In a startling development that underscores the ever-present threat of cybercrime, Orange Group, a leading French telecommunications operator and digital service provider, has confirmed a significant data breach affecting its Romanian operations. The incident, revealed after a hacker using the alias “Rey” publicly disclosed details on a hacker forum, involved the theft of nearly 12,000 files totaling approximately 6.5GB of data. This breach, reportedly executed by members of the HellCat ransomware group, targeted internal documents containing user records, employee information, invoices, contracts, source code, and even partial payment card details. Although the breach occurred on a non-critical application, its implications for data confidentiality and corporate security are profound. In this article, we delve into the details of the attack, assess its impact, and provide actionable advice to prevent similar incidents in the future.

On February 11, 2025, Orange Group confirmed that a hacker had successfully breached its internal systems and exfiltrated a vast quantity of data from its Romanian branch. The breach was disclosed by the threat actor “Rey” on an underground hacker forum after an unsuccessful extortion attempt. Rey, who is associated with the HellCat ransomware group, claimed that the attackers had maintained access to Orange’s systems for over a month, ultimately launching a concentrated data exfiltration operation that lasted approximately three hours on a recent Sunday morning.

What Was Compromised?

According to the details shared by the hacker:

• Volume of Data: Nearly 12,000 files amounting to roughly 6.5GB.
• Type of Data: The stolen data includes 380,000 unique email addresses, source code, invoices, contracts, customer information, and employee data. Samples obtained from the breach also reveal partial details for payment cards of Romanian customers, although much of this financial data appears to be outdated.
• Data Age: Some of the email addresses and documents date back over five years, indicating that the breach may have involved legacy data that was not sufficiently secured.

How the Breach Occurred

The attack was reportedly executed by exploiting compromised credentials and vulnerabilities in Orange’s Jira software and internal portals used for bug/issue tracking. These platforms, critical for internal communications and project management, inadvertently became the conduit for the breach. Despite being categorized as a non-critical back office application, the compromised system provided the attackers with prolonged and undetected access, allowing them to systematically exfiltrate data over a sustained period.

The hacker “Rey” claimed that, after gaining access, the attackers dropped a ransom note on the system. However, Orange Group did not initiate any ransom negotiations, opting instead to focus on damage control and mitigation. The leaked data was subsequently posted on a hacker forum, where the threat actor attempted to extort the company by threatening to sell the stolen information.

Orange Group’s Response

In response to the breach, Orange Group has:

• Confirmed the Breach: The company confirmed the incident to BleepingComputer and other cybersecurity outlets.
• Initiated an Investigation: Internal cybersecurity and IT teams have launched a full investigation into the breach. Although the incident affected a non-critical application, the focus remains on assessing the extent of the data leakage and mitigating any potential downstream impacts.
• Communication with Authorities: Orange Group is cooperating with relevant authorities to address the incident and ensure compliance with legal and regulatory obligations.
• Data Protection Measures: Despite the breach, Orange has reassured customers that there has been no impact on critical customer operations. The breach was isolated to a back-office system, and no evidence suggests that sensitive personal or financial data has been exploited in a manner that jeopardizes customers’ security.

10 Key Recommendations to Prevent Similar Breaches

To help organizations safeguard against similar cyber threats, we offer the following ten recommendations:

1. Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
   Strengthen access controls by requiring MFA for all administrative and remote access points. This reduces the risk of unauthorized access through compromised credentials.
2. Conduct Regular Vulnerability Assessments
   Schedule periodic vulnerability scans and penetration tests, especially on internal portals and applications used for project management, such as Jira, to identify and remediate potential weaknesses.
3. Enhance Credential Management
   Enforce strict policies for password complexity and regular updates. Consider employing dedicated password management solutions to secure credentials across the organization.
4. Restrict and Monitor Access
   Limit access to sensitive systems by implementing role-based access control (RBAC) and segmenting networks to isolate critical systems from less secure environments.
5. Secure Legacy Data
   Regularly review and update security measures for legacy systems and data repositories. Ensure that older data is not left vulnerable due to outdated security protocols.
6. Deploy Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS)
   Utilize IDPS to monitor network traffic and detect suspicious activities. Real-time alerts can help respond to potential breaches before significant damage occurs.
7. Regular Security Audits
   Perform comprehensive security audits to ensure that all systems, especially internal portals and development platforms, are configured securely and adhere to best practices.
8. Employee Training and Awareness
   Educate staff on cybersecurity best practices, including phishing awareness and the importance of safeguarding credentials. Regular training can significantly reduce the risk of human error leading to breaches.
9. Implement Robust Patch Management
   Ensure that all systems are kept up-to-date with the latest security patches and software updates. Prompt patching of vulnerabilities can prevent attackers from exploiting known weaknesses.
10. Develop a Comprehensive Incident Response Plan
    Establish and regularly update an incident response plan that outlines clear procedures for detecting, containing, and mitigating breaches. Ensure that all team members understand their roles during a security incident.

Conclusion

The recent breach at Orange Group, confirmed after a hacker leaked thousands of internal documents, serves as a stark reminder of the persistent and evolving threat landscape in the cybersecurity domain. Although the breach was isolated to a non-critical back-office application, the incident highlights the vulnerabilities that exist even within sophisticated organizations and the potential for significant data exposure.

This incident underscores the necessity for continuous vigilance, robust security protocols, and proactive measures to safeguard sensitive data from cybercriminals. By implementing stringent access controls, regularly updating software, enhancing credential management, and fostering a culture of security awareness, organizations can significantly mitigate the risks associated with similar breaches.

As cybersecurity professionals, our collective responsibility is to stay ahead of emerging threats by continuously adapting our security measures. The case of the Orange Group breach is a call to action for all organizations to reassess their security postures and implement the recommended best practices to protect against unauthorized access and data exfiltration.