weak point in many corporate infrastructures, and a compromise in one of the suppliers could have cascading effects on SpaceX’s broader ecosystem.

Conclusion: The Importance of Cybersecurity in High-Tech Companies

Regardless of the veracity of l33tfg’s claims, this event serves as a reminder of the critical importance of cybersecurity for high-profile technology companies like SpaceX. Targeted attacks, social engineering techniques, and supply chain breaches continue to pose a growing threat to organizations operating in strategic sectors such as aerospace. The ability to proactively prevent and respond quickly to potential breaches is fundamental to protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of corporate data.

Intelligence Source: It should be noted that this information is to be considered as an “intelligence source” and not an official confirmation of a data breach. Pending further verification or official statements from SpaceX, caution is advised when handling the disclosed data.

Pietro Melillo
Head of the Dark Lab group. A Computer Engineer specialised in Cyber Security with a deep passion for Hacking and technology, currently CISO of WURTH Italia, he was responsible for Cyber Threat Intelligence & Dark Web analysis services at IBM, carries out research and teaching activities on Cyber Threat Intelligence topics at the University of Sannio, as a Ph.D, author of scientific papers and development of tools to support cybersecurity activities. Leads the CTI Team "RHC DarkLab"