Cyber Incident Victim: Petra News Agency
Date:
Jun 2016
Location:
Jordan
Summary
A Jordanian state news agency experienced a cyber intrusion resulting in the publication of a fabricated story alleging Saudi Arabia funded 20% of a U.S. presidential candidate's campaign. The false article, attributed to a Saudi official, was removed after the agency cited a technical failure caused by hacking, denying any legitimate transmission of the content. A U.S. lobbying firm with ties to the implicated campaign publicly refuted the funding claims, emphasizing legal prohibitions against foreign election contributions. The incident drew attention to preexisting financial connections between Saudi entities and a foundation associated with the candidate, though these were unrelated to the fabricated campaign funding allegation.
| CIA Posture | Motives | Tactics, Techniques & Procedures |
|---|---|---|
| Available to members | 2 motives | 1 technique |
| Threat Actors | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 0 actors | Available to members | Available to members |
Description
On June 12, 2016, Jordan's state-run Petra News Agency experienced a cybersecurity breach resulting in the unauthorized insertion of fabricated content into a news article. The compromised story falsely attributed statements to Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, claiming Saudi Arabia funded 20% of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign while questioning the viability of a female U.S. president. The article appeared briefly on Petra's website before being removed, though it was subsequently republished in Arabic by the Washington-based Institute for Gulf Affairs. Petra's technical team detected anomalous activity through their protection systems during what they described as a "few minutes" of compromise on Sunday evening. The agency suspended its primary transmission system and website, switching to an alternative platform. In an official statement, Petra attributed the incident to a hacking attempt that caused a "technical failure," explicitly denying any legitimate transmission or deletion of the disputed content.
The incident triggered immediate media attention and diplomatic responses. The Podesta Group, a lobbying firm with contractual ties to the Saudi Royal Court and chaired by Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta, contacted outlets like Middle East Eye to disseminate Petra's denial. Podesta spokesperson Will Bohlen categorically denied Saudi funding to Clinton's campaign, aligning with U.S. Federal Election Commission prohibitions against foreign election interference. The breach occurred days before a planned Saudi state visit to the U.S., amplifying scrutiny of Saudi-American political relationships. Historical context emerged through reports of Saudi donations to the Clinton Foundation, including undisclosed 2014 contributions following prior donations totaling $10-$25 million since 1999. The incident highlighted existing vulnerabilities in state media platforms while demonstrating rapid containment through system suspension and coordinated crisis communications between affected stakeholders.