Europcar, a leading global car rental company with operations in over 140 countries, has recently been embroiled in a significant cybersecurity incident. Reports from BleepingComputer indicate that a threat actor, identifying with the name “Europcar,” claimed responsibility for a cyber attack against the company. This individual or group asserted that they had accessed and extracted all of Europcar’s GitLab repositories, suggesting an extensive breach.
The data purportedly obtained during this attack includes a vast array of sensitive information. It is said to encompass Europcar’s cloud infrastructure, internal applications, and customer-facing mobile applications for Europcar and its subsidiary, GoldCar. Alarmingly, the stolen data allegedly contains over 269 environment files and more than 9,000 SQL files that may include backups with personal customer information.
The attacker claimed to possess more than 37GB of data, consisting of over 645,000 files and nearly 184,000 folders. In a chilling communication, the threat actor suggested that Europcar engage with them to prevent public disclosure of the sensitive data. As proof of their claims, screenshots of source code containing login credentials were posted online.
In response to the incident, Europcar has confirmed that a breach has occurred and is actively investigating the claims. However, the company contested the assertion that all of its GitLab repositories had been impacted, noting that certain sections of its network remain secure. Europcar stated that any customer data exposed consists solely of names and email addresses linked to its Ubeeqo and Goldcar services, and reassured clients that passwords, bank details, and credit card information have not been compromised.
As the investigation continues, Europcar is taking steps to inform the potentially affected customers, which, according to estimates, could range from 50,000 to 200,000 users, with some data dating back to 2017. This incident follows a prior breach reported in January 2024, wherein threat actors claimed to have data for more than 48 million Europcar users, although Europcar later dismissed those claims, attributing them to fabricated records allegedly generated through artificial intelligence.
Troy Hunt, a prominent cybersecurity expert, weighed in on the claims, noting inconsistencies in the hacker’s data with Europcar’s records. Despite acknowledging flaws in the alleged hacker’s dataset, Hunt emphasized that some of the email addresses were valid and had appeared in other data breaches. He cautioned against attributing the breach to AI generation, suggesting that the motivations behind such fabrications often stem from a desire for notoriety or financial gain.
Analyzing this incident through the lens of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, several adversary tactics and techniques are relevant. Initial access could have been gained through phishing or exploiting vulnerabilities in the company’s network security. Following initial access, persistence methods might have been employed to maintain control and extract sensitive data over time. Additionally, privilege escalation techniques may have been used to gain broader access to corporate resources, including repositories containing crucial customer data.
As cybersecurity threats become increasingly sophisticated, the Europcar incident underscores the critical need for robust defense mechanisms to protect sensitive information from such breaches. Business owners must remain vigilant, ensuring that their cybersecurity protocols are up to date and capable of mitigating potential risks in an ever-evolving landscape.
