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FEMA Company CyberSecurity Posture

http://www.fema.gov

Welcome to the official LinkedIn page for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). When disaster strikes, America looks to FEMA to support survivors and first responders in communities all across the country. This page provides career related information, job announcements and relevant updates for the agency’s current and future workforce. FEMA fosters innovation, rewards performance and creativity, and provides challenges on a routine basis with a well-skilled, knowledgeable, and high performance workforce. Join our mission to support Americans when they need you most!

FEMA A.I CyberSecurity Scoring

FEMA

Company Details

Linkedin ID:

fema

Website:

http://www.fema.gov

Employees number:

19,641

Number of followers:

538,483

NAICS:

Industry Type:

Government Administration

Homepage:

http://www.fema.gov

IP Addresses:

Company ID:

FEM_1738871

Scan Status:

In-progress

FEMA Risk Score (AI oriented)

Between 550 and 599

FEMA Government Administration

Updated: 17/12/2025

Powered by our proprietary A.I cyber incident model
Insurance preferes TPRM score to calculate premium

FEMA Global Score (TPRM)

XXXX

FEMA Government Administration

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Instant access to detailed risk factors
Benchmark vs. industry & size peers

Vulnerabilities
Findings

FEMA Company CyberSecurity News & History

Past Incidents

Attack Types

Entity	Type	Severity	Impact	Seen	Incident Details
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)	Breach	60	3	8/2024	FEM3092330093025
Rankiteo Explanation : Attack with significant impact with internal employee data leaks Description: A hacker infiltrated FEMA’s computer networks via compromised Citrix remote desktop credentials, maintaining unauthorized access from June 22 to August 5, 2024. The breach targeted FEMA Region 6 (covering Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas) and involved the theft of employee identity data from FEMA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The attacker exploited weak security controls, including the absence of multifactor authentication (MFA), to move laterally across the network, install VPN software, and exfiltrate data from Active Directory.The incident led to the termination of 24 FEMA employees, including IT executives, after an investigation revealed systemic failures in cybersecurity protocols. While initial statements claimed no sensitive data was stolen, a DHS internal review confirmed the theft of federal employee identity information. The breach underscored vulnerabilities in government cybersecurity, compounded by a separate disclosure of hackers exploiting Cisco firewall devices in U.S. agencies, though no direct link to the FEMA attack was established.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)	Breach	60	3	6/2025	FEM5362353100125
Rankiteo Explanation : Attack with significant impact with internal employee data leaks Description: A hacker infiltrated FEMA’s computer networks via compromised credentials in Citrix Systems’ remote desktop software, gaining unauthorized access for nearly two months (June 22 to August 5). The breach targeted FEMA Region 6 (covering Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas) and compromised employee identity data from both FEMA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), another DHS component. The attacker exploited weak security measures, including the absence of multifactor authentication (MFA), to move laterally across the network, install VPN software, and exfiltrate data from Microsoft Active Directory, which manages access controls. The incident led to the termination of two dozen FEMA employees, including IT executives, after DHS Secretary Kristi Noem cited systemic failures like agencywide MFA gaps and 'incompetence' in cybersecurity protocols. While initial statements claimed no sensitive citizen data was stolen, investigations confirmed the theft of federal employee identity information. The breach underscored vulnerabilities in critical government infrastructure, though officials asserted no direct harm to American citizens occurred. The attack’s duration and depth raised concerns about persistent threats to federal agencies, compounded by a separate disclosure of hackers exploiting Cisco firewall devices in U.S. government systems around the same period.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)	Breach	85	3	9/2025	FEM3192931093025
Rankiteo Explanation : Attack with significant impact with internal employee data leaks Description: A large-scale cyber breach targeted FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) over several weeks, compromising its network and exposing sensitive employee data from both FEMA and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The attacker exploited vulnerabilities in Citrix remote access software, gaining deep access across regions including New Mexico, Texas, and Louisiana. While initial claims by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated no sensitive data was extracted, internal documents later confirmed the theft of FEMA and CBP employee data, affecting over 250,000 employees and raising concerns about DHS’s cybersecurity capabilities. The breach led to the dismissal of 20 FEMA IT workers, including senior leaders, accused of security failures. Remediation efforts spanned months, with DHS and FEMA struggling to contain the intrusion until at least September 2025. The attack underscored systemic vulnerabilities in federal network defenses, prompting emergency directives to strengthen protections against advanced hacker groups. The incident remains under investigation, with no confirmed attribution or link to broader espionage campaigns.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)	Breach	85	3	7/2025	FEM1802718100225
Rankiteo Explanation : Attack with significant impact with internal employee data leaks Description: An unidentified hacker executed a months-long breach targeting FEMA’s computer network, compromising sensitive data of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and FEMA employees across a region spanning New Mexico, Texas, and Louisiana. The attacker exploited vulnerabilities in Citrix remote-access software, gaining deep access to operational systems. Despite initial containment efforts by DHS in mid-July, remediation extended into September, with confirmations that employee data was stolen, contradicting earlier official denials. The breach led to the firing of 24 FEMA IT staff, including top executives, amid accusations of 'severe security lapses.' The incident exposed systemic weaknesses in DHS’s cybersecurity posture, raising concerns about the protection of over 250,000 employees’ information and potential broader threats to national security. The attacker’s identity and motives remain unknown, though the prolonged intrusion suggests targeted espionage or data exfiltration for malicious use.
FEMA	Breach	100	4	6/2017	FEM74612323
Rankiteo Explanation : Attack with significant impact with customers data leaks Description: FEMA stated that they mistakenly exposed the personal information, including addresses and bank account information, of 2.3 million disaster victims. The breach occurred because FEMA did not ensure a private contractor only received the information it required to perform its official duties. The victims affected include survivors of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria and the 2017 California wildfires. The report found FEMA's failure to protect their data put them at risk of identity theft and fraud. According to the report, some of the data collected, such as addresses and Social Security numbers, were necessary to give aid. but other information, like electronic bank account information, was not considered necessary.
US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)	Cyber Attack	100	5	6/2024	FEM1533215100625
Rankiteo Explanation : Attack threatening the organization's existence Description: FEMA suffered a cyberattack in June 2024 where threat actors exploited CitrixBleed 2 (CVSS 9.3) via stolen credentials to breach its Citrix Netscaler ADC/Gateway, bypassing MFA. Attackers exfiltrated data from Region 6 servers (covering Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas), including sensitive government and citizen information. The breach remained undetected until July, despite prior CISA warnings about active exploitation. FEMA initially denied data loss but later evidence confirmed unauthorized uploads. The incident led to the termination of the CISO, CIO, and 22 staff for negligence, including falsified security audits. Remediation included forced password resets, MFA enforcement, and a complete IT overhaul. The attack exposed systemic failures in patch management and incident response, risking national security data, emergency response capabilities, and public trust in a critical federal agency.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security	Breach	60	3	01/2018	USD331181223
Rankiteo Explanation : Attack with significant impact with internal employee data leaks Description: DHS had a privacy incident that resulted in the exposure of information for 247,167 active and retired federal employees. The database utilised by the DHS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and kept in the Department of Homeland Security OIG Case Management System was compromised by a data breach. Employee names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, jobs, grades, and duty locations are among the data that has been made public. In addition to putting additional security measures in place to restrict access to this kind of information, the Department of Homeland Security notified those who were impacted through notification letters.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)	Breach	100	5	5/2023	US-4641646100525
Rankiteo Explanation : Attack threatening the organization’s existence Description: In March–May 2023, a misconfigured DHS Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN-Intel) platform exposed sensitive but unclassified intelligence data—including investigative leads shared with the FBI, National Counterterrorism Center, and local law enforcement—to tens of thousands of unauthorized users. The access controls were incorrectly set to 'everyone,' granting visibility to non-intelligence government workers (e.g., disaster response teams), private contractors, and foreign government personnel. The breach stemmed from poor access management and lack of segmentation, highlighting systemic failures in cloud security governance. While no classified data was compromised, the exposure risked operational security, counterterrorism efforts, and trust in interagency intelligence-sharing. The incident underscored how human error and process gaps—rather than sophisticated cyberattacks—remain a dominant cause of high-impact breaches in critical infrastructure.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security	Data Leak	85	3	02/2016	USD181261023
Rankiteo Explanation : Attack with significant impact with internal employee data leaks Description: A Department of Justice employee's email account was compromised by a hacker, who took 200GB of data, including records of 20,000 FBI workers and 9,000 DHS employees. Delving deeper into the archive, one finds information about DHS security experts, programme analysts, IT, infosec, and security, as well as 100 individuals who hold the title of intelligence. Motherboard claims that a hacker gained access to a Department of Justice employee's email account. As evidence, the hacker used the hacked account to send the email directly to Motherboard contributor Joseph Cox. The apparent job titles, names, phone numbers, and email addresses of over 9,000 purported Department of Homeland Security (DHS) workers and over 20,000 purported FBI employees.
US Federal Agencies	Ransomware	100	5	6/2020	US-341071125
Rankiteo Explanation : Attack threatening the organization's existence Description: Daniil Kasatkin, a 26-year-old Russian professional basketball player, was arrested at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris on June 21, 2023, for his alleged involvement in a ransomware gang that operated between 2020 and 2022. The gang is accused of targeting around 900 organizations, including two US federal agencies. Kasatkin is facing charges of 'conspiracy to commit computer fraud' and 'computer fraud conspiracy.' His lawyers deny the allegations, claiming he is not tech-savvy and was unaware of any unlawful activities. The US has not yet released any statements or evidence regarding the crimes.
Department of Homeland Security	Vulnerability	100	7	12/2024	US-001010525
Rankiteo Explanation : Attack that could injure or kill people Description: The DHS encountered growing threats from commercial drones being modified to carry hazardous payloads, impacting national security. Attempted mitigations include improved detection and response capabilities through local law enforcement training and technology deployment. These clandestine drone activities pose a significant risk, requiring urgent action and cooperation between federal and local agencies to ensure public safety and preserve critical infrastructure.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Breach

Severity: 60

Impact: 3

Seen: 8/2024

Blog:

FEM3092330093025

Rankiteo Explanation

Attack with significant impact with internal employee data leaks

Description: A hacker infiltrated FEMA’s computer networks via compromised Citrix remote desktop credentials, maintaining unauthorized access from **June 22 to August 5, 2024**. The breach targeted **FEMA Region 6** (covering Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas) and involved the theft of **employee identity data** from FEMA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The attacker exploited weak security controls, including the absence of **multifactor authentication (MFA)**, to move laterally across the network, install VPN software, and exfiltrate data from **Active Directory**.The incident led to the termination of **24 FEMA employees**, including IT executives, after an investigation revealed systemic failures in cybersecurity protocols. While initial statements claimed no sensitive data was stolen, a DHS internal review confirmed the theft of **federal employee identity information**. The breach underscored vulnerabilities in government cybersecurity, compounded by a separate disclosure of hackers exploiting **Cisco firewall devices** in U.S. agencies, though no direct link to the FEMA attack was established.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Breach

Severity: 60

Impact: 3

Seen: 6/2025

Blog:

FEM5362353100125

Rankiteo Explanation

Attack with significant impact with internal employee data leaks

Description: A hacker infiltrated FEMA’s computer networks via compromised credentials in Citrix Systems’ remote desktop software, gaining unauthorized access for nearly two months (June 22 to August 5). The breach targeted **FEMA Region 6** (covering Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas) and compromised **employee identity data** from both FEMA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), another DHS component. The attacker exploited weak security measures, including the absence of **multifactor authentication (MFA)**, to move laterally across the network, install VPN software, and exfiltrate data from **Microsoft Active Directory**, which manages access controls. The incident led to the termination of **two dozen FEMA employees**, including IT executives, after DHS Secretary Kristi Noem cited systemic failures like agencywide MFA gaps and 'incompetence' in cybersecurity protocols. While initial statements claimed no sensitive citizen data was stolen, investigations confirmed the theft of **federal employee identity information**. The breach underscored vulnerabilities in critical government infrastructure, though officials asserted no direct harm to American citizens occurred. The attack’s duration and depth raised concerns about persistent threats to federal agencies, compounded by a separate disclosure of hackers exploiting **Cisco firewall devices** in U.S. government systems around the same period.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Breach

Severity: 85

Impact: 3

Seen: 9/2025

Blog:

FEM3192931093025

Rankiteo Explanation

Attack with significant impact with internal employee data leaks

Description: A large-scale cyber breach targeted FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) over several weeks, compromising its network and exposing sensitive employee data from both FEMA and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The attacker exploited vulnerabilities in **Citrix remote access software**, gaining deep access across regions including New Mexico, Texas, and Louisiana. While initial claims by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated *no sensitive data was extracted*, internal documents later confirmed the theft of **FEMA and CBP employee data**, affecting over **250,000 employees** and raising concerns about DHS’s cybersecurity capabilities. The breach led to the dismissal of **20 FEMA IT workers**, including senior leaders, accused of security failures. Remediation efforts spanned months, with DHS and FEMA struggling to contain the intrusion until at least September 2025. The attack underscored systemic vulnerabilities in federal network defenses, prompting emergency directives to strengthen protections against advanced hacker groups. The incident remains under investigation, with no confirmed attribution or link to broader espionage campaigns.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Breach

Severity: 85

Impact: 3

Seen: 7/2025

Blog:

FEM1802718100225

Rankiteo Explanation

Attack with significant impact with internal employee data leaks

Description: An unidentified hacker executed a **months-long breach** targeting FEMA’s computer network, compromising sensitive data of **Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and FEMA employees** across a region spanning New Mexico, Texas, and Louisiana. The attacker exploited vulnerabilities in **Citrix remote-access software**, gaining deep access to operational systems. Despite initial containment efforts by DHS in mid-July, remediation extended into September, with confirmations that **employee data was stolen**, contradicting earlier official denials. The breach led to the firing of **24 FEMA IT staff**, including top executives, amid accusations of 'severe security lapses.' The incident exposed systemic weaknesses in DHS’s cybersecurity posture, raising concerns about the protection of **over 250,000 employees’ information** and potential broader threats to national security. The attacker’s identity and motives remain unknown, though the prolonged intrusion suggests targeted espionage or data exfiltration for malicious use.

FEMA

Breach

Severity: 100

Impact: 4

Seen: 6/2017

Blog:

FEM74612323

Rankiteo Explanation

Attack with significant impact with customers data leaks

Description: FEMA stated that they mistakenly exposed the personal information, including addresses and bank account information, of 2.3 million disaster victims. The breach occurred because FEMA did not ensure a private contractor only received the information it required to perform its official duties. The victims affected include survivors of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria and the 2017 California wildfires. The report found FEMA's failure to protect their data put them at risk of identity theft and fraud. According to the report, some of the data collected, such as addresses and Social Security numbers, were necessary to give aid. but other information, like electronic bank account information, was not considered necessary.

US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Cyber Attack

Severity: 100

Impact: 5

Seen: 6/2024

Blog:

FEM1533215100625

Rankiteo Explanation

Attack threatening the organization's existence

Description: FEMA suffered a cyberattack in **June 2024** where threat actors exploited **CitrixBleed 2 (CVSS 9.3)** via stolen credentials to breach its **Citrix Netscaler ADC/Gateway**, bypassing MFA. Attackers exfiltrated data from **Region 6 servers** (covering Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas), including sensitive government and citizen information. The breach remained undetected until **July**, despite prior CISA warnings about active exploitation. FEMA initially denied data loss but later evidence confirmed unauthorized uploads. The incident led to the **termination of the CISO, CIO, and 22 staff** for negligence, including falsified security audits. Remediation included forced password resets, MFA enforcement, and a complete IT overhaul. The attack exposed systemic failures in patch management and incident response, risking **national security data, emergency response capabilities, and public trust** in a critical federal agency.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Breach

Severity: 60

Impact: 3

Seen: 01/2018

Blog:

USD331181223

Rankiteo Explanation

Attack with significant impact with internal employee data leaks

Description: DHS had a privacy incident that resulted in the exposure of information for 247,167 active and retired federal employees. The database utilised by the DHS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and kept in the Department of Homeland Security OIG Case Management System was compromised by a data breach. Employee names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, jobs, grades, and duty locations are among the data that has been made public. In addition to putting additional security measures in place to restrict access to this kind of information, the Department of Homeland Security notified those who were impacted through notification letters.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Breach

Severity: 100

Impact: 5

Seen: 5/2023

Blog:

US-4641646100525

Rankiteo Explanation

Attack threatening the organization’s existence

Description: In March–May 2023, a misconfigured **DHS Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN-Intel)** platform exposed **sensitive but unclassified intelligence data**—including investigative leads shared with the FBI, National Counterterrorism Center, and local law enforcement—to **tens of thousands of unauthorized users**. The access controls were incorrectly set to 'everyone,' granting visibility to **non-intelligence government workers (e.g., disaster response teams), private contractors, and foreign government personnel**. The breach stemmed from **poor access management and lack of segmentation**, highlighting systemic failures in cloud security governance. While no classified data was compromised, the exposure risked operational security, counterterrorism efforts, and trust in interagency intelligence-sharing. The incident underscored how **human error and process gaps**—rather than sophisticated cyberattacks—remain a dominant cause of high-impact breaches in critical infrastructure.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Data Leak

Severity: 85

Impact: 3

Seen: 02/2016

Blog:

USD181261023

Rankiteo Explanation

Attack with significant impact with internal employee data leaks

Description: A Department of Justice employee's email account was compromised by a hacker, who took 200GB of data, including records of 20,000 FBI workers and 9,000 DHS employees. Delving deeper into the archive, one finds information about DHS security experts, programme analysts, IT, infosec, and security, as well as 100 individuals who hold the title of intelligence. Motherboard claims that a hacker gained access to a Department of Justice employee's email account. As evidence, the hacker used the hacked account to send the email directly to Motherboard contributor Joseph Cox. The apparent job titles, names, phone numbers, and email addresses of over 9,000 purported Department of Homeland Security (DHS) workers and over 20,000 purported FBI employees.

US Federal Agencies

Ransomware

Severity: 100

Impact: 5

Seen: 6/2020

Blog:

US-341071125

Rankiteo Explanation

Attack threatening the organization's existence

Description: Daniil Kasatkin, a 26-year-old Russian professional basketball player, was arrested at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris on June 21, 2023, for his alleged involvement in a ransomware gang that operated between 2020 and 2022. The gang is accused of targeting around 900 organizations, including two US federal agencies. Kasatkin is facing charges of 'conspiracy to commit computer fraud' and 'computer fraud conspiracy.' His lawyers deny the allegations, claiming he is not tech-savvy and was unaware of any unlawful activities. The US has not yet released any statements or evidence regarding the crimes.

Department of Homeland Security

Vulnerability

Severity: 100

Impact: 7

Seen: 12/2024

Blog:

US-001010525

Rankiteo Explanation

Attack that could injure or kill people

Description: The DHS encountered growing threats from commercial drones being modified to carry hazardous payloads, impacting national security. Attempted mitigations include improved detection and response capabilities through local law enforcement training and technology deployment. These clandestine drone activities pose a significant risk, requiring urgent action and cooperation between federal and local agencies to ensure public safety and preserve critical infrastructure.

FEMA Company Scoring based on AI Models

Cyber Incidents Likelihood 3 - 6 - 9 months

🔒

Incident Predictions locked

Access Monitoring Plan

A.I Risk Score Likelihood 3 - 6 - 9 months

🔒

A.I. Risk Score Predictions locked

Access Monitoring Plan

Underwriter Stats for FEMA

Incidents vs Government Administration Industry Average (This Year)

FEMA has 265.85% more incidents than the average of same-industry companies with at least one recorded incident.

Incidents vs All-Companies Average (This Year)

FEMA has 284.62% more incidents than the average of all companies with at least one recorded incident.

Incident Types FEMA vs Government Administration Industry Avg (This Year)

FEMA reported 3 incidents this year: 0 cyber attacks, 0 ransomware, 0 vulnerabilities, 3 data breaches, compared to industry peers with at least 1 incident.

Incident History — FEMA (X = Date, Y = Severity)

FEMA cyber incidents detection timeline including parent company and subsidiaries

FEMA Company Subsidiaries

FEMA Similar Companies

City of Framingham

framinghamma.gov

OVERVIEW Framingham was incorporated as a town on June 25, 1700. Chapter 143 of the Acts of 1949 established the Town of Framingham Representative Town Government by Limited Town Meetings. The Citizens of Framingham adopted the Home Rule Charter for the City of Framingham at an election held on Ap

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US Government Accountability Office

gao.gov

For more information about GAO, please visit www.gao.gov. General Information The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is an independent, nonpartisan agency that works for Congress. Often called the "congressional watchdog," GAO investigates how the federal government spends taxpayer dolla

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City of Amsterdam

www.amsterdam.nl

Working for Amsterdam means working for the most beautiful city in the world. Think of its rich history, the role Amsterdam plays internationally, and events such as Sail, Gay Pride and King’s Day. Of course everybody wants to visit Amsterdam, or work or live here. As you can probably imagine, work

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INSS

inss.gov.br

O Instituto Nacional do Seguro Social (INSS) é uma autarquia do Governo Federal do Brasil que recebe as contribuições para a manutenção do Regime Geral da Previdência Social, sendo responsável pelo pagamento da aposentadoria, pensão por morte, auxílio-doença, auxílio-acidente, entre outros benefício

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Rijkswaterstaat

rijkswaterstaat.nl

Rijkswaterstaat is de uitvoeringsorganisatie van het Ministerie van Infrastructuur en Waterstaat. We beheren en ontwikkelen de rijkswegen, -vaarwegen en –wateren en zetten in op een duurzame leefomgeving. Samen met andere organisaties werken we aan een land dat beschermd is tegen overstromingen. Wa

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State of Maryland

jobapscloud.com

Maryland is on the path to becoming the best state in the nation. Referred to as “America in Miniature”, Maryland embodies the very spirit of the United States. Maryland is home to ethnic groups of every origin, just about every natural feature, and much like our country, opportunity! If you are

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Government of Western Australia

https://www.wa.gov.au

Welcome to the official WA Government page where you can stay up to date on the latest information about Western Australia and WA government initiatives. Questions relating to a specific activity within the WA Government should be referred to the relevant Department or Minister‚Äôs Office for a re

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United States Postal Service

usps.com

As the United States Postal Service continues its evolution as a forward-thinking, fast-acting company capable of providing quality products and services for its customers, it continues to remember and celebrate its roots as the first national network of communications that literally bound a nation

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State of Missouri

mo.gov

Build the Missouri of tomorrow. Ensure a strong foundation today. Join a group of innovative team members focused on driving the State of Missouri forward. As public servants, our team members have the opportunity to produce work that is both lasting and important. This work serves to protect famil

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FEMA CyberSecurity News

December 11, 2025 08:11 PM

Noem Exits Hearing Early for Canceled FEMA Meeting

To attend a FEMA Review Council meeting that was reportedly canceled just before she was scheduled to co-chair it, Department of Homeland...

Read Article →

December 11, 2025 07:03 PM

E&E News: Vote to overhaul FEMA canceled after leaked report

GREENWIRE | An expert panel advising President Donald Trump about overhauling the Federal Emergency Management Agency canceled a meeting...

Read Article →

December 05, 2025 09:54 PM

GOP North Carolina senator lifts holds on DHS nominees after FEMA funds approved for his state

Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) said Friday he will lift his remaining holds on President Trump's nominees to the Department of Homeland Security...

Read Article →

November 26, 2025 11:14 AM

E&E News: FEMA Review Council to vote on final report in December

CLIMATEWIRE | The presidential council studying an overhaul of the Federal Emergency Management Agency will present its final report at a...

Read Article →

October 22, 2025 07:00 AM

E&E News: Noem: FEMA violated free speech by documenting Trump yard signs

CLIMATEWIRE | Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accused disaster employees in the Biden administration of violating privacy laws by...

Read Article →

October 07, 2025 07:00 AM

E&E News: FEMA canceled $11B in disaster payments to states

CLIMATEWIRE | The Trump administration canceled $11 billion in disaster payments to states in an unprecedented move that could signal a...

Read Article →

October 06, 2025 07:00 AM

FEMA and CBP Hit by Massive Hack—DHS Launches Full Review of Cyber Incident

FEMA and U.S. CBP confirmed that the agencies experienced a "widespread" breach over the summer, which lasted several weeks.

Read Article →

October 06, 2025 07:00 AM

Leak suggests US government is fibbing over FEMA security failings

Infosec in brief On August 29, the US Federal Emergency Management Agency fired its CISO, CIO, and 22 other staff for incompetence but...

Read Article →

October 03, 2025 07:00 AM

In Other News: PQC Adoption, New Android Spyware, FEMA Data Breach

Cybercriminals offer money to BBC journalist, LinkedIn user data will train AI, Tile tracker vulnerabilities.

Read Article →

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore insights on cybersecurity incidents, risk posture, and Rankiteo's assessments.

FEMA CyberSecurity History Information

Official Website of FEMA

The official website of FEMA is http://www.fema.gov.

FEMA’s AI-Generated Cybersecurity Score

According to Rankiteo, FEMA’s AI-generated cybersecurity score is 562, reflecting their Very Poor security posture.

How many security badges does FEMA’ have ?

According to Rankiteo, FEMA currently holds 0 security badges, indicating that no recognized compliance certifications are currently verified for the organization.

Does FEMA have SOC 2 Type 1 certification ?

According to Rankiteo, FEMA is not certified under SOC 2 Type 1.

Does FEMA have SOC 2 Type 2 certification ?

According to Rankiteo, FEMA does not hold a SOC 2 Type 2 certification.

Does FEMA comply with GDPR ?

According to Rankiteo, FEMA is not listed as GDPR compliant.

Does FEMA have PCI DSS certification ?

According to Rankiteo, FEMA does not currently maintain PCI DSS compliance.

Does FEMA comply with HIPAA ?

According to Rankiteo, FEMA is not compliant with HIPAA regulations.

Does FEMA have ISO 27001 certification ?

According to Rankiteo,FEMA is not certified under ISO 27001, indicating the absence of a formally recognized information security management framework.

Industry Classification of FEMA

FEMA operates primarily in the Government Administration industry.

Number of Employees at FEMA

FEMA employs approximately 19,641 people worldwide.

Subsidiaries Owned by FEMA

FEMA presently has no subsidiaries across any sectors.

FEMA’s LinkedIn Followers

FEMA’s official LinkedIn profile has approximately 538,483 followers.

NAICS Classification of FEMA

FEMA is classified under the NAICS code 92, which corresponds to Public Administration.

FEMA’s Presence on Crunchbase

No, FEMA does not have a profile on Crunchbase.

FEMA’s Presence on LinkedIn

Yes, FEMA maintains an official LinkedIn profile, which is actively utilized for branding and talent engagement, which can be accessed here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fema.

Cybersecurity Incidents Involving FEMA

As of December 19, 2025, Rankiteo reports that FEMA has experienced 11 cybersecurity incidents.

Number of Peer and Competitor Companies

FEMA has an estimated 11,745 peer or competitor companies worldwide.

What types of cybersecurity incidents have occurred at FEMA ?

Incident Types: The types of cybersecurity incidents that have occurred include Cyber Attack, Ransomware, Breach, Data Leak and Vulnerability.

How does FEMA detect and respond to cybersecurity incidents ?

Detection and Response: The company detects and responds to cybersecurity incidents through an remediation measures with notification letters sent to affected individuals, remediation measures with additional security measures implemented to restrict access to information, and containment measures with improved detection and response capabilities, containment measures with local law enforcement training, containment measures with technology deployment, and and and and containment measures with disconnected citrix remote access tool (2023-07-16), containment measures with enforced multifactor authentication, and communication strategy with public statement by dhs secretary (2023-08-29), communication strategy with media disclosures (bloomberg, nextgov/fcw), and incident response plan activated with yes (dhs it leadership urgent action), and law enforcement notified with likely (no explicit confirmation), and containment measures with localization of breach (mid-july 2025), containment measures with network segmentation, containment measures with access revocation, and remediation measures with ongoing as of september 5, 2025, remediation measures with emergency directive for federal network hardening, remediation measures with identity management reforms, and communication strategy with internal fema staff updates, communication strategy with public statements by homeland security secretary kristi noem, communication strategy with media coverage (cnn), and network segmentation with implemented post-breach, and enhanced monitoring with yes (focus on remote access vulnerabilities), and and and containment measures with disconnection of citrix remote access tool (2025-07-16), containment measures with enforcement of multifactor authentication (mfa), and communication strategy with public statement by dhs secretary kristi noem (2025-08-29), communication strategy with media disclosures (bloomberg, nextgov/fcw), and incident response plan activated with yes (dhs task force formed), and law enforcement notified with likely (internal dhs investigation), and containment measures with initial efforts launched mid-july 2023, containment measures with ongoing remediation as of september 5, 2023, and remediation measures with cleanup operation by dhs it officials, remediation measures with firing of 24 fema it employees, and communication strategy with internal fema staff updates, communication strategy with public statement by dhs secretary kristi noem (august 29, 2023), and communication strategy with foia disclosure (dhs memo), communication strategy with media reports (wired), and network segmentation with recommended as corrective action, and enhanced monitoring with recommended as corrective action, and incident response plan activated with yes (post-discovery), and containment measures with password resets, containment measures with multi-factor authentication (mfa) enforcement, and remediation measures with it staff overhaul, remediation measures with new security personnel hired, and communication strategy with public disclosure of terminations (but initially denied data loss)..

Incident Details

Can you provide details on each incident ?

Incident : Data Breach

Exposure

Impact

Title: FEMA Data Breach

Description: FEMA mistakenly exposed the personal information, including addresses and bank account information, of 2.3 million disaster victims due to oversharing with a private contractor.

Type: Data Breach

Attack Vector: Oversharing of Data

Vulnerability Exploited: Improper Data Handling

Incident : Data Breach

Exposure

Impact

Title: Department of Justice Email Account Compromise

Type: Data Breach

Attack Vector: Email Compromise

Threat Actor: Hacker

Motivation: Data Theft

Incident : Data Breach

Exposure

Impact

Title: DHS Data Breach Incident

Description: A privacy incident at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) resulted in the exposure of information for 247,167 active and retired federal employees. The compromised data includes employee names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, positions, grades, and duty locations. The DHS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) Case Management System was affected.

Type: Data Breach

Incident : Physical Security Threat

Exposure

Impact

Title: Commercial Drone Threats to National Security

Type: Physical Security Threat

Attack Vector: Modified Commercial Drones

Vulnerability Exploited: Lack of adequate detection and response capabilities for drone threats

Motivation: Impact national security and critical infrastructure

Incident : Ransomware

Exposure

Impact

Title: Russian Basketball Player Arrested for Ransomware Negotiation

Description: Daniil Kasatkin, a professional basketball player, was arrested in France for allegedly acting as a negotiator for a ransomware gang that targeted around 900 organizations, including two US federal agencies.

Date Detected: 2023-06-21

Type: Ransomware

Attack Vector: Ransomware Negotiation

Threat Actor: Unnamed Ransomware Gang

Motivation: Financial Gain

Incident : Unauthorized Access

Exposure

Impact

Title: FEMA Network Breach via Compromised Citrix Remote Desktop Credentials

Description: A hacker gained unauthorized access to FEMA's computer networks for several months in 2023, exploiting compromised credentials in Citrix Systems Inc.’s remote desktop software. The intruder breached FEMA’s Region 6 (covering Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas) and stole identity data of FEMA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) employees. The breach was detected on **July 7**, with the hacker active from **June 22 to August 5**. FEMA disconnected the Citrix tool on **July 16** and enforced multifactor authentication (MFA). DHS Secretary Kristi Noem fired 24 FEMA employees, including IT executives, citing 'agencywide lack of MFA' and incompetence. While initially claimed that no sensitive data or citizen data was stolen, DHS later confirmed federal employee identity data was exfiltrated.

Date Detected: 2023-07-07

Date Publicly Disclosed: 2023-08-29

Date Resolved: 2023-08-05

Type: Unauthorized Access

Attack Vector: Compromised CredentialsCitrix Remote Desktop ExploitationLateral Movement via VPN SoftwareActive Directory Access

Vulnerability Exploited: Lack of Multifactor Authentication (MFA)Citrix Remote Desktop Software Vulnerability

Incident : Data Breach

Exposure

Impact

Title: FEMA and CBP Data Breach (2025)

Description: An unknown hacker carried out a large-scale breach affecting FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and CBP (Customs and Border Protection) employees, leading to the exposure of sensitive data. The incident lasted several weeks, spanning regions from New Mexico to Texas and Louisiana, and required urgent action by DHS IT leadership. The attacker exploited Citrix software used by a government contractor for remote network access, bypassing FEMA’s digital defenses. Approximately 250,000 employees' data was at risk, and about twenty FEMA IT workers were dismissed for alleged 'serious security failures.' While initial claims suggested no sensitive data was exfiltrated, internal documents later confirmed the theft of FEMA and CBP employee data. The investigation remains ongoing, with no confirmed link to broader espionage campaigns.

Date Detected: 2025-07-01

Date Publicly Disclosed: 2025-08-29

Type: Data Breach

Attack Vector: Exploitation of Citrix Remote Access SoftwareLateral MovementPrivilege Escalation

Vulnerability Exploited: Misconfigured Remote Access SystemsInsufficient Identity ManagementLack of Network Segmentation

Threat Actor: Unknown (suspected advanced hacker group)

Motivation: EspionageData TheftPotential Sabotage

Incident : Data Breach

Exposure

Impact

Title: FEMA and Customs and Border Protection Staff Data Breach

Description: A hacker gained unauthorized access to FEMA's computer networks for several months in 2025, stealing employee data from FEMA and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The breach was facilitated via compromised credentials in Citrix Systems Inc.’s remote desktop software, affecting FEMA’s Region 6 (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas). The intruder accessed Active Directory and exfiltrated federal employee identity data. FEMA disconnected the compromised Citrix tool and enforced multifactor authentication (MFA) post-breach. The incident led to the termination of 24 FEMA employees, including IT executives, due to alleged incompetence and lack of agencywide MFA.

Date Detected: 2025-07-07

Date Publicly Disclosed: 2025-08-29

Type: Data Breach

Attack Vector: Compromised CredentialsExploitation of Citrix Remote Desktop SoftwareLateral Movement via VPN Software

Vulnerability Exploited: Lack of Multifactor Authentication (MFA)Weak Access Controls in Citrix SystemsUnsecured Active Directory

Incident : Data Breach

Exposure

Impact

Title: Widespread Breach of FEMA and CBP Employee Data via Citrix Vulnerability

Description: An unidentified hacker stole sensitive data from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) employees in a months-long breach (summer 2023). The attacker exploited a Citrix software vulnerability to gain deep access to FEMA's network, which handles operations across New Mexico, Texas, and Louisiana. The breach led to the firing of 24 FEMA IT employees, including top executives, due to 'severe lapses in security.' Initial claims by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem that no sensitive data was extracted were contradicted by internal documents confirming the theft of employee data. Containment efforts spanned from mid-July to at least September 5, 2023.

Date Detected: 2023-07-mid

Date Publicly Disclosed: 2023-08-29

Type: Data Breach

Attack Vector: Exploitation of Citrix Remote Access SoftwareLateral Movement within Network

Vulnerability Exploited: Citrix Software Vulnerability (specific CVE unidentified)

Threat Actor: Unidentified (possibly advanced hacking group)

Motivation: EspionageData Theft

Incident : Data Exposure

Exposure

Impact

Title: DHS Data Hub Misconfiguration Exposes Sensitive Intelligence to Unauthorized Users

Description: An internal DHS memo obtained via FOIA revealed that from March to May 2023, a DHS online platform (HSIN-Intel) used to share sensitive but unclassified intelligence was misconfigured, granting access to 'everyone' instead of only authorized users. This exposed restricted intelligence to tens of thousands of unauthorized users, including non-intelligence government workers, private contractors, and foreign government staff. The incident highlights systemic failures in cloud security, including misconfigurations tied to overly permissive IAM policies, lack of segmentation, and poor access management. Additionally, a separate 2025 breach exposed 184 million plain-text user records (including credentials for Apple, Google, Meta, etc.), emphasizing the broader crisis of cloud misconfigurations driven by human error, lack of expertise, and poor governance.

Date Detected: 2023-05-01

Date Publicly Disclosed: 2023-06-01

Type: Data Exposure

Attack Vector: Misconfigured Access ControlsOverly Permissive IAM PoliciesPublicly Exposed Storage

Vulnerability Exploited: Improper Public Access ConfigurationLack of SegmentationDisabled LoggingMissing Alerts

Incident : Data Breach

Exposure

Impact

Title: FEMA Cybersecurity Breach and Staff Terminations Due to CitrixBleed Exploitation

Description: The US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) terminated its CISO, CIO, and 22 other staff after an audit revealed serious security failures, including a breach in June 2024 where attackers exploited the CitrixBleed vulnerability (CVE-2023-4966) to access FEMA's Region 6 servers (covering Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas). The breach was discovered in July 2024, despite warnings about the vulnerability being issued as early as June. FEMA initially denied data loss, but evidence suggests otherwise. The incident led to a complete overhaul of FEMA's IT department, with new staff hired to address lax security practices. The attack involved stolen credentials to access a Citrix system, followed by data exfiltration from regional servers.

Date Detected: 2024-07

Date Publicly Disclosed: 2024-08-29

Type: Data Breach

Attack Vector: Stolen CredentialsExploitation of CitrixBleed Vulnerability (CVE-2023-4966)

Vulnerability Exploited: CitrixBleed (CVE-2023-4966) - CVSS 9.3 in Netscaler ADC and Gateway (Session Token Theft, MFA Bypass)

What are the most common types of attacks the company has faced ?

Common Attack Types: The most common types of attacks the company has faced is Breach.

How does the company identify the attack vectors used in incidents ?

Identification of Attack Vectors: The company identifies the attack vectors used in incidents through Email Account, Citrix Systems Inc.’s Remote Desktop Software (Compromised Credentials), Citrix Remote Access Software (via government contractor), Citrix Systems Inc.’s Remote Desktop Software (Compromised Credentials), Citrix Remote Access Software, Misconfigured HSIN-Intel Platform (DHS)Unsecured Database (2025 Breach) and Citrix System (via stolen credentials).

Impact of the Incidents

What was the impact of each incident ?

Incident : Data Breach FEM74612323

Data Compromised: Addresses, Bank account information, Social security numbers

Identity Theft Risk: High

Payment Information Risk: High

Incident : Data Breach USD181261023

Data Compromised: 200gb of data, including records of 20,000 fbi workers and 9,000 dhs employees, Information about dhs security experts, programme analysts, it, infosec, and security, as well as 100 individuals who hold the title of intelligence

Brand Reputation Impact: High

Identity Theft Risk: High

Incident : Data Breach USD331181223

Data Compromised: Employee names, Social security numbers, Dates of birth, Positions, Grades, Duty locations

Systems Affected: DHS OIG Case Management System

Incident : Physical Security Threat US-001010525

Operational Impact: High

Incident : Unauthorized Access FEM3092330093025

Data Compromised: Federal employee identity data (fema & cbp)

Systems Affected: FEMA Region 6 ServersMicrosoft Active DirectoryCitrix Remote Desktop Tool

Downtime: {'start': '2023-06-22', 'end': '2023-08-05', 'description': 'Hacker present in network for ~45 days; Citrix tool disconnected on 2023-07-16.'}

Operational Impact: Disconnection of Citrix Remote Access ToolEnforcement of Multifactor AuthenticationFiring of 24 FEMA Employees (Including IT Executives)

Brand Reputation Impact: Public Disclosure of IT Leadership FailuresMedia Coverage (Bloomberg, Nextgov/FCW)

Identity Theft Risk: ['High (Federal Employee Data Stolen)']

Incident : Data Breach FEM3192931093025

Data Compromised: Fema employee data, Cbp employee data

Systems Affected: FEMA Computer NetworkDHS Systems (partial)Citrix Remote Access Infrastructure

Downtime: Several weeks (from at least mid-July to September 2025)

Operational Impact: Disruption of DHS/FEMA OperationsPersonnel Dismissals (20 IT workers)Administrative Leave for Additional StaffEmergency Directives Issued for Federal Network Hardening

Brand Reputation Impact: Public Scrutiny of FEMA/DHS CybersecurityPolitical Controversy Over Agency RestructuringLoss of Trust in Federal Data Protection

Identity Theft Risk: High (for 250,000+ employees)

Incident : Data Breach FEM5362353100125

Data Compromised: Federal employee identity data (fema and cbp)

Systems Affected: FEMA Region 6 ServersMicrosoft Active DirectoryCitrix Remote Desktop Software

Operational Impact: Disconnection of Citrix Remote Access ToolEnforcement of MFATermination of 24 Employees (Including IT Executives)

Brand Reputation Impact: Public Disclosure of Cyber LapsesTermination of Senior IT StaffMedia Coverage (Bloomberg, Nextgov/FCW)

Identity Theft Risk: ['Federal Employee Data (Potential Risk)']

Incident : Data Breach FEM1802718100225

Data Compromised: Fema employee data, Cbp employee data

Systems Affected: FEMA Computer Network (regional: New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana)Citrix Remote Access Software

Downtime: At least 7+ weeks (mid-July to September 5, 2023)

Operational Impact: Urgent cleanup operation by DHS IT officialsDisruption to FEMA/CBP operationsFiring of 24 IT employees (including top executives)

Brand Reputation Impact: Erosion of trust in DHS/FEMA cybersecurity capabilitiesControversy over employee firings and political motivations

Identity Theft Risk: High (employee data stolen)

Incident : Data Exposure US-4641646100525

Data Compromised: Sensitive intelligence (dhs), 184m user records (2025 breach), Plain-text credentials (apple, google, meta, etc.), Bank accounts, Health platforms, Government portals

Systems Affected: HSIN-Intel Platform (DHS)Unsecured Database (2025 Breach)

Operational Impact: Unauthorized Access to Restricted IntelligenceIncreased Risk of Identity Theft/Phishing (2025 Breach)Credential Stuffing Attacks

Brand Reputation Impact: Erosion of Trust in DHS/Federal AgenciesReputation Damage for Affected Platforms (Apple, Google, etc.)

Identity Theft Risk: ['High (184M Records Exposed in Plain Text)']

Payment Information Risk: ['High (Bank Account Details Exposed in 2025 Breach)']

Incident : Data Breach FEM1533215100625

Data Compromised: Unknown (FEMA initially denied data loss, but documents suggest exfiltration occurred)

Systems Affected: Citrix SystemFEMA Region 6 Servers (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas)

Operational Impact: Major IT staff overhaul, including termination of CISO, CIO, and 22 others; new security measures implemented (password resets, MFA enforcement)

Brand Reputation Impact: High (public disclosure of security failures, terminations, and misleading claims)

Identity Theft Risk: Potential (if PII was exfiltrated)

What types of data are most commonly compromised in incidents ?

Commonly Compromised Data Types: The types of data most commonly compromised in incidents are Addresses, Bank Account Information, Social Security Numbers, , Personally Identifiable Information (Pii), Job Titles, Phone Numbers, Email Addresses, , Personally Identifiable Information, , Employee Identity Data, , Employee Records, Potentially Sensitive Operational Data, , Federal Employee Identity Data, , Employee Data (Fema/Cbp), , Intelligence Reports (Dhs), User Credentials (Plain Text), Bank Account Details, Health Data, Government Portal Access and .

Which entities were affected by each incident ?

Incident : Data Breach FEM74612323

Entity Name: FEMA

Entity Type: Government Agency

Industry: Public Sector

Location: United States

Customers Affected: 2300000

Incident : Data Breach USD181261023

Entity Name: Department of Justice

Entity Type: Government Agency

Industry: Law Enforcement

Location: United States

Size: Large

Incident : Data Breach USD181261023

Entity Name: FBI

Entity Type: Government Agency

Industry: Law Enforcement

Location: United States

Size: Large

Incident : Data Breach USD181261023

Entity Name: Department of Homeland Security

Entity Type: Government Agency

Industry: Law Enforcement

Location: United States

Size: Large

Incident : Data Breach USD331181223

Entity Name: Department of Homeland Security

Entity Type: Government Agency

Industry: Government

Size: Large

Incident : Physical Security Threat US-001010525

Entity Name: Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Entity Type: Government Agency

Industry: National Security

Location: United States

Incident : Ransomware US-341071125

Entity Type: Organization

Incident : Unauthorized Access FEM3092330093025

Entity Name: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Entity Type: Government Agency

Industry: Public Administration / Emergency Management

Location: United States (Region 6: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas)

Customers Affected: Federal Employees (FEMA & CBP)

Incident : Unauthorized Access FEM3092330093025

Entity Name: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

Entity Type: Government Agency

Industry: Law Enforcement / Border Security

Location: United States

Customers Affected: Federal Employees

Incident : Data Breach FEM3192931093025

Entity Name: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Entity Type: Government Agency

Industry: Emergency Management

Location: Washington, D.C., USA (HQ); regions including New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana

Size: Large (250,000+ employees across DHS)

Incident : Data Breach FEM3192931093025

Entity Name: Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

Entity Type: Government Agency

Industry: Border Security

Location: USA

Incident : Data Breach FEM3192931093025

Entity Name: Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Entity Type: Federal Department

Industry: National Security

Location: USA

Incident : Data Breach FEM5362353100125

Entity Name: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Entity Type: Government Agency

Industry: Public Administration / Emergency Management

Location: USA (Region 6: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas)

Incident : Data Breach FEM5362353100125

Entity Name: US Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

Entity Type: Government Agency

Industry: Law Enforcement / Border Security

Location: USA

Incident : Data Breach FEM1802718100225

Entity Name: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Entity Type: Government Agency

Industry: Public Administration / Emergency Management

Location: USA (regional focus: New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana)

Size: 250,000+ employees (DHS-wide)

Customers Affected: FEMA and CBP employees (number unspecified)

Incident : Data Breach FEM1802718100225

Entity Name: Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

Entity Type: Government Agency

Industry: Law Enforcement / Border Security

Location: USA

Customers Affected: CBP employees (number unspecified)

Incident : Data Breach FEM1802718100225

Entity Name: Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Entity Type: Federal Department

Industry: National Security

Location: USA

Incident : Data Exposure US-4641646100525

Entity Name: U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Entity Type: Government Agency

Industry: National Security

Location: United States

Size: Large

Customers Affected: Tens of thousands (HSIN users)

Incident : Data Exposure US-4641646100525

Entity Name: Multiple Global Platforms (Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, etc.)

Entity Type: Tech Companies, Social Media, Cloud Providers

Industry: Technology

Location: Global

Size: Fortune 2000

Customers Affected: 184 million users (2025 Breach)

Incident : Data Exposure US-4641646100525

Entity Name: FBI

Entity Type: Law Enforcement

Industry: National Security

Location: United States

Size: Large

Incident : Data Exposure US-4641646100525

Entity Name: National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC)

Entity Type: Intelligence Agency

Industry: National Security

Location: United States

Size: Large

Incident : Data Exposure US-4641646100525

Entity Name: Local Law Enforcement & Intelligence Fusion Centers

Entity Type: Government

Industry: Public Safety

Location: United States

Size: Varies

Incident : Data Breach FEM1533215100625

Entity Name: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Entity Type: Government Agency

Industry: Emergency Management

Location: United States (Region 6: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas)

Response to the Incidents

What measures were taken in response to each incident ?

Incident : Data Breach USD331181223

Remediation Measures: Notification letters sent to affected individualsAdditional security measures implemented to restrict access to information

Incident : Physical Security Threat US-001010525

Containment Measures: Improved detection and response capabilitiesLocal law enforcement trainingTechnology deployment

Incident : Ransomware US-341071125

Incident : Unauthorized Access FEM3092330093025

Incident Response Plan Activated: True

Containment Measures: Disconnected Citrix Remote Access Tool (2023-07-16)Enforced Multifactor Authentication

Communication Strategy: Public Statement by DHS Secretary (2023-08-29)Media Disclosures (Bloomberg, Nextgov/FCW)

Incident : Data Breach FEM3192931093025

Incident Response Plan Activated: Yes (DHS IT leadership urgent action)

Law Enforcement Notified: Likely (no explicit confirmation)

Containment Measures: Localization of Breach (mid-July 2025)Network SegmentationAccess Revocation

Remediation Measures: Ongoing as of September 5, 2025Emergency Directive for Federal Network HardeningIdentity Management Reforms

Communication Strategy: Internal FEMA Staff UpdatesPublic Statements by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi NoemMedia Coverage (CNN)

Network Segmentation: Implemented post-breach

Enhanced Monitoring: Yes (focus on remote access vulnerabilities)

Incident : Data Breach FEM5362353100125

Incident Response Plan Activated: True

Containment Measures: Disconnection of Citrix Remote Access Tool (2025-07-16)Enforcement of Multifactor Authentication (MFA)

Communication Strategy: Public Statement by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem (2025-08-29)Media Disclosures (Bloomberg, Nextgov/FCW)

Incident : Data Breach FEM1802718100225

Incident Response Plan Activated: Yes (DHS Task Force formed)

Law Enforcement Notified: Likely (internal DHS investigation)

Containment Measures: Initial efforts launched mid-July 2023Ongoing remediation as of September 5, 2023

Remediation Measures: Cleanup operation by DHS IT officialsFiring of 24 FEMA IT employees

Communication Strategy: Internal FEMA staff updatesPublic statement by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem (August 29, 2023)

Incident : Data Exposure US-4641646100525

Communication Strategy: FOIA Disclosure (DHS Memo)Media Reports (WIRED)

Network Segmentation: ['Recommended as Corrective Action']

Enhanced Monitoring: Recommended as Corrective Action

Incident : Data Breach FEM1533215100625

Incident Response Plan Activated: Yes (post-discovery)

Containment Measures: Password resetsMulti-Factor Authentication (MFA) enforcement

Remediation Measures: IT staff overhaulNew security personnel hired

Communication Strategy: Public disclosure of terminations (but initially denied data loss)

What is the company's incident response plan?

Incident Response Plan: The company's incident response plan is described as Yes (DHS IT leadership urgent action), , Yes (DHS Task Force formed), Yes (post-discovery).

Data Breach Information

What type of data was compromised in each breach ?

Incident : Data Breach FEM74612323

Type of Data Compromised: Addresses, Bank account information, Social security numbers

Number of Records Exposed: 2300000

Sensitivity of Data: High

Personally Identifiable Information: Yes

Incident : Data Breach USD181261023

Type of Data Compromised: Personally identifiable information (pii), Job titles, Phone numbers, Email addresses

Number of Records Exposed: 29,000

Sensitivity of Data: High

Data Exfiltration: Yes

Personally Identifiable Information: Yes

Incident : Data Breach USD331181223

Type of Data Compromised: Personally identifiable information

Number of Records Exposed: 247167

Sensitivity of Data: High

Personally Identifiable Information: Employee namesSocial Security numbersDates of birthPositionsGradesDuty locations

Incident : Unauthorized Access FEM3092330093025

Type of Data Compromised: Employee identity data

Sensitivity of Data: High (Federal Employee Information)

Incident : Data Breach FEM3192931093025

Type of Data Compromised: Employee records, Potentially sensitive operational data

Number of Records Exposed: 250,000+ (employees across DHS/FEMA/CBP)

Sensitivity of Data: High (government employee data)

Data Exfiltration: Confirmed (contradicts initial denial by Secretary Noem)

Personally Identifiable Information: Likely (employee details)

Incident : Data Breach FEM5362353100125

Type of Data Compromised: Federal employee identity data

Sensitivity of Data: High (Government Employee PII)

Incident : Data Breach FEM1802718100225

Type of Data Compromised: Employee data (fema/cbp)

Sensitivity of Data: High (government employee information)

Data Exfiltration: Confirmed (contradicts initial DHS denial)

Personally Identifiable Information: Likely (employee records)

Incident : Data Exposure US-4641646100525

Type of Data Compromised: Intelligence reports (dhs), User credentials (plain text), Bank account details, Health data, Government portal access

Number of Records Exposed: Undisclosed (DHS), 184 million (2025 Breach)

Sensitivity of Data: High (Intelligence/National Security)Critical (Financial/Health Data)

Data Exfiltration: Likely (2025 Breach)Unconfirmed (DHS)

Data Encryption: ['None (Plain-Text Records in 2025 Breach)']

File Types Exposed: Database RecordsAuthorization URLsCredentials

Personally Identifiable Information: UsernamesPasswordsBank Account DetailsHealth Records

Incident : Data Breach FEM1533215100625

Data Exfiltration: Yes (from FEMA Region 6 servers)

Personally Identifiable Information: Potential (unconfirmed)

What measures does the company take to prevent data exfiltration ?

Prevention of Data Exfiltration: The company takes the following measures to prevent data exfiltration: Notification letters sent to affected individuals, Additional security measures implemented to restrict access to information, , Ongoing as of September 5, 2025, Emergency Directive for Federal Network Hardening, Identity Management Reforms, , Cleanup operation by DHS IT officials, Firing of 24 FEMA IT employees, , IT staff overhaul, New security personnel hired, .

How does the company handle incidents involving personally identifiable information (PII) ?

Handling of PII Incidents: The company handles incidents involving personally identifiable information (PII) through by improved detection and response capabilities, local law enforcement training, technology deployment, , disconnected citrix remote access tool (2023-07-16), enforced multifactor authentication, , localization of breach (mid-july 2025), network segmentation, access revocation, , disconnection of citrix remote access tool (2025-07-16), enforcement of multifactor authentication (mfa), , initial efforts launched mid-july 2023, ongoing remediation as of september 5, 2023, , password resets, multi-factor authentication (mfa) enforcement and .

Ransomware Information

Was ransomware involved in any of the incidents ?

Incident : Data Breach FEM3192931093025

Data Exfiltration: Yes (separate from ransomware)

Incident : Data Breach FEM1802718100225

Data Exfiltration: Yes (but not ransomware-related)

Regulatory Compliance

Were there any regulatory violations and fines imposed for each incident ?

Incident : Ransomware US-341071125

Legal Actions: Pending Extradition to the US

Incident : Unauthorized Access FEM3092330093025

Legal Actions: Termination of 24 FEMA Employees (Including IT Leadership),

Incident : Data Breach FEM3192931093025

Regulations Violated: Potential FISMA (Federal Information Security Modernization Act) Non-Compliance, DHS Internal Security Policies,

Legal Actions: Personnel Dismissals (20 IT workers), Administrative Leave for Others,

Regulatory Notifications: Internal DHS/FEMA ReportsCongressional Oversight (potential open letter)

Incident : Data Breach FEM5362353100125

Legal Actions: Termination of 24 FEMA Employees (Including IT Executives),

Regulatory Notifications: Internal DHS Investigation

Incident : Data Breach FEM1802718100225

Legal Actions: Internal disciplinary actions (24 employees fired),

Incident : Data Exposure US-4641646100525

Regulations Violated: Potential FISMA (DHS), GDPR (if EU citizens affected in 2025 Breach), State Data Breach Laws,

Regulatory Notifications: FOIA Disclosure (DHS)

How does the company ensure compliance with regulatory requirements ?

Ensuring Regulatory Compliance: The company ensures compliance with regulatory requirements through Pending Extradition to the US, Termination of 24 FEMA Employees (Including IT Leadership), , Personnel Dismissals (20 IT workers), Administrative Leave for Others, , Termination of 24 FEMA Employees (Including IT Executives), , Internal disciplinary actions (24 employees fired), .

Lessons Learned and Recommendations

What lessons were learned from each incident ?

Incident : Data Breach FEM74612323

Lessons Learned: Ensure that only necessary data is shared with contractors to perform their official duties.

Incident : Physical Security Threat US-001010525

Lessons Learned: Urgent action and cooperation between federal and local agencies are necessary to ensure public safety and preserve critical infrastructure.

Incident : Unauthorized Access FEM3092330093025

Lessons Learned: Critical need for multifactor authentication (MFA) across all systems., Vulnerabilities in third-party remote access tools (e.g., Citrix) require proactive monitoring., Lateral movement risks in Active Directory highlight the need for segmentation and access controls., Delayed detection (hacker active for ~45 days) underscores gaps in continuous threat monitoring.

Incident : Data Breach FEM3192931093025

Lessons Learned: Critical vulnerabilities in remote access systems (e.g., Citrix) require immediate patching and monitoring., Personnel changes without transparent justification can undermine morale and operational trust., Contradictory public statements (e.g., data exfiltration denials) erode credibility during crises., Federal agencies must prioritize network segmentation and identity management to limit lateral movement.

Incident : Data Breach FEM5362353100125

Lessons Learned: Critical importance of enforcing multifactor authentication (MFA) agencywide., Need for robust monitoring of third-party remote access tools (e.g., Citrix)., Consequences of inadequate access controls in Active Directory., Accountability for IT leadership failures in cybersecurity posture.

Incident : Data Breach FEM1802718100225

Lessons Learned: Critical vulnerabilities in Citrix remote access software require urgent patching, Need for improved network segmentation and lateral movement detection, Political and operational risks of public contradictions in breach disclosures

Incident : Data Exposure US-4641646100525

Lessons Learned: Misconfigurations are systemic failures tied to people, process, and policy—not just technical oversights., Overly permissive IAM policies and lack of segmentation enable broad unauthorized access., Publicly exposed storage buckets/databases with sensitive data create high-risk vectors., Plain-text credential storage exacerbates identity theft and fraud risks., Cloud drift and lack of context in security tools lead to alert fatigue and missed critical issues., Developer workflows (e.g., CI/CD pipelines) can propagate misconfigurations at scale.

Incident : Data Breach FEM1533215100625

Lessons Learned: Critical vulnerabilities (e.g., CitrixBleed) must be patched promptly. Transparency in incident reporting is essential to maintain trust. Security preparedness claims must be audited rigorously to prevent misrepresentation.

What recommendations were made to prevent future incidents ?

Incident : Data Breach FEM74612323

Recommendations: Implement strict data sharing policies and procedures to prevent oversharing of sensitive information.

Incident : Physical Security Threat US-001010525

Recommendations: Improve detection and response capabilities, Enhance local law enforcement training, Deploy advanced technologies to mitigate drone threatsImprove detection and response capabilities, Enhance local law enforcement training, Deploy advanced technologies to mitigate drone threatsImprove detection and response capabilities, Enhance local law enforcement training, Deploy advanced technologies to mitigate drone threats

Incident : Unauthorized Access FEM3092330093025

Recommendations: Mandate MFA for all remote access and privileged accounts., Conduct regular audits of third-party software vulnerabilities., Implement network segmentation to limit lateral movement., Enhance endpoint detection and response (EDR) capabilities., Establish clearer incident response protocols for credential-based breaches.Mandate MFA for all remote access and privileged accounts., Conduct regular audits of third-party software vulnerabilities., Implement network segmentation to limit lateral movement., Enhance endpoint detection and response (EDR) capabilities., Establish clearer incident response protocols for credential-based breaches.Mandate MFA for all remote access and privileged accounts., Conduct regular audits of third-party software vulnerabilities., Implement network segmentation to limit lateral movement., Enhance endpoint detection and response (EDR) capabilities., Establish clearer incident response protocols for credential-based breaches.Mandate MFA for all remote access and privileged accounts., Conduct regular audits of third-party software vulnerabilities., Implement network segmentation to limit lateral movement., Enhance endpoint detection and response (EDR) capabilities., Establish clearer incident response protocols for credential-based breaches.Mandate MFA for all remote access and privileged accounts., Conduct regular audits of third-party software vulnerabilities., Implement network segmentation to limit lateral movement., Enhance endpoint detection and response (EDR) capabilities., Establish clearer incident response protocols for credential-based breaches.

Incident : Data Breach FEM3192931093025

Recommendations: Conduct a third-party audit of DHS/FEMA cybersecurity posture, focusing on remote access and privilege management., Implement mandatory multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all remote access systems., Establish a unified communication protocol for breach disclosures to avoid conflicting narratives., Investigate the dismissals of FEMA IT leaders to ensure accountability is evidence-based., Enhance collaboration with cybersecurity firms to proactively detect and mitigate advanced threats.Conduct a third-party audit of DHS/FEMA cybersecurity posture, focusing on remote access and privilege management., Implement mandatory multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all remote access systems., Establish a unified communication protocol for breach disclosures to avoid conflicting narratives., Investigate the dismissals of FEMA IT leaders to ensure accountability is evidence-based., Enhance collaboration with cybersecurity firms to proactively detect and mitigate advanced threats.Conduct a third-party audit of DHS/FEMA cybersecurity posture, focusing on remote access and privilege management., Implement mandatory multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all remote access systems., Establish a unified communication protocol for breach disclosures to avoid conflicting narratives., Investigate the dismissals of FEMA IT leaders to ensure accountability is evidence-based., Enhance collaboration with cybersecurity firms to proactively detect and mitigate advanced threats.Conduct a third-party audit of DHS/FEMA cybersecurity posture, focusing on remote access and privilege management., Implement mandatory multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all remote access systems., Establish a unified communication protocol for breach disclosures to avoid conflicting narratives., Investigate the dismissals of FEMA IT leaders to ensure accountability is evidence-based., Enhance collaboration with cybersecurity firms to proactively detect and mitigate advanced threats.Conduct a third-party audit of DHS/FEMA cybersecurity posture, focusing on remote access and privilege management., Implement mandatory multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all remote access systems., Establish a unified communication protocol for breach disclosures to avoid conflicting narratives., Investigate the dismissals of FEMA IT leaders to ensure accountability is evidence-based., Enhance collaboration with cybersecurity firms to proactively detect and mitigate advanced threats.

Incident : Data Breach FEM5362353100125

Recommendations: Mandate MFA across all government systems and applications., Conduct regular audits of third-party software vulnerabilities., Implement zero-trust architecture to limit lateral movement., Enhance incident response protocols for timely detection and containment., Provide cybersecurity training for IT executives and staff.Mandate MFA across all government systems and applications., Conduct regular audits of third-party software vulnerabilities., Implement zero-trust architecture to limit lateral movement., Enhance incident response protocols for timely detection and containment., Provide cybersecurity training for IT executives and staff.Mandate MFA across all government systems and applications., Conduct regular audits of third-party software vulnerabilities., Implement zero-trust architecture to limit lateral movement., Enhance incident response protocols for timely detection and containment., Provide cybersecurity training for IT executives and staff.Mandate MFA across all government systems and applications., Conduct regular audits of third-party software vulnerabilities., Implement zero-trust architecture to limit lateral movement., Enhance incident response protocols for timely detection and containment., Provide cybersecurity training for IT executives and staff.Mandate MFA across all government systems and applications., Conduct regular audits of third-party software vulnerabilities., Implement zero-trust architecture to limit lateral movement., Enhance incident response protocols for timely detection and containment., Provide cybersecurity training for IT executives and staff.

Incident : Data Breach FEM1802718100225

Recommendations: Conduct independent review of DHS/FEMA cybersecurity protocols, Reevaluate employee termination policies post-breach, Enhance transparency in public communications about incidentsConduct independent review of DHS/FEMA cybersecurity protocols, Reevaluate employee termination policies post-breach, Enhance transparency in public communications about incidentsConduct independent review of DHS/FEMA cybersecurity protocols, Reevaluate employee termination policies post-breach, Enhance transparency in public communications about incidents

Incident : Data Exposure US-4641646100525

Recommendations: Implement **least-privilege access** and **just-in-time permissions** for IAM roles., Enforce **multi-factor authentication (MFA)** on all admin accounts., Use **automated policy-as-code tools** (e.g., Terraform, Open Policy Agent) to prevent drift., Enable **centralized logging and monitoring** with context-aware alerts., Conduct **regular audits** of public-facing storage (buckets, databases, APIs)., Encrypt **data at rest and in transit** (avoid plain-text storage)., Segment networks to **limit lateral movement** in case of breaches., Train staff on **secure cloud deployment practices** (e.g., Infrastructure as Code templates)., Address **shadow IT** with discovery tools and governance policies., Prioritize **human-centric security** (training, process improvements) alongside technical controls.Implement **least-privilege access** and **just-in-time permissions** for IAM roles., Enforce **multi-factor authentication (MFA)** on all admin accounts., Use **automated policy-as-code tools** (e.g., Terraform, Open Policy Agent) to prevent drift., Enable **centralized logging and monitoring** with context-aware alerts., Conduct **regular audits** of public-facing storage (buckets, databases, APIs)., Encrypt **data at rest and in transit** (avoid plain-text storage)., Segment networks to **limit lateral movement** in case of breaches., Train staff on **secure cloud deployment practices** (e.g., Infrastructure as Code templates)., Address **shadow IT** with discovery tools and governance policies., Prioritize **human-centric security** (training, process improvements) alongside technical controls.Implement **least-privilege access** and **just-in-time permissions** for IAM roles., Enforce **multi-factor authentication (MFA)** on all admin accounts., Use **automated policy-as-code tools** (e.g., Terraform, Open Policy Agent) to prevent drift., Enable **centralized logging and monitoring** with context-aware alerts., Conduct **regular audits** of public-facing storage (buckets, databases, APIs)., Encrypt **data at rest and in transit** (avoid plain-text storage)., Segment networks to **limit lateral movement** in case of breaches., Train staff on **secure cloud deployment practices** (e.g., Infrastructure as Code templates)., Address **shadow IT** with discovery tools and governance policies., Prioritize **human-centric security** (training, process improvements) alongside technical controls.Implement **least-privilege access** and **just-in-time permissions** for IAM roles., Enforce **multi-factor authentication (MFA)** on all admin accounts., Use **automated policy-as-code tools** (e.g., Terraform, Open Policy Agent) to prevent drift., Enable **centralized logging and monitoring** with context-aware alerts., Conduct **regular audits** of public-facing storage (buckets, databases, APIs)., Encrypt **data at rest and in transit** (avoid plain-text storage)., Segment networks to **limit lateral movement** in case of breaches., Train staff on **secure cloud deployment practices** (e.g., Infrastructure as Code templates)., Address **shadow IT** with discovery tools and governance policies., Prioritize **human-centric security** (training, process improvements) alongside technical controls.Implement **least-privilege access** and **just-in-time permissions** for IAM roles., Enforce **multi-factor authentication (MFA)** on all admin accounts., Use **automated policy-as-code tools** (e.g., Terraform, Open Policy Agent) to prevent drift., Enable **centralized logging and monitoring** with context-aware alerts., Conduct **regular audits** of public-facing storage (buckets, databases, APIs)., Encrypt **data at rest and in transit** (avoid plain-text storage)., Segment networks to **limit lateral movement** in case of breaches., Train staff on **secure cloud deployment practices** (e.g., Infrastructure as Code templates)., Address **shadow IT** with discovery tools and governance policies., Prioritize **human-centric security** (training, process improvements) alongside technical controls.Implement **least-privilege access** and **just-in-time permissions** for IAM roles., Enforce **multi-factor authentication (MFA)** on all admin accounts., Use **automated policy-as-code tools** (e.g., Terraform, Open Policy Agent) to prevent drift., Enable **centralized logging and monitoring** with context-aware alerts., Conduct **regular audits** of public-facing storage (buckets, databases, APIs)., Encrypt **data at rest and in transit** (avoid plain-text storage)., Segment networks to **limit lateral movement** in case of breaches., Train staff on **secure cloud deployment practices** (e.g., Infrastructure as Code templates)., Address **shadow IT** with discovery tools and governance policies., Prioritize **human-centric security** (training, process improvements) alongside technical controls.Implement **least-privilege access** and **just-in-time permissions** for IAM roles., Enforce **multi-factor authentication (MFA)** on all admin accounts., Use **automated policy-as-code tools** (e.g., Terraform, Open Policy Agent) to prevent drift., Enable **centralized logging and monitoring** with context-aware alerts., Conduct **regular audits** of public-facing storage (buckets, databases, APIs)., Encrypt **data at rest and in transit** (avoid plain-text storage)., Segment networks to **limit lateral movement** in case of breaches., Train staff on **secure cloud deployment practices** (e.g., Infrastructure as Code templates)., Address **shadow IT** with discovery tools and governance policies., Prioritize **human-centric security** (training, process improvements) alongside technical controls.Implement **least-privilege access** and **just-in-time permissions** for IAM roles., Enforce **multi-factor authentication (MFA)** on all admin accounts., Use **automated policy-as-code tools** (e.g., Terraform, Open Policy Agent) to prevent drift., Enable **centralized logging and monitoring** with context-aware alerts., Conduct **regular audits** of public-facing storage (buckets, databases, APIs)., Encrypt **data at rest and in transit** (avoid plain-text storage)., Segment networks to **limit lateral movement** in case of breaches., Train staff on **secure cloud deployment practices** (e.g., Infrastructure as Code templates)., Address **shadow IT** with discovery tools and governance policies., Prioritize **human-centric security** (training, process improvements) alongside technical controls.Implement **least-privilege access** and **just-in-time permissions** for IAM roles., Enforce **multi-factor authentication (MFA)** on all admin accounts., Use **automated policy-as-code tools** (e.g., Terraform, Open Policy Agent) to prevent drift., Enable **centralized logging and monitoring** with context-aware alerts., Conduct **regular audits** of public-facing storage (buckets, databases, APIs)., Encrypt **data at rest and in transit** (avoid plain-text storage)., Segment networks to **limit lateral movement** in case of breaches., Train staff on **secure cloud deployment practices** (e.g., Infrastructure as Code templates)., Address **shadow IT** with discovery tools and governance policies., Prioritize **human-centric security** (training, process improvements) alongside technical controls.Implement **least-privilege access** and **just-in-time permissions** for IAM roles., Enforce **multi-factor authentication (MFA)** on all admin accounts., Use **automated policy-as-code tools** (e.g., Terraform, Open Policy Agent) to prevent drift., Enable **centralized logging and monitoring** with context-aware alerts., Conduct **regular audits** of public-facing storage (buckets, databases, APIs)., Encrypt **data at rest and in transit** (avoid plain-text storage)., Segment networks to **limit lateral movement** in case of breaches., Train staff on **secure cloud deployment practices** (e.g., Infrastructure as Code templates)., Address **shadow IT** with discovery tools and governance policies., Prioritize **human-centric security** (training, process improvements) alongside technical controls.

Incident : Data Breach FEM1533215100625

Recommendations: Immediate patching of known critical vulnerabilities (e.g., CitrixBleed, PAN-OS)., Regular security audits to validate compliance and preparedness., Enforce MFA and password policies across all systems., Implement centralized IT monitoring to detect anomalies., Foster a culture of accountability and transparency in cybersecurity practices.Immediate patching of known critical vulnerabilities (e.g., CitrixBleed, PAN-OS)., Regular security audits to validate compliance and preparedness., Enforce MFA and password policies across all systems., Implement centralized IT monitoring to detect anomalies., Foster a culture of accountability and transparency in cybersecurity practices.Immediate patching of known critical vulnerabilities (e.g., CitrixBleed, PAN-OS)., Regular security audits to validate compliance and preparedness., Enforce MFA and password policies across all systems., Implement centralized IT monitoring to detect anomalies., Foster a culture of accountability and transparency in cybersecurity practices.Immediate patching of known critical vulnerabilities (e.g., CitrixBleed, PAN-OS)., Regular security audits to validate compliance and preparedness., Enforce MFA and password policies across all systems., Implement centralized IT monitoring to detect anomalies., Foster a culture of accountability and transparency in cybersecurity practices.Immediate patching of known critical vulnerabilities (e.g., CitrixBleed, PAN-OS)., Regular security audits to validate compliance and preparedness., Enforce MFA and password policies across all systems., Implement centralized IT monitoring to detect anomalies., Foster a culture of accountability and transparency in cybersecurity practices.

What are the key lessons learned from past incidents ?

Key Lessons Learned: The key lessons learned from past incidents are Ensure that only necessary data is shared with contractors to perform their official duties.Urgent action and cooperation between federal and local agencies are necessary to ensure public safety and preserve critical infrastructure.Critical need for multifactor authentication (MFA) across all systems.,Vulnerabilities in third-party remote access tools (e.g., Citrix) require proactive monitoring.,Lateral movement risks in Active Directory highlight the need for segmentation and access controls.,Delayed detection (hacker active for ~45 days) underscores gaps in continuous threat monitoring.Critical vulnerabilities in remote access systems (e.g., Citrix) require immediate patching and monitoring.,Personnel changes without transparent justification can undermine morale and operational trust.,Contradictory public statements (e.g., data exfiltration denials) erode credibility during crises.,Federal agencies must prioritize network segmentation and identity management to limit lateral movement.Critical importance of enforcing multifactor authentication (MFA) agencywide.,Need for robust monitoring of third-party remote access tools (e.g., Citrix).,Consequences of inadequate access controls in Active Directory.,Accountability for IT leadership failures in cybersecurity posture.Critical vulnerabilities in Citrix remote access software require urgent patching,Need for improved network segmentation and lateral movement detection,Political and operational risks of public contradictions in breach disclosuresMisconfigurations are systemic failures tied to people, process, and policy—not just technical oversights.,Overly permissive IAM policies and lack of segmentation enable broad unauthorized access.,Publicly exposed storage buckets/databases with sensitive data create high-risk vectors.,Plain-text credential storage exacerbates identity theft and fraud risks.,Cloud drift and lack of context in security tools lead to alert fatigue and missed critical issues.,Developer workflows (e.g., CI/CD pipelines) can propagate misconfigurations at scale.Critical vulnerabilities (e.g., CitrixBleed) must be patched promptly. Transparency in incident reporting is essential to maintain trust. Security preparedness claims must be audited rigorously to prevent misrepresentation.

What recommendations has the company implemented to improve cybersecurity ?

Implemented Recommendations: The company has implemented the following recommendations to improve cybersecurity: Implement strict data sharing policies and procedures to prevent oversharing of sensitive information., Conduct a third-party audit of DHS/FEMA cybersecurity posture, focusing on remote access and privilege management., Implement mandatory multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all remote access systems., Enhance collaboration with cybersecurity firms to proactively detect and mitigate advanced threats., Investigate the dismissals of FEMA IT leaders to ensure accountability is evidence-based. and Establish a unified communication protocol for breach disclosures to avoid conflicting narratives..

References

Where can I find more information about each incident ?

Incident : Data Breach USD181261023

Source: Motherboard

Incident : Ransomware US-341071125

Source: AFP

Incident : Unauthorized Access FEM3092330093025

Source: Bloomberg News

Incident : Unauthorized Access FEM3092330093025

Source: Nextgov/FCW

Incident : Unauthorized Access FEM3092330093025

Source: DHS Public Statement (2023-08-29)

Incident : Data Breach FEM3192931093025

Source: CNN

Date Accessed: 2025-09-12

Incident : Data Breach FEM3192931093025

Source: Internal FEMA Document (reviewed by CNN)

Date Accessed: 2025-09-10

Incident : Data Breach FEM3192931093025

Source: DHS Emergency Directive (post-breach)

Date Accessed: 2025-09

Incident : Data Breach FEM3192931093025

Source: Statement by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem

Date Accessed: 2025-08-29

Incident : Data Breach FEM3192931093025

Source: AFP/Getty Images (FEMA HQ photo)

URL: https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/fema-headquarters-is-pictured-in-washington-dc-on-february-news-photo/1238567890

Date Accessed: 2025-02-11

Incident : Data Breach FEM5362353100125

Source: Bloomberg News

URL: https://www.bloomberg.com

Date Accessed: 2025-09-05

Incident : Data Breach FEM5362353100125

Source: Nextgov/FCW

URL: https://www.nextgov.com

Date Accessed: 2025-09-05

Incident : Data Breach FEM5362353100125

Source: DHS Public Statement (Secretary Kristi Noem)

Date Accessed: 2025-08-29

Incident : Data Breach FEM1802718100225

Source: CNN

Incident : Data Breach FEM1802718100225

Source: NextGov/FCW

Incident : Data Breach FEM1802718100225

Source: DHS Public Statement (August 29, 2023)

Incident : Data Exposure US-4641646100525

Source: WIRED

URL: https://www.wired.com/story/dhs-data-hub-exposed-sensitive-intel-unauthorized-users/

Date Accessed: 2023-06-01

Incident : Data Exposure US-4641646100525

Source: Jeremiah Fowler (Cybersecurity Researcher)

Date Accessed: 2025-06-01

Incident : Data Exposure US-4641646100525

Source: Wiz Academy - Top 11 Cloud Security Vulnerabilities

URL: https://www.wiz.io/academy/top-cloud-vulnerabilities

Incident : Data Exposure US-4641646100525

Source: CrowdStrike - Common Cloud Misconfigurations

URL: https://www.crowdstrike.com/blog/common-cloud-misconfigurations/

Date Accessed: 2023-01-01

Incident : Data Exposure US-4641646100525

Source: SentinelOne - Cloud Misconfiguration Prevention

URL: https://www.sentinelone.com/blog/cloud-misconfigurations/

Incident : Data Exposure US-4641646100525

Source: SecPod - Top 10 Cloud Misconfigurations

URL: https://www.secpod.com/blog/top-cloud-misconfigurations/

Incident : Data Breach FEM1533215100625

Source: Nextgov

Incident : Data Breach FEM1533215100625

Source: US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Statement by Secretary Kristi Noem

Incident : Data Breach FEM1533215100625

Source: Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Advisory on CitrixBleed

Where can stakeholders find additional resources on cybersecurity best practices ?

Additional Resources: Stakeholders can find additional resources on cybersecurity best practices at and Source: Motherboard, and Source: AFP, and Source: Bloomberg News, and Source: Nextgov/FCW, and Source: DHS Public Statement (2023-08-29), and Source: CNNDate Accessed: 2025-09-12, and Source: Internal FEMA Document (reviewed by CNN)Date Accessed: 2025-09-10, and Source: DHS Emergency Directive (post-breach)Date Accessed: 2025-09, and Source: Statement by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi NoemDate Accessed: 2025-08-29, and Source: AFP/Getty Images (FEMA HQ photo)Url: https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/fema-headquarters-is-pictured-in-washington-dc-on-february-news-photo/1238567890Date Accessed: 2025-02-11, and Source: Bloomberg NewsUrl: https://www.bloomberg.comDate Accessed: 2025-09-05, and Source: Nextgov/FCWUrl: https://www.nextgov.comDate Accessed: 2025-09-05, and Source: DHS Public Statement (Secretary Kristi Noem)Date Accessed: 2025-08-29, and Source: CNN, and Source: NextGov/FCW, and Source: DHS Public Statement (August 29, 2023), and Source: WIREDUrl: https://www.wired.com/story/dhs-data-hub-exposed-sensitive-intel-unauthorized-users/Date Accessed: 2023-06-01, and Source: Jeremiah Fowler (Cybersecurity Researcher)Date Accessed: 2025-06-01, and Source: Wiz Academy - Top 11 Cloud Security VulnerabilitiesUrl: https://www.wiz.io/academy/top-cloud-vulnerabilities, and Source: CrowdStrike - Common Cloud MisconfigurationsUrl: https://www.crowdstrike.com/blog/common-cloud-misconfigurations/Date Accessed: 2023-01-01, and Source: SentinelOne - Cloud Misconfiguration PreventionUrl: https://www.sentinelone.com/blog/cloud-misconfigurations/, and Source: SecPod - Top 10 Cloud MisconfigurationsUrl: https://www.secpod.com/blog/top-cloud-misconfigurations/, and Source: Nextgov, and Source: US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Statement by Secretary Kristi Noem, and Source: Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Advisory on CitrixBleed.

Investigation Status

What is the current status of the investigation for each incident ?

Incident : Ransomware US-341071125

Investigation Status: Ongoing

Incident : Unauthorized Access FEM3092330093025

Investigation Status: Completed (DHS Internal Investigation)

Incident : Data Breach FEM3192931093025

Investigation Status: Ongoing (as of September 2025)

Incident : Data Breach FEM5362353100125

Investigation Status: Completed (DHS Internal Investigation)

Incident : Data Breach FEM1802718100225

Investigation Status: Ongoing (as of September 2023)

Incident : Data Exposure US-4641646100525

Investigation Status: ['DHS Internal Inquiry Completed (2023)', '2025 Breach Under Investigation']

Incident : Data Breach FEM1533215100625

Investigation Status: Ongoing (audit findings released, but full scope of breach unclear)

How does the company communicate the status of incident investigations to stakeholders ?

Communication of Investigation Status: The company communicates the status of incident investigations to stakeholders through Public Statement By Dhs Secretary (2023-08-29), Media Disclosures (Bloomberg, Nextgov/Fcw), Internal Fema Staff Updates, Public Statements By Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Media Coverage (Cnn), Public Statement By Dhs Secretary Kristi Noem (2025-08-29), Media Disclosures (Bloomberg, Nextgov/Fcw), Internal Fema Staff Updates, Public Statement By Dhs Secretary Kristi Noem (August 29, 2023), Foia Disclosure (Dhs Memo), Media Reports (Wired) and Public disclosure of terminations (but initially denied data loss).

Stakeholder and Customer Advisories

Were there any advisories issued to stakeholders or customers for each incident ?

Incident : Unauthorized Access FEM3092330093025

Stakeholder Advisories: Dhs Secretary’S Public Statement, Media Briefings.

Incident : Data Breach FEM3192931093025

Stakeholder Advisories: Internal Fema Staff Updates, Dhs Working Group Reports.

Incident : Data Breach FEM1802718100225

Stakeholder Advisories: Internal Fema Staff Updates, Dhs Task Force Findings.

Incident : Data Exposure US-4641646100525

Stakeholder Advisories: Foia Memo (Dhs), Media Statements.

Customer Advisories: None (DHS)Recommended Password Resets for 184M Affected Users (2025 Breach)

What advisories does the company provide to stakeholders and customers following an incident ?

Advisories Provided: The company provides the following advisories to stakeholders and customers following an incident: were Dhs Secretary’S Public Statement, Media Briefings, Internal Fema Staff Updates, Dhs Working Group Reports, Internal Fema Staff Updates, Dhs Task Force Findings, Foia Memo (Dhs), Media Statements, None (Dhs), Recommended Password Resets For 184M Affected Users (2025 Breach) and .

Initial Access Broker

How did the initial access broker gain entry for each incident ?

Incident : Data Breach USD181261023

Entry Point: Email Account

Incident : Unauthorized Access FEM3092330093025

Entry Point: Citrix Systems Inc.’s Remote Desktop Software (Compromised Credentials)

Backdoors Established: ['VPN Software Installed (2023-07-14)']

High Value Targets: Microsoft Active Directory, Fema & Cbp Employee Databases,

Data Sold on Dark Web: Microsoft Active Directory, Fema & Cbp Employee Databases,

Incident : Data Breach FEM3192931093025

Entry Point: Citrix Remote Access Software (via government contractor)

Reconnaissance Period: Unknown (likely weeks prior to mid-July 2025)

Backdoors Established: Likely (given lateral movement)

High Value Targets: Fema Employee Data, Cbp Employee Data, Dhs Network Access,

Data Sold on Dark Web: Fema Employee Data, Cbp Employee Data, Dhs Network Access,

Incident : Data Breach FEM5362353100125

Entry Point: Citrix Systems Inc.’s Remote Desktop Software (Compromised Credentials)

Backdoors Established: ['Installation of VPN Software for Lateral Movement']

High Value Targets: Microsoft Active Directory, Fema Region 6 Servers,

Data Sold on Dark Web: Microsoft Active Directory, Fema Region 6 Servers,

Incident : Data Breach FEM1802718100225

Entry Point: Citrix Remote Access Software

Reconnaissance Period: Unknown (breach lasted 'several weeks' in summer 2023)

High Value Targets: Fema Regional Operations Network, Cbp/Employee Data,

Data Sold on Dark Web: Fema Regional Operations Network, Cbp/Employee Data,

Incident : Data Exposure US-4641646100525

Entry Point: Misconfigured Hsin-Intel Platform (Dhs), Unsecured Database (2025 Breach),

High Value Targets: Intelligence Data (Dhs), User Credentials (2025 Breach),

Data Sold on Dark Web: Intelligence Data (Dhs), User Credentials (2025 Breach),

Incident : Data Breach FEM1533215100625

Entry Point: Citrix System (via stolen credentials)

High Value Targets: FEMA Region 6 servers

Data Sold on Dark Web: FEMA Region 6 servers

Post-Incident Analysis

What were the root causes and corrective actions taken for each incident ?

Incident : Data Breach FEM74612323

Root Causes: Oversharing of data with a private contractor.

Corrective Actions: Review and tighten data sharing practices.

Incident : Physical Security Threat US-001010525

Root Causes: Lack of adequate detection and response capabilities for drone threats

Corrective Actions: Improve Detection And Response Capabilities, Enhance Local Law Enforcement Training, Deploy Advanced Technologies To Mitigate Drone Threats,

Incident : Unauthorized Access FEM3092330093025

Root Causes: Lack Of Multifactor Authentication (Mfa) For Remote Access., Compromised Credentials In Citrix Remote Desktop Software., Inadequate Monitoring Of Lateral Movement Within The Network., Failure To Segment High-Value Systems (E.G., Active Directory).,

Corrective Actions: Enforced Mfa For Fema Region 6., Disconnected Vulnerable Citrix Remote Access Tool., Terminated It Leadership Responsible For Security Failures., Public Disclosure To Raise Awareness Of Risks.,

Incident : Data Breach FEM3192931093025

Root Causes: Inadequate Security Controls For Remote Access Systems (Citrix)., Failure To Detect Lateral Movement In A Timely Manner., Potential Insider Threats Or Misconfigured Privileges Enabling Deep Access., Organizational Turmoil (E.G., Dismissals, Restructuring) Distracting From Cybersecurity Focus.,

Corrective Actions: Mandatory Network Segmentation And Least-Privilege Access Policies., Continuous Monitoring For Anomalous Activity, Especially In Remote Access Vectors., Review Of Personnel Practices To Align Dismissals With Evidence-Based Accountability., Transparency In Breach Communications To Maintain Public Trust.,

Incident : Data Breach FEM5362353100125

Root Causes: Lack Of Multifactor Authentication (Mfa) Across Fema Systems., Exploitation Of Vulnerable Citrix Remote Access Software., Inadequate Monitoring Of Network Access And Lateral Movement., It Leadership Failures In Cybersecurity Governance.,

Corrective Actions: Enforcement Of Mfa For All Fema Employees., Disconnection Of Compromised Citrix Tools., Termination Of Responsible It Personnel., Public Disclosure Of Cybersecurity Lapses To Drive Accountability.,

Incident : Data Breach FEM1802718100225

Root Causes: Unpatched Citrix Vulnerability, Inadequate Network Monitoring, Lateral Movement Controls Failure, Possible Insider Threats Or Misconfigurations,

Corrective Actions: Personnel Changes (24 It Employees Fired), Dhs Emergency Directive For Federal Agencies To Defend Against Similar Threats,

Incident : Data Exposure US-4641646100525

Root Causes: Overly Permissive Iam Policies ('Everyone' Access)., Lack Of Network Segmentation (Dhs)., Disabled Logging/Missing Alerts (No Detection Of Unauthorized Access)., Human Error In Access Configuration (Hsin-Intel)., Plain-Text Storage Of Credentials (2025 Breach)., Complex Cloud Architectures Without Adequate Governance., Shadow It/Unmonitored Accounts (Potential Factor)., Inadequate Policy-As-Code Enforcement.,

Corrective Actions: Revised Iam Policies With Least-Privilege Principles., Implemented Network Segmentation For Hsin Platforms., Enabled Centralized Logging And Monitoring (Dhs)., Mandated Encryption For Sensitive Data (Post-2025 Breach)., Conducted Staff Training On Secure Cloud Configurations., Deployed Automated Misconfiguration Detection Tools., Established Regular Audits For Public-Facing Resources.,

Incident : Data Breach FEM1533215100625

Root Causes: Failure To Patch Citrixbleed Vulnerability Despite Prior Warnings., Misrepresentation Of Security Preparedness By Fema Staff., Lack Of Centralized It Monitoring To Detect The Breach Earlier.,

Corrective Actions: Termination Of Incompetent Staff (Ciso, Cio, And 22 Others)., Hiring Of New It Security Personnel., Enforcement Of Mfa And Password Resets., Potential Restructuring Of Fema'S Cybersecurity Governance.,

What is the company's process for conducting post-incident analysis ?

Post-Incident Analysis Process: The company's process for conducting post-incident analysis is described as Yes (focus on remote access vulnerabilities), Recommended As Corrective Action, .

What corrective actions has the company taken based on post-incident analysis ?

Corrective Actions Taken: The company has taken the following corrective actions based on post-incident analysis: Review and tighten data sharing practices., Improve Detection And Response Capabilities, Enhance Local Law Enforcement Training, Deploy Advanced Technologies To Mitigate Drone Threats, , Enforced Mfa For Fema Region 6., Disconnected Vulnerable Citrix Remote Access Tool., Terminated It Leadership Responsible For Security Failures., Public Disclosure To Raise Awareness Of Risks., , Mandatory Network Segmentation And Least-Privilege Access Policies., Continuous Monitoring For Anomalous Activity, Especially In Remote Access Vectors., Review Of Personnel Practices To Align Dismissals With Evidence-Based Accountability., Transparency In Breach Communications To Maintain Public Trust., , Enforcement Of Mfa For All Fema Employees., Disconnection Of Compromised Citrix Tools., Termination Of Responsible It Personnel., Public Disclosure Of Cybersecurity Lapses To Drive Accountability., , Personnel Changes (24 It Employees Fired), Dhs Emergency Directive For Federal Agencies To Defend Against Similar Threats, , Revised Iam Policies With Least-Privilege Principles., Implemented Network Segmentation For Hsin Platforms., Enabled Centralized Logging And Monitoring (Dhs)., Mandated Encryption For Sensitive Data (Post-2025 Breach)., Conducted Staff Training On Secure Cloud Configurations., Deployed Automated Misconfiguration Detection Tools., Established Regular Audits For Public-Facing Resources., , Termination Of Incompetent Staff (Ciso, Cio, And 22 Others)., Hiring Of New It Security Personnel., Enforcement Of Mfa And Password Resets., Potential Restructuring Of Fema'S Cybersecurity Governance., .

Additional Questions

General Information

Who was the attacking group in the last incident ?

Last Attacking Group: The attacking group in the last incident were an Hacker, Unnamed Ransomware Gang, Unknown (suspected advanced hacker group) and Unidentified (possibly advanced hacking group).

Incident Details

What was the most recent incident detected ?

Most Recent Incident Detected: The most recent incident detected was on 2023-06-21.

What was the most recent incident publicly disclosed ?

Most Recent Incident Publicly Disclosed: The most recent incident publicly disclosed was on 2024-08-29.

What was the most recent incident resolved ?

Most Recent Incident Resolved: The most recent incident resolved was on 2023-08-05.

Impact of the Incidents

What was the most significant data compromised in an incident ?

Most Significant Data Compromised: The most significant data compromised in an incident were Addresses, Bank Account Information, Social Security Numbers, , 200GB of data, including records of 20,000 FBI workers and 9,000 DHS employees, Information about DHS security experts, programme analysts, IT, infosec, and security, as well as 100 individuals who hold the title of intelligence, , Employee names, Social Security numbers, Dates of birth, Positions, Grades, Duty locations, , Federal Employee Identity Data (FEMA & CBP), , FEMA Employee Data, CBP Employee Data, , Federal Employee Identity Data (FEMA and CBP), , FEMA Employee Data, CBP Employee Data, , Sensitive Intelligence (DHS), 184M User Records (2025 Breach), Plain-Text Credentials (Apple, Google, Meta, etc.), Bank Accounts, Health Platforms, Government Portals, , Unknown (FEMA initially denied data loss and but documents suggest exfiltration occurred).

What was the most significant system affected in an incident ?

Most Significant System Affected: The most significant system affected in an incident were DHS OIG Case Management System and FEMA Region 6 ServersMicrosoft Active DirectoryCitrix Remote Desktop Tool and FEMA Computer NetworkDHS Systems (partial)Citrix Remote Access Infrastructure and FEMA Region 6 ServersMicrosoft Active DirectoryCitrix Remote Desktop Software and FEMA Computer Network (regional: New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana)Citrix Remote Access Software and HSIN-Intel Platform (DHS)Unsecured Database (2025 Breach) and Citrix SystemFEMA Region 6 Servers (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas).

Response to the Incidents

What containment measures were taken in the most recent incident ?

Containment Measures in Most Recent Incident: The containment measures taken in the most recent incident were Improved detection and response capabilitiesLocal law enforcement trainingTechnology deployment, Disconnected Citrix Remote Access Tool (2023-07-16)Enforced Multifactor Authentication, Localization of Breach (mid-July 2025)Network SegmentationAccess Revocation, Disconnection of Citrix Remote Access Tool (2025-07-16)Enforcement of Multifactor Authentication (MFA), Initial efforts launched mid-July 2023Ongoing remediation as of September 5, 2023 and Password resetsMulti-Factor Authentication (MFA) enforcement.

Data Breach Information

What was the most sensitive data compromised in a breach ?

Most Sensitive Data Compromised: The most sensitive data compromised in a breach were 184M User Records (2025 Breach), 200GB of data, including records of 20,000 FBI workers and 9,000 DHS employees, Bank Account Information, Sensitive Intelligence (DHS), Dates of birth, Duty locations, Government Portals, Federal Employee Identity Data (FEMA & CBP), Federal Employee Identity Data (FEMA and CBP), Information about DHS security experts, programme analysts, IT, infosec, and security, as well as 100 individuals who hold the title of intelligence, Health Platforms, Addresses, Plain-Text Credentials (Apple, Google, Meta, etc.), FEMA Employee Data, Bank Accounts, Social Security Numbers, CBP Employee Data, Grades, Positions, Social Security numbers, Employee names, Unknown (FEMA initially denied data loss and but documents suggest exfiltration occurred).

What was the number of records exposed in the most significant breach ?

Number of Records Exposed in Most Significant Breach: The number of records exposed in the most significant breach was 184.3M.

Regulatory Compliance

What was the most significant legal action taken for a regulatory violation ?

Most Significant Legal Action: The most significant legal action taken for a regulatory violation was Pending Extradition to the US, Termination of 24 FEMA Employees (Including IT Leadership), , Personnel Dismissals (20 IT workers), Administrative Leave for Others, , Termination of 24 FEMA Employees (Including IT Executives), , Internal disciplinary actions (24 employees fired), .

Lessons Learned and Recommendations

What was the most significant lesson learned from past incidents ?

Most Significant Lesson Learned: The most significant lesson learned from past incidents was Developer workflows (e.g., CI/CD pipelines) can propagate misconfigurations at scale., Critical vulnerabilities (e.g., CitrixBleed) must be patched promptly. Transparency in incident reporting is essential to maintain trust. Security preparedness claims must be audited rigorously to prevent misrepresentation.

What was the most significant recommendation implemented to improve cybersecurity ?

Most Significant Recommendation Implemented: The most significant recommendation implemented to improve cybersecurity was Implement strict data sharing policies and procedures to prevent oversharing of sensitive information., Implement network segmentation to limit lateral movement., Immediate patching of known critical vulnerabilities (e.g., CitrixBleed, PAN-OS)., Segment networks to **limit lateral movement** in case of breaches., Prioritize **human-centric security** (training, process improvements) alongside technical controls., Enforce **multi-factor authentication (MFA)** on all admin accounts., Implement centralized IT monitoring to detect anomalies., Regular security audits to validate compliance and preparedness., Enhance endpoint detection and response (EDR) capabilities., Deploy advanced technologies to mitigate drone threats, Conduct a third-party audit of DHS/FEMA cybersecurity posture, focusing on remote access and privilege management., Address **shadow IT** with discovery tools and governance policies., Establish clearer incident response protocols for credential-based breaches., Implement **least-privilege access** and **just-in-time permissions** for IAM roles., Reevaluate employee termination policies post-breach, Enforce MFA and password policies across all systems., Implement mandatory multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all remote access systems., Enable **centralized logging and monitoring** with context-aware alerts., Investigate the dismissals of FEMA IT leaders to ensure accountability is evidence-based., Encrypt **data at rest and in transit** (avoid plain-text storage)., Conduct **regular audits** of public-facing storage (buckets, databases, APIs)., Conduct independent review of DHS/FEMA cybersecurity protocols, Foster a culture of accountability and transparency in cybersecurity practices., Train staff on **secure cloud deployment practices** (e.g., Infrastructure as Code templates)., Enhance incident response protocols for timely detection and containment., Establish a unified communication protocol for breach disclosures to avoid conflicting narratives., Mandate MFA for all remote access and privileged accounts., Improve detection and response capabilities, Implement zero-trust architecture to limit lateral movement., Conduct regular audits of third-party software vulnerabilities., Enhance collaboration with cybersecurity firms to proactively detect and mitigate advanced threats., Provide cybersecurity training for IT executives and staff., Enhance transparency in public communications about incidents, Enhance local law enforcement training, Use **automated policy-as-code tools** (e.g., Terraform, Open Policy Agent) to prevent drift. and Mandate MFA across all government systems and applications..

References

What is the most recent source of information about an incident ?

Most Recent Source: The most recent source of information about an incident are DHS Public Statement (Secretary Kristi Noem), Motherboard, Statement by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, SecPod - Top 10 Cloud Misconfigurations, US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Statement by Secretary Kristi Noem, DHS Emergency Directive (post-breach), DHS Public Statement (August 29, 2023), CNN, Nextgov/FCW, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Advisory on CitrixBleed, AFP/Getty Images (FEMA HQ photo), DHS Public Statement (2023-08-29), Bloomberg News, CrowdStrike - Common Cloud Misconfigurations, SentinelOne - Cloud Misconfiguration Prevention, Jeremiah Fowler (Cybersecurity Researcher), Nextgov, AFP, WIRED, Wiz Academy - Top 11 Cloud Security Vulnerabilities, Internal FEMA Document (reviewed by CNN) and NextGov/FCW.

What is the most recent URL for additional resources on cybersecurity best practices ?

Most Recent URL for Additional Resources: The most recent URL for additional resources on cybersecurity best practices is https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/fema-headquarters-is-pictured-in-washington-dc-on-february-news-photo/1238567890, https://www.bloomberg.com, https://www.nextgov.com, https://www.wired.com/story/dhs-data-hub-exposed-sensitive-intel-unauthorized-users/, https://www.wiz.io/academy/top-cloud-vulnerabilities, https://www.crowdstrike.com/blog/common-cloud-misconfigurations/, https://www.sentinelone.com/blog/cloud-misconfigurations/, https://www.secpod.com/blog/top-cloud-misconfigurations/ .

Investigation Status

What is the current status of the most recent investigation ?

Current Status of Most Recent Investigation: The current status of the most recent investigation is Ongoing.

Stakeholder and Customer Advisories

What was the most recent stakeholder advisory issued ?

Most Recent Stakeholder Advisory: The most recent stakeholder advisory issued was DHS Secretary’s Public Statement, Media Briefings, Internal FEMA Staff Updates, DHS Working Group Reports, Internal FEMA staff updates, DHS Task Force findings, FOIA Memo (DHS), Media Statements, .

What was the most recent customer advisory issued ?

Most Recent Customer Advisory: The most recent customer advisory issued was an None (DHS)Recommended Password Resets for 184M Affected Users (2025 Breach).

Initial Access Broker

What was the most recent entry point used by an initial access broker ?

Most Recent Entry Point: The most recent entry point used by an initial access broker were an Citrix Remote Access Software, Citrix Remote Access Software (via government contractor), Citrix System (via stolen credentials), Citrix Systems Inc.’s Remote Desktop Software (Compromised Credentials) and Email Account.

What was the most recent reconnaissance period for an incident ?

Most Recent Reconnaissance Period: The most recent reconnaissance period for an incident was Unknown (likely weeks prior to mid-July 2025), Unknown (breach lasted 'several weeks' in summer 2023).

Post-Incident Analysis

What was the most significant root cause identified in post-incident analysis ?

Most Significant Root Cause: The most significant root cause identified in post-incident analysis was Oversharing of data with a private contractor., Lack of adequate detection and response capabilities for drone threats, Lack of multifactor authentication (MFA) for remote access.Compromised credentials in Citrix remote desktop software.Inadequate monitoring of lateral movement within the network.Failure to segment high-value systems (e.g., Active Directory)., Inadequate security controls for remote access systems (Citrix).Failure to detect lateral movement in a timely manner.Potential insider threats or misconfigured privileges enabling deep access.Organizational turmoil (e.g., dismissals, restructuring) distracting from cybersecurity focus., Lack of multifactor authentication (MFA) across FEMA systems.Exploitation of vulnerable Citrix remote access software.Inadequate monitoring of network access and lateral movement.IT leadership failures in cybersecurity governance., Unpatched Citrix vulnerabilityInadequate network monitoringLateral movement controls failurePossible insider threats or misconfigurations, Overly permissive IAM policies ('everyone' access).Lack of network segmentation (DHS).Disabled logging/missing alerts (no detection of unauthorized access).Human error in access configuration (HSIN-Intel).Plain-text storage of credentials (2025 Breach).Complex cloud architectures without adequate governance.Shadow IT/unmonitored accounts (potential factor).Inadequate policy-as-code enforcement., Failure to patch CitrixBleed vulnerability despite prior warnings.Misrepresentation of security preparedness by FEMA staff.Lack of centralized IT monitoring to detect the breach earlier..

What was the most significant corrective action taken based on post-incident analysis ?

Most Significant Corrective Action: The most significant corrective action taken based on post-incident analysis was Review and tighten data sharing practices., Improve detection and response capabilitiesEnhance local law enforcement trainingDeploy advanced technologies to mitigate drone threats, Enforced MFA for FEMA Region 6.Disconnected vulnerable Citrix remote access tool.Terminated IT leadership responsible for security failures.Public disclosure to raise awareness of risks., Mandatory network segmentation and least-privilege access policies.Continuous monitoring for anomalous activity, especially in remote access vectors.Review of personnel practices to align dismissals with evidence-based accountability.Transparency in breach communications to maintain public trust., Enforcement of MFA for all FEMA employees.Disconnection of compromised Citrix tools.Termination of responsible IT personnel.Public disclosure of cybersecurity lapses to drive accountability., Personnel changes (24 IT employees fired)DHS emergency directive for federal agencies to defend against similar threats, Revised IAM policies with least-privilege principles.Implemented network segmentation for HSIN platforms.Enabled centralized logging and monitoring (DHS).Mandated encryption for sensitive data (post-2025 Breach).Conducted staff training on secure cloud configurations.Deployed automated misconfiguration detection tools.Established regular audits for public-facing resources., Termination of incompetent staff (CISO, CIO, and 22 others).Hiring of new IT security personnel.Enforcement of MFA and password resets.Potential restructuring of FEMA's cybersecurity governance..

Latest Global CVEs (Not Company-Specific)

Description

Improper Authorization (CWE-285) in Kibana can lead to privilege escalation (CAPEC-233) by allowing an authenticated user to bypass intended permission restrictions via a crafted HTTP request. This allows an attacker who lacks the live queries - read permission to successfully retrieve the list of live queries.

Published

Date

2025-12-18

Updated

Date

2025-12-18

Risk Information

cvss3

Base: 4.3

Severity: LOW

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N

References

https://discuss.elastic.co/t/kibana-8-19-7-9-1-7-and-9-2-1-security-update-esa-2025-39/384187

Description

Weblate is a web based localization tool. In versions prior to 5.15.1, it was possible to overwrite Git configuration remotely and override some of its behavior. Version 5.15.1 fixes the issue.

Published

Date

2025-12-18

Updated

Date

2025-12-18

Risk Information

cvss3

Base: 9.1

Severity: LOW

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

References

Description

Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling (CWE-770) in Elasticsearch can allow an authenticated user with snapshot restore privileges to cause Excessive Allocation (CAPEC-130) of memory and a denial of service (DoS) via crafted HTTP request.

Published

Date

2025-12-18

Updated

Date

2025-12-18

Risk Information

cvss3

Base: 4.9

Severity: LOW

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

References

https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elasticsearch-8-19-8-9-1-8-and-9-2-2-security-update-esa-2025-37/384185

Description

Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling (CWE-770) in Kibana can allow a low-privileged authenticated user to cause Excessive Allocation (CAPEC-130) of computing resources and a denial of service (DoS) of the Kibana process via a crafted HTTP request.

Published

Date

2025-12-18

Updated

Date

2025-12-18

Risk Information

cvss3

Base: 6.5

Severity: LOW

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

References

https://discuss.elastic.co/t/kibana-8-19-9-9-1-9-and-9-2-3-security-update-esa-2025-36/384184

Description

Improper neutralization of input during web page generation ('Cross-site Scripting') (CWE-79) allows an unauthenticated user to embed a malicious script in content that will be served to web browsers causing cross-site scripting (XSS) (CAPEC-63) via a vulnerability a function handler in the Vega AST evaluator.

Published

Date

2025-12-18

Updated

Date

2025-12-18

Risk Information

cvss3

Base: 6.1

Severity: LOW

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N

References

https://discuss.elastic.co/t/kibana-8-19-9-9-1-9-and-9-2-3-security-update-esa-2025-35/384183

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FEMA Company CyberSecurity Posture

FEMA A.I CyberSecurity Scoring

FEMA Company CyberSecurity News & History

Attack with significant impact with internal employee data leaks

Attack with significant impact with internal employee data leaks

Attack with significant impact with internal employee data leaks

Attack with significant impact with internal employee data leaks

Attack with significant impact with customers data leaks

Attack threatening the organization's existence

Attack with significant impact with internal employee data leaks

Attack threatening the organization’s existence

Attack with significant impact with internal employee data leaks

Attack threatening the organization's existence

Attack that could injure or kill people

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

FEMA

US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

US Federal Agencies

Department of Homeland Security

FEMA Company Scoring based on AI Models

Cyber Incidents Likelihood 3 - 6 - 9 months

A.I Risk Score Likelihood 3 - 6 - 9 months

Underwriter Stats for FEMA

Incidents vs Government Administration Industry Average (This Year)

Incidents vs All-Companies Average (This Year)

Incident Types FEMA vs Government Administration Industry Avg (This Year)

Incident History — FEMA (X = Date, Y = Severity)

FEMA Company Subsidiaries

FEMALast updated: N/A

FEMA

FEMA Similar Companies

City of Framingham

US Government Accountability Office

City of Amsterdam

INSS

Rijkswaterstaat

State of Maryland

Government of Western Australia

United States Postal Service

State of Missouri

FEMA CyberSecurity News

Noem Exits Hearing Early for Canceled FEMA Meeting

E&E News: Vote to overhaul FEMA canceled after leaked report

GOP North Carolina senator lifts holds on DHS nominees after FEMA funds approved for his state

E&E News: FEMA Review Council to vote on final report in December

E&E News: Noem: FEMA violated free speech by documenting Trump yard signs

E&E News: FEMA canceled $11B in disaster payments to states

FEMA and CBP Hit by Massive Hack—DHS Launches Full Review of Cyber Incident

Leak suggests US government is fibbing over FEMA security failings

In Other News: PQC Adoption, New Android Spyware, FEMA Data Breach

Frequently Asked Questions

FEMA CyberSecurity History Information

Official Website of FEMA

FEMA’s AI-Generated Cybersecurity Score

How many security badges does FEMA’ have ?

Does FEMA have SOC 2 Type 1 certification ?

Does FEMA have SOC 2 Type 2 certification ?

Does FEMA comply with GDPR ?

Does FEMA have PCI DSS certification ?

Does FEMA comply with HIPAA ?

Does FEMA have ISO 27001 certification ?

Industry Classification of FEMA

Number of Employees at FEMA

Subsidiaries Owned by FEMA

FEMA’s LinkedIn Followers

NAICS Classification of FEMA

FEMA’s Presence on Crunchbase

FEMA’s Presence on LinkedIn

Cybersecurity Incidents Involving FEMA

Number of Peer and Competitor Companies

What types of cybersecurity incidents have occurred at FEMA ?

How does FEMA detect and respond to cybersecurity incidents ?