Cyber Incident Victim: Ministry of the Interior (France)
Date:
Jan 2015
Location:
France
Summary
A cyberattack targeting the French Ministry of Interior and Defense involved the Anonghost group exploiting outdated content management systems to deface three government websites, including portals for national security information and military training. The attackers, part of a broader collective linked to Anti-#CharlieHebdo operations, claimed responsibility for the defacements but did not extract sensitive data. The incident prompted immediate intervention by France's national cybersecurity agency (ANSSI) and the affected ministries, resulting in the temporary shutdown of compromised sites to mitigate further risks. The group asserted ongoing intentions to continue disruptive operations against government digital assets.
| CIA Posture | Motives | Tactics, Techniques & Procedures |
|---|---|---|
| Available to members | 2 motives | 1 technique |
| Threat Actor | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 actor | Available to members | Available to members |
Description
On January 21, 2015, the hacker group Anonghost, led by an individual using the alias Mauritania Hacker, initiated unauthorized modifications to three French government websites. The group, which had previously conducted widespread cyber operations under the banner of Anti #CharlieHebdo, targeted sgcipd.interieur.gouv.fr (Ministry of Interior), prevention-delinquance.interieur.gouv.fr (Ministry of Interior), and ensoa.terre.defense.gouv.fr (National Active Non-Commissioned Officers School under the Ministry of Defense). At approximately 21:00 CET, Mauritania Hacker contacted ZATAZ journalists to announce the ongoing operation, framing it as part of a broader campaign involving approximately thirty affiliated cyber protest groups. These collaborators ranged from young Muslims expressing concerns about perceived rising Islamophobia to jihadist elements. Anonghost's historical tactics included mass website infiltrations with backdoor installations, data theft from databases, distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, and defacements. The attackers explicitly stated their intent to maintain operational control over the timing and duration of their activities.
Technical analysis indicated the attackers exploited outdated content management systems (CMS) on the targeted government platforms to execute defacements, as evidenced by screenshots documenting unauthorized interface modifications. No extraction of sensitive data occurred during this incident. The French National Cybersecurity Agency (ANSSI) and Ministry of Defense implemented containment measures by rapidly taking the compromised websites offline. Public commentary from a developer noted the absence of eZ Publish CMS on the affected sites, suggesting alternative software vulnerabilities facilitated the breaches. The incident demonstrated Anonghost's continued operational capabilities following previous high-volume attacks while highlighting persistent security risks associated with unpatched web infrastructure in government systems.