The pro-Ukraine hacking group Twelve has taken responsibility for infiltrating the systems of SKTB Biofizpribor, a Russian organization engaged in science and medical research. The announcement of the SKTB Biofizpribor data breach was made through a post on a public forum, where Twelve taunted the organization for perceived security vulnerabilities. The message posted by Twelve provocatively reads, “Hi there friends! We have a new hack. SKTB Biofizpribor, has your (*) already felt the problem?” The language used suggests a deliberate attempt to humiliate the targeted organization.
SKTB Biofizpribor is known for its activities in conducting space tests, manufacturing low-voltage electronics for medical purposes, and engaging in research in the fields of ecology and biology. Twelve’s post criticizes the organization for what they perceive as a lack of awareness regarding its own security flaws. The message continues, stating, “But the main problem of such companies is that scattered on different tasks and flying into space, they do not see their own leaking security system under their noses.”
Twelve claims to have successfully breached SKTB Biofizpribor’s security, asserting, “But we have to note that we didn’t see anything either. Neither in their protection nor in the 11 TB of data that we did a great job on.” The pro-Ukraine group appears to be capitalizing on a perceived vulnerability in the security infrastructure of organizations with diverse focuses. The post concludes with a taunting note, labeling SKTB Biofizpribor as “stupid guys in every sense” and highlighting that the group has successfully targeted others in a similar fashion.
The cyberattack by Twelve occurs against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Targeting a Russian organization involved in science and medical research adds a new dimension to the cyber warfare dynamics between the two nations. As tensions escalate, cyber operations become an increasingly common and potent tool for actors seeking to gain an advantage in the conflict. The audacity of Twelve’s cyberattack raises concerns about the growing sophistication of hacking groups engaged in cyber warfare, emphasizing the need for organizations to remain vigilant and invest in robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard sensitive data and operations.
