Extensive Russian Hack Uncovered: Microsoft Source Code Repositories and Internal Systems Compromised
Microsoft Corporation confirmed on Friday that Russian state-backed hackers had infiltrated some of its core software systems. This intrusion is more extensive and serious than initially disclosed, as the hackers are believed to have used information stolen from Microsoft’s corporate email systems to access “some of the company’s source code repositories and internal systems.”
Why Source Code Is Valuable: The Foundation of Functional Software
Source code is the backbone and secret infrastructure of a software program. It holds the intricate details that allow the software to operate effectively. If hackers manage to gain access to source code, they can leverage this information for follow-on attacks on other systems.
Previous Attacks and History of the Russian Hackers
Microsoft first disclosed the breach in January, shortly before Hewlett Packard Enterprise announced that the same hackers had compromised its cloud-based email systems. Although the full scope and motive of these cyberattacks remain uncertain, experts agree that this group has a record of broad intelligence-gathering initiatives on behalf of the Kremlin.
This hacking collective gained notoriety for breaching several US government agency email systems using SolarWinds software in 2020. The group maintained access to unclassified email accounts at the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice, among others, for an extended period before the spying operation was exposed.
US Officials Point to Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service
US officials have attributed the hacking group to Russia’s foreign intelligence service. However, Russia has denied any involvement in these operations.
Ongoing Espionage Campaigns: Exploiting Stolen Data
Since the 2020 hack, Russian hackers have continued to target major tech companies as part of their espionage campaigns. In this most recent incident, the hackers might be using the information they obtained from Microsoft “to accumulate a picture of areas to attack and enhance its ability to do so,” according to a blog post published by the company along with an SEC filing.
No Evidence of Customer-Facing System Compromise
Microsoft asserted that no evidence has been found to suggest that Microsoft-hosted customer-facing systems have been breached. This story is still under development and will be updated with more information as it becomes available.
