The Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has reportedly experienced a significant data breach, exposing the personal information of more than 1.4 million employees affiliated with the ministry. The breach was allegedly disclosed by a threat actor named “zelda” on a dark web leak forum. The exposed data, shared in an uncompressed 600MB file, includes records of ID, GUID, Arabic names, display names, full names, associated departments, titles, office and mobile phone numbers, emails, home phone numbers, and job titles. The revelation raises concerns about the potential misuse of sensitive information and highlights the persistent threat of data breaches on governmental entities.
The alleged data breach affecting the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been circulated on the dark web by the threat actor “zelda,” who claims to be an “Advanced User” on the platform. The disclosed information encompasses a range of personal details, including ID numbers, Arabic names, display names, and contact details, posing significant privacy and security risks for the affected employees. The dark web leak forum provides a platform for threat actors to share and exploit stolen data, contributing to the ongoing challenges of cybersecurity and data protection. The Ministry’s response to this breach, including potential mitigation efforts and steps to secure affected employees, remains crucial in the face of evolving cyber threats.
The alleged data breach involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Saudi Arabia underscores the persistent targeting of governmental entities by threat actors seeking to compromise sensitive information. The exposure of personal details, including contact information and job titles, poses serious implications for the affected employees. As the Ministry assesses the impact of the breach and takes steps to address vulnerabilities, it underscores the broader challenges faced by organizations in protecting sensitive information in an increasingly digitized and interconnected world.
