Cyber Incident Victim: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic
Date:
Jun 2019
Location:
Czechia
Summary
A foreign state conducted a cyber attack targeting the Czech Foreign Ministry, according to the Senate's security committee, though the specific nation was not publicly identified. Reports indicated the incident originated from Russia, citing unnamed sources, but no confidential data was compromised. The Senate committee referenced findings from the national cyber security agency in its assessment and expressed concern over the breach, urging heightened security measures. This incident followed prior cyber intrusions linked to Russian intelligence services against the same ministry. The agency and ministry declined to provide additional details on the attack's scope or attribution.
| CIA Posture | Motives | Tactics, Techniques & Procedures |
|---|---|---|
| Available to members | 1 motive | 1 technique |
| Threat Actor | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 actor | Available to members | Available to members |
Description
In June 2019, the Czech Foreign Ministry experienced a cyber attack attributed to a foreign state actor, as confirmed by the Czech Senate’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security in an August 2019 statement. The committee cited findings from the National Cyber and Information Security Agency (NUKIB) but did not disclose the identity of the responsible nation or technical details of the intrusion. Czech media outlet Denik N reported the attack occurred in June, citing three unnamed sources who claimed the operation originated in Russia. The Senate committee emphasized the gravity of the incident, noting it aligned with broader cybersecurity threats facing the country. No confidential data was reported compromised, according to Denik N’s sources. The Foreign Ministry declined to comment on the incident, while NUKIB did not immediately respond to inquiries.
The Senate committee urged the Czech government to prioritize cybersecurity measures following the attack, referencing NUKIB’s assessment of state involvement. This incident echoed a 2017 cyber attack on the Foreign Ministry, which the Czech counter-intelligence service (BIS) had attributed to Russian intelligence agencies in its 2018 annual report. The committee’s public statement underscored ongoing vulnerabilities but provided no specifics about attack vectors, mitigation steps, or operational disruptions. No additional government actions or technical remediation details were disclosed in the available reports. The lack of confirmed data exfiltration or system damage distinguished this incident from more destructive cyber operations, though the attribution to a state actor elevated its diplomatic significance.