The UAE Government’s Cybersecurity Council has confirmed the successful mitigation of cyberattacks targeting 634 government and private entities in the country. These attacks aimed to leak sensitive data from vital sectors within the UAE, but national cybersecurity systems successfully thwarted them using global best practices in cybersecurity.
Global Data Breach Exposes Sensitive Information
Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, the Head of Cybersecurity for the UAE Government, revealed to Emirates News Agency (WAM) that a threat actor identified as “rose87168” had claimed responsibility for breaching Oracle Cloud’s Single Sign-On (SSO) and Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) systems. The breach led to the leak of approximately six million customer records, including sensitive user password data.
Dr. Al Kuwaiti further stated that estimates indicate around 140,000 entities worldwide could have been affected by the breach. Of these, 634 entities in the UAE were impacted—comprising 30 government entities, 13 private organizations, and others under different categories.
Swift Response and Cybersecurity Measures
In response to the cyberattacks, the UAE Cybersecurity Council activated emergency cybersystems across the country in collaboration with relevant authorities. These measures were swiftly enacted to safeguard the UAE’s cyberspace and enhance its defense against hacking attempts and evolving cyber threats.
The Council urged all government and private institutions to bolster their cybersecurity defenses and improve their cyber readiness levels. It emphasized the importance of quickly reporting any suspicious activities targeting digital systems, ensuring the country’s defenses remain robust against potential threats.
Strengthening Cybersecurity Practices
The Cybersecurity Council stressed the need for heightened vigilance in countering increasingly sophisticated cyber fraud and hacking techniques. It called on institutions across the UAE to adopt the best security practices and continually adapt to the evolving cyber threat landscape.
As the UAE continues to invest in enhancing its cybersecurity infrastructure, the latest cyberattack response demonstrates the country’s commitment to protecting its vital sectors from potential breaches and ensuring the security of sensitive data in an increasingly digital world.
