Cyber Incident Victim: Econocom
Date:
Jul 2023
Location:
France
Summary
Econocom experienced a cybersecurity alert after an attacker group claimed to have stolen its data. The company's security teams immediately launched an investigation and containment measures. Ongoing investigations indicate that only a document sharing space was compromised, with no sensitive information leakage identified at this stage. The group is working to contain the data leak and limit impacts, with a further update planned for stakeholders.
| CIA Posture | Motives | Tactics, Techniques & Procedures |
|---|---|---|
| Available to members | 1 motive | 1 technique |
| Threat Actors | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 0 actors | Available to members | Available to members |
Description
On or around the weekend prior to August 1, 2023, the Econocom Group experienced a cybersecurity incident. The event was initially brought to public attention when a group of attackers published a message claiming to have successfully hacked and exfiltrated Econocom data. This external declaration served as the primary catalyst for the company's internal investigation into the potential breach. As an established digital transformation enterprise, Econocom operates as an Entreprise Générale du Digital, specializing in project financing, equipment distribution, and digital services for large companies and public organizations. The company's significant market presence across sixteen countries, supported by over 8,750 employees and generating billions in annual revenue, underscores the importance of managing such security events with utmost seriousness to maintain its operational integrity and stakeholder trust.
Upon discovery of the attackers' claims, Econocom's dedicated security teams, specifically the Group Security unit and the internal Security Operations Center, were immediately mobilized to initiate a comprehensive investigation. The primary objective of this rapid response was to assess the validity of the claims, determine the scope of any potential intrusion, and implement necessary containment measures to prevent further unauthorized access or data exfiltration. The initial phase of the investigation focused on analyzing the company's digital infrastructure to identify any compromised systems, the methods of entry used by the attackers, and the specific types of data that may have been accessed or stolen during the incident.
The ongoing forensic analysis, as detailed in the company's official communication dated August 1, 2023, revealed that the security breach was confined to a specific area of the company's network. According to the investigation's preliminary findings, the only system confirmed to have been compromised was a document-sharing space. This type of platform is typically used for the storage and exchange of files, both internally among employees and potentially with external partners. The compromise of such a space indicates that the attackers managed to gain unauthorized access to this repository, though the full extent of the data contained within it was still under review at the time of the public statement.
A critical aspect of the investigation involved a meticulous review to determine if any sensitive information had been exfiltrated from the compromised system. Econocom's initial assessment, based on the evidence available in the immediate aftermath of the incident, indicated that no leakage of sensitive information had been identified at that stage. This suggests that while the attackers gained access to a system, the data within it may not have included highly confidential material such as financial records, personal employee information, or client proprietary data, or that the company's security measures prevented the actual extraction of such data.
Despite the preliminary conclusion that there was no significant impact from the incident, Econocom treated the event with high severity, characterizing it as a cybersecurity alert that warranted a serious and thorough investigation. The company emphasized that all necessary resources were being deployed to fully understand the incident's parameters. The response strategy involved a multi-faceted approach aimed at containing the situation, which included efforts to circumscribe the problem's perimeter, contain any potential data leak, and limit any possible impacts on the company's operations or its clients. This proactive stance highlights the company's commitment to erring on the side of caution when dealing with potential threats to its digital assets.
The company also committed to maintaining a high level of transparency with its stakeholders throughout the investigation process. Econocom announced that a new update on the situation would be provided before the end of that same week, ensuring that clients, partners, investors, and other interested parties were kept informed of the latest developments and findings. This promise of ongoing communication reflects a modern approach to incident response, where transparency is valued as a key component of maintaining trust and managing reputational risk in the wake of a cybersecurity event. The entire incident response was managed internally by Econocom's own security teams, leveraging their in-house expertise to handle the investigation and remediation efforts.