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With comprehensive cybersecurity solutions, organizations can address their tough security challenges with many of the same capabilities Google uses to keep more people and organizations safe online than anyone else in the world. Experience Mandiant frontline intelligence and expertise, a modern, intel-driven security operations platform, a secure-by-design cloud foundation, and more — all supercharged by AI.

Google Cloud Security A.I CyberSecurity Scoring

GCS

Company Details

Linkedin ID:

googlecloudsecurity

Employees number:

464

Number of followers:

50,322

NAICS:

541514

Industry Type:

Computer and Network Security

Homepage:

google.com

IP Addresses:

0

Company ID:

GOO_3136728

Scan Status:

In-progress

AI scoreGCS Risk Score (AI oriented)

Between 0 and 549

https://images.rankiteo.com/companyimages/googlecloudsecurity.jpeg
GCS Computer and Network Security
Updated:
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globalscoreGCS Global Score (TPRM)

XXXX

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GCS Computer and Network Security
  • Instant access to detailed risk factors
  • Benchmark vs. industry & size peers
  • Vulnerabilities
  • Findings

GCS Company CyberSecurity News & History

Past Incidents
14
Attack Types
3
EntityTypeSeverityImpactSeenBlog DetailsIncident DetailsView
Google (Gmail users)Breach60311/2025
Rankiteo Explanation :
Attack with significant impact with internal employee data leaks

Description: A dataset containing **183 million Gmail credentials** was publicly disclosed, but it was not the result of a new breach of Google’s systems. Instead, the credentials were aggregated over time via **infostealer malware** infecting users' devices, harvesting stored passwords from browsers, and active logins. The dataset included unique email-password pairs along with the domains where they were used, compiled from criminal data-sharing channels (primarily Telegram). While most credentials were stale or from legacy breaches, a subset represented newly stolen data from ongoing infections.The incident highlights a persistent, automated ecosystem where credentials are continuously exfiltrated, traded, and weaponized for **credential-stuffing attacks**. Attackers exploit password reuse across services, targeting corporate portals, VPNs, and cloud systems. Though Google’s infrastructure remained uncompromised, the exposure underscores systemic risks from **end-user endpoint infections** and third-party breaches. The lack of real-time monitoring leaves organizations vulnerable to automated attacks leveraging fresh credential dumps before manual remediation cycles can respond.The case emphasizes the need for **continuous password monitoring** to detect and neutralize exposed credentials in real time, rather than relying on periodic scans or reactive measures triggered by headlines. The aggregated data, while not a direct breach, fuels ongoing attack campaigns against both personal and enterprise accounts.

Google (Gmail)Breach60311/2025
Rankiteo Explanation :
Attack with significant impact with internal employee data leaks

Description: Google confirmed that while there was **no new Gmail data breach**, compromised security credentials (including passwords obtained from past leaks or phishing) are being exploited by hackers to gain unauthorized access to user accounts. The company emphasized that attackers are intensifying **phishing and credential theft** (accounting for **37% of successful intrusions**), alongside an **84% rise in infostealer malware** targeting authentication tokens and cookies. Although no fresh mass leak occurred, Google urged users to **reset passwords** if found in breach databases and adopt **passkeys**—a phishing-resistant alternative—as the default login method. The risk stems from reused or weak passwords enabling account takeovers, potentially exposing **personal emails, sensitive communications, or linked services** (e.g., Google Drive, YouTube). While no direct data exfiltration was reported, the **ongoing credential abuse** poses risks of **unauthorized access, identity theft, or downstream attacks** (e.g., MFA bypass via stolen session cookies). Google’s push for passkeys (which saw a **352% adoption surge**) mitigates but doesn’t eliminate risks for users relying solely on passwords or SMS-based 2FA.

GoogleBreach6037/2022
Rankiteo Explanation :
Attack with significant impact with internal employee data leaks

Description: Google disclosed a data breach involving a **Salesforce database** used internally to manage potential advertisers. The breach was executed by the hacker group **ShinyHunters**, who impersonated an IT help desk employee to deploy malware and extract **business contact information** (e.g., company and customer names). While no **personal Gmail credentials or sensitive consumer data** were exposed, the stolen data fueled a surge in **highly targeted phishing and vishing (voice phishing) attacks**, accounting for **37% of successful account takeovers** across Google platforms. The attackers also compromised **OAuth tokens** for the *Drift Email* integration, prompting Google to revoke access and disable the Salesforce-Gmail connection to prevent further spread. Though the breach was contained to Salesforce and did not directly compromise Google Workspace or Alphabet, the leaked business data enabled **sophisticated social engineering scams**, increasing risks for users. Google advised password updates, non-SMS 2FA, and migration to **passkeys** (biometric authentication) as mitigation. No timeline for further disclosures was provided, but analysts anticipate **ongoing attacks** leveraging the exposed data.

Google (via Salesforce third-party breach)Breach6038/2024
Rankiteo Explanation :
Attack with significant impact with internal employee data leaks

Description: Google issued an urgent warning after a **major third-party breach** in Salesforce’s cloud platform exposed billions of Gmail users to cyberattacks. The breach, linked to the threat group **ShinyHunters (UNC6040)**, involved **social engineering (vishing)**—hackers impersonated IT support to steal login credentials, leading to **multiple successful intrusions** by August 2024. Initially dismissed as 'basic business data,' the stolen information is now being weaponized for **extortion and potential data leaks** via a planned **Data Leak Site (DLS)**. Attackers primarily targeted **English-speaking employees of global organizations**, exploiting dangling Cloud Storage buckets to **hijack deleted bucket names, inject malware, or steal customer data**.Google confirmed its own systems remained secure but warned of escalating risks, including **account takeovers, phishing, and credential stuffing attacks** affecting ~2.5 billion Gmail/Google Cloud users. While no direct financial or large-scale data theft was confirmed, the breach **compromised user trust, heightened phishing risks, and exposed vulnerabilities in third-party integrations**. Google notified affected users (Aug. 8) and urged **2FA adoption, password updates, and vigilance against suspicious links**—though only ~33% of users regularly change passwords, leaving many exposed to follow-up attacks.

GoogleBreach60310/2025
Rankiteo Explanation :
Attack with significant impact with internal employee data leaks

Description: Google suffered a prolonged insider breach orchestrated by a contractor with privileged access to sensitive systems. Over several weeks, the contractor unauthorizedly captured nearly **2,000 screenshots** and exfiltrated **critical internal files**, including proprietary details on the **Play Store infrastructure** and its security guardrails designed to prevent malicious software distribution. The stolen data was transmitted to an external party, exposing vulnerabilities in one of Google’s core revenue drivers. The breach, driven by potential financial incentives or coercion, underscores risks tied to third-party access and insider threats. While Google initiated forensic investigations, notified authorities, and is auditing contractor vetting processes, the incident raises concerns about **supply chain security**, **regulatory compliance**, and **trust erosion** in its app ecosystem. Though no direct user data compromise was confirmed, the exposure of security protocols could enable adversaries to exploit app vulnerabilities or launch sophisticated attacks. The breach has triggered internal policy reviews, including stricter **access controls**, **AI-driven anomaly detection**, and **multi-factor authentication** for contractors.

GoogleBreach85411/2025
Rankiteo Explanation :
Attack with significant impact with customers data leaks

Description: Google has highlighted a persistent global surge in scams driven by transnational crime groups, including Chinese organized gangs, exploiting AI tools to scale phishing attacks via malicious texts, imposter calls, and fraudulent pop-ups. While no direct breach of Google’s systems was reported, **183 million Gmail passwords were exposed via infostealer malware**, and a separate compilation listed **394 million unique Gmail addresses** in breached credential datasets. These exposed credentials—often reused across platforms—pose severe risks due to Google’s dominance as a Single Sign-On (SSO) provider, powering 90% of SSO options on top websites. Compromised Google accounts enable cascading attacks on linked services (e.g., financial institutions, social media), with **86% of web application attacks leveraging stolen credentials for initial access**. The vulnerability stems from systemic password mismanagement (e.g., reuse, weak enforcement by websites) and the lack of passkey adoption, despite Google’s 352% yearly increase in passkey usage. Though Google advocates for passkeys to mitigate phishing and credential stuffing, the sheer volume of exposed Gmail credentials—combined with SSO’s broad attack surface—creates a high-risk scenario for mass account takeovers, financial fraud, and downstream breaches across interconnected platforms. The threat is amplified by AI-enhanced scams, with **57% of adults experiencing scams in the past year (23% losing money)**, signaling a systemic failure in traditional authentication security.

Google (Gmail users)Breach85410/2025
Rankiteo Explanation :
Attack with significant impact with customers data leaks

Description: A massive credential leak exposed **183 million email passwords**, including millions from Gmail accounts, via **infostealer malware campaigns** monitored over nearly a year. The breach, surfacing on *Have I Been Pwned* (October 2025), stems from malware-infected user devices—not a direct Gmail server compromise—though **16.4 million email addresses** were newly exposed. The dataset (3.5TB, 23 billion records) includes **active passwords, URLs, and login credentials** harvested from infected machines, heightening risks of **credential stuffing attacks** across platforms. While Google denied a 'Gmail breach,' the leaked data—validated by affected users—originated from malware like **RedLine, Vidar, and Racoon**, spread via phishing, malicious downloads, or compromised extensions. Researchers warn of an **800% surge in stolen credentials** in early 2025, with peak daily thefts reaching **600 million records**. Users were urged to enable **two-step verification and passkeys** to mitigate risks.

GoogleBreach8549/2025
Rankiteo Explanation :
Attack with significant impact with customers data leaks

Description: A sophisticated phishing attack targeted Google earlier this year, orchestrated by the hacking group **ShinyHunters**. The attackers tricked a Google employee into downloading malware via a deceptive email, granting them unauthorized access to the company’s internal systems. This breach led to a raid on Google’s **Salesforce database**, exposing sensitive corporate data belonging to high-profile clients, including **Cisco, Louis Vuitton, and Adidas**. While Google confirmed that regular Gmail user data remained uncompromised, the incident highlighted the escalating threat of **credential-based attacks** exploiting weak authentication measures. The breach underscored vulnerabilities in single-factor authentication, as the hackers leveraged legitimate employee credentials to infiltrate systems. The stolen data included proprietary business information, though the full scope of the leak—such as whether customer or financial records were exposed—was not publicly detailed. The attack demonstrated the growing sophistication of phishing tactics, compounded by the potential for AI-driven social engineering in future cyber threats. Security experts, including **Damien Fortune (CEO of Syntriqs)**, emphasized the critical need for **multi-factor authentication (MFA)** to mitigate such risks, noting that attackers exploit gaps where legacy security protocols fail to adapt to evolving threats. The breach served as a stark reminder of how even tech giants remain vulnerable to human-error-driven cyber intrusions, with cascading consequences for partner organizations.

GoogleCyber Attack6029/2025
Rankiteo Explanation :
Attack limited on finance or reputation

Description: Hackers from the group *Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters* (linked to Shiny Hunters, Scattered Spider, and Lapsus$) created a **fraudulent account** in Google’s **Law Enforcement Request System (LERS)**, a platform used by global law enforcement to submit data requests (subpoenas, court orders, emergency disclosures). While **no requests were made** and **no data was accessed**, the unauthorized account posed a severe risk of **impersonating law enforcement** to extract sensitive user data. The group also claimed breaches of the **FBI’s eCheck system** and taunted Google, Mandiant, and the FBI before announcing a temporary retreat. Their prior attacks involved **social engineering** (tricking employees into exposing Salesforce data via Data Loader) and **GitHub secret leaks** (exploiting exposed tokens in Salesloft’s repositories), affecting major corporations like Adidas, Cisco, and Louis Vuitton. Though Google disabled the fraudulent account, the incident highlights vulnerabilities in high-stakes systems used for legal data requests, risking **future abuse for unauthorized data extraction** or **reputational damage** due to the group’s public threats.

GoogleCyber Attack6028/2023
Rankiteo Explanation :
Attack limited on finance or reputation

Description: A hacking collective identifying itself as **Scattered LapSus Hunters**—a coalition of members from **Scattered Spider, LapSus$, and ShinyHunters**—has threatened to leak Google’s internal databases unless the company terminates two employees: **Austin Larsen and Charles Carmakal**, both part of Google’s **Threat Intelligence Group**. The group also demanded Google halt its investigations into their network. While no direct evidence of a breach into Google’s systems was provided, the threat follows a confirmed incident in **August 2023**, where **ShinyHunters** (a subgroup within the collective) exfiltrated data from **Salesforce**, a third-party vendor used by Google. The attack appears to be a **targeted extortion attempt**, leveraging reputational pressure and potential operational disruption. Although no Google-owned data has been confirmed as compromised, the threat exploits prior third-party vulnerabilities to coerce compliance. The involvement of **Google Threat Intelligence Group**—a team focused on countering cyber threats—suggests the attackers aim to undermine Google’s defensive capabilities while exploiting media exposure for leverage. The lack of immediate data leaks or system infiltrations keeps the direct impact speculative, but the reputational risk and operational strain (e.g., potential internal investigations, PR fallout) remain significant.

Google CloudVulnerability2515/2025
Rankiteo Explanation :
Attack without any consequences

Description: In a comprehensive analysis of nearly five million internet-exposed assets, Google Cloud-hosted services showed 38% of assets with at least one security issue, more than double AWS’s 15% rate. Moreover, 5.35% of Google Cloud assets contained vulnerabilities deemed easy to exploit by attackers, driven by both misconfigurations and known software flaws. Although no widespread data theft or severe breaches have been reported to date, this high exposure rate leaves customer workloads susceptible to unauthorized access, potential data exposure, and service disruptions. Critical issues, while less common at 0.04%, combined with easily exploitable vulnerabilities could allow attackers to pivot through cloud environments, potentially undermining trust and disrupting business operations. Left unaddressed, these vulnerabilities may result in unexpected downtime, compliance violations, and reputational harm as security incidents attract media attention and scrutiny from regulatory bodies. The complexity of multi-cloud deployments further exacerbates the challenge, with overlooked assets and shadow IT creating additional attack surface. Security teams must prioritize continuous monitoring, automated patch management, and seedless discovery to identify and remediate misconfigurations and software flaws before they can be weaponized by adversaries.

GoogleVulnerability50210/2025
Rankiteo Explanation :
Attack limited on finance or reputation

Description: Google released an urgent security update for its Chrome browser to patch **CVE-2025-12036**, a high-severity vulnerability in the **V8 JavaScript engine** that could allow **remote code execution (RCE)** on affected systems. The flaw, classified as an *‘inappropriate implementation in V8’*, was discovered by Google’s **AI-powered Big Sleep project** on October 15, 2025. V8 is a critical component handling JavaScript execution in Chrome and Chromium-based browsers, making it a prime target for exploitation.Successful exploitation could enable attackers to **compromise user systems, steal sensitive data, or deploy malicious payloads** (e.g., malware, ransomware, or spyware). While no active exploits were reported at disclosure, the high-severity rating underscores the potential for **widespread abuse** if left unpatched. Google deployed the fix within **six days** via Chrome versions **141.0.7390.122/123** (Windows/Mac/Linux), urging users to update immediately. The vulnerability’s technical details remain restricted to prevent reverse-engineering by threat actors until most users apply the patch.The incident highlights the risks of **supply-chain vulnerabilities** in widely used software, where a single flaw in a core component (like V8) can expose **millions of users** to attacks ranging from data theft to system takeover. Google’s proactive use of **AI-driven security tools** (e.g., AddressSanitizer, libFuzzer) mitigated the risk, but unpatched systems remain at high risk of exploitation.

GoogleVulnerability5026/2025
Rankiteo Explanation :
Attack limited on finance or reputation

Description: Google recently addressed a critical zero-day vulnerability (CVE-2025-13223) in its Chrome browser’s V8 JavaScript engine, marking the third such incident in recent months. The flaw, rated 'high' with a CVSS score of 8.8, was actively exploited in the wild before an emergency out-of-band patch was released on Monday. Discovered by Clément Lecigne of Google’s Threat Analysis Group (TAG), the vulnerability posed a significant risk, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code, compromise user data, or escalate privileges on affected systems. While no specific data breaches or direct financial losses were reported, the exploitation of such a high-severity flaw in a widely used browser like Chrome could have led to large-scale attacks, including phishing, malware distribution, or unauthorized access to sensitive user information. The proactive patching mitigated immediate risks, but the incident underscores the persistent threats posed by zero-day exploits in widely deployed software, which can undermine user trust and expose millions to cyber threats if left unaddressed.

GoogleVulnerability8547/2024
Rankiteo Explanation :
Attack with significant impact with customers data leaks

Description: Google’s Vulnerability Rewards Program (VRP) faced inefficiencies due to a flood of low-value bug reports, diverting security team resources from critical threats. Before July 2024, the program struggled with a high volume of low-severity submissions, straining triage and remediation efforts. While the program aimed to uncover high-impact vulnerabilities, the lack of targeted incentives led to an imbalance—skilled researchers prioritized easier, lower-tier bugs, and new contributors often submitted minimal or irrelevant findings. After restructuring payouts in July 2024—with up to a **200% increase for Tier 0 (most severe) vulnerabilities**—Google observed a **tripling of critical bug reports**, but the shift also revealed systemic risks. The delay in addressing this imbalance had already allowed potential **high-severity vulnerabilities (e.g., zero-days, authentication bypasses, or data exfiltration paths)** to remain undetected longer than necessary. Competitors or malicious actors could have exploited these gaps, leading to **unauthorized access, data breaches, or systemic compromises** had the program not adapted. The initial misalignment in rewards effectively **masked critical risks**, leaving Google exposed to attacks that could have escalated to **organizational disruption or reputational damage** if unmitigated.

Google (Gmail users)
Breach
Severity: 60
Impact: 3
Seen: 11/2025
Blog:
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack with significant impact with internal employee data leaks

Description: A dataset containing **183 million Gmail credentials** was publicly disclosed, but it was not the result of a new breach of Google’s systems. Instead, the credentials were aggregated over time via **infostealer malware** infecting users' devices, harvesting stored passwords from browsers, and active logins. The dataset included unique email-password pairs along with the domains where they were used, compiled from criminal data-sharing channels (primarily Telegram). While most credentials were stale or from legacy breaches, a subset represented newly stolen data from ongoing infections.The incident highlights a persistent, automated ecosystem where credentials are continuously exfiltrated, traded, and weaponized for **credential-stuffing attacks**. Attackers exploit password reuse across services, targeting corporate portals, VPNs, and cloud systems. Though Google’s infrastructure remained uncompromised, the exposure underscores systemic risks from **end-user endpoint infections** and third-party breaches. The lack of real-time monitoring leaves organizations vulnerable to automated attacks leveraging fresh credential dumps before manual remediation cycles can respond.The case emphasizes the need for **continuous password monitoring** to detect and neutralize exposed credentials in real time, rather than relying on periodic scans or reactive measures triggered by headlines. The aggregated data, while not a direct breach, fuels ongoing attack campaigns against both personal and enterprise accounts.

Google (Gmail)
Breach
Severity: 60
Impact: 3
Seen: 11/2025
Blog:
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack with significant impact with internal employee data leaks

Description: Google confirmed that while there was **no new Gmail data breach**, compromised security credentials (including passwords obtained from past leaks or phishing) are being exploited by hackers to gain unauthorized access to user accounts. The company emphasized that attackers are intensifying **phishing and credential theft** (accounting for **37% of successful intrusions**), alongside an **84% rise in infostealer malware** targeting authentication tokens and cookies. Although no fresh mass leak occurred, Google urged users to **reset passwords** if found in breach databases and adopt **passkeys**—a phishing-resistant alternative—as the default login method. The risk stems from reused or weak passwords enabling account takeovers, potentially exposing **personal emails, sensitive communications, or linked services** (e.g., Google Drive, YouTube). While no direct data exfiltration was reported, the **ongoing credential abuse** poses risks of **unauthorized access, identity theft, or downstream attacks** (e.g., MFA bypass via stolen session cookies). Google’s push for passkeys (which saw a **352% adoption surge**) mitigates but doesn’t eliminate risks for users relying solely on passwords or SMS-based 2FA.

Google
Breach
Severity: 60
Impact: 3
Seen: 7/2022
Blog:
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack with significant impact with internal employee data leaks

Description: Google disclosed a data breach involving a **Salesforce database** used internally to manage potential advertisers. The breach was executed by the hacker group **ShinyHunters**, who impersonated an IT help desk employee to deploy malware and extract **business contact information** (e.g., company and customer names). While no **personal Gmail credentials or sensitive consumer data** were exposed, the stolen data fueled a surge in **highly targeted phishing and vishing (voice phishing) attacks**, accounting for **37% of successful account takeovers** across Google platforms. The attackers also compromised **OAuth tokens** for the *Drift Email* integration, prompting Google to revoke access and disable the Salesforce-Gmail connection to prevent further spread. Though the breach was contained to Salesforce and did not directly compromise Google Workspace or Alphabet, the leaked business data enabled **sophisticated social engineering scams**, increasing risks for users. Google advised password updates, non-SMS 2FA, and migration to **passkeys** (biometric authentication) as mitigation. No timeline for further disclosures was provided, but analysts anticipate **ongoing attacks** leveraging the exposed data.

Google (via Salesforce third-party breach)
Breach
Severity: 60
Impact: 3
Seen: 8/2024
Blog:
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack with significant impact with internal employee data leaks

Description: Google issued an urgent warning after a **major third-party breach** in Salesforce’s cloud platform exposed billions of Gmail users to cyberattacks. The breach, linked to the threat group **ShinyHunters (UNC6040)**, involved **social engineering (vishing)**—hackers impersonated IT support to steal login credentials, leading to **multiple successful intrusions** by August 2024. Initially dismissed as 'basic business data,' the stolen information is now being weaponized for **extortion and potential data leaks** via a planned **Data Leak Site (DLS)**. Attackers primarily targeted **English-speaking employees of global organizations**, exploiting dangling Cloud Storage buckets to **hijack deleted bucket names, inject malware, or steal customer data**.Google confirmed its own systems remained secure but warned of escalating risks, including **account takeovers, phishing, and credential stuffing attacks** affecting ~2.5 billion Gmail/Google Cloud users. While no direct financial or large-scale data theft was confirmed, the breach **compromised user trust, heightened phishing risks, and exposed vulnerabilities in third-party integrations**. Google notified affected users (Aug. 8) and urged **2FA adoption, password updates, and vigilance against suspicious links**—though only ~33% of users regularly change passwords, leaving many exposed to follow-up attacks.

Google
Breach
Severity: 60
Impact: 3
Seen: 10/2025
Blog:
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack with significant impact with internal employee data leaks

Description: Google suffered a prolonged insider breach orchestrated by a contractor with privileged access to sensitive systems. Over several weeks, the contractor unauthorizedly captured nearly **2,000 screenshots** and exfiltrated **critical internal files**, including proprietary details on the **Play Store infrastructure** and its security guardrails designed to prevent malicious software distribution. The stolen data was transmitted to an external party, exposing vulnerabilities in one of Google’s core revenue drivers. The breach, driven by potential financial incentives or coercion, underscores risks tied to third-party access and insider threats. While Google initiated forensic investigations, notified authorities, and is auditing contractor vetting processes, the incident raises concerns about **supply chain security**, **regulatory compliance**, and **trust erosion** in its app ecosystem. Though no direct user data compromise was confirmed, the exposure of security protocols could enable adversaries to exploit app vulnerabilities or launch sophisticated attacks. The breach has triggered internal policy reviews, including stricter **access controls**, **AI-driven anomaly detection**, and **multi-factor authentication** for contractors.

Google
Breach
Severity: 85
Impact: 4
Seen: 11/2025
Blog:
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack with significant impact with customers data leaks

Description: Google has highlighted a persistent global surge in scams driven by transnational crime groups, including Chinese organized gangs, exploiting AI tools to scale phishing attacks via malicious texts, imposter calls, and fraudulent pop-ups. While no direct breach of Google’s systems was reported, **183 million Gmail passwords were exposed via infostealer malware**, and a separate compilation listed **394 million unique Gmail addresses** in breached credential datasets. These exposed credentials—often reused across platforms—pose severe risks due to Google’s dominance as a Single Sign-On (SSO) provider, powering 90% of SSO options on top websites. Compromised Google accounts enable cascading attacks on linked services (e.g., financial institutions, social media), with **86% of web application attacks leveraging stolen credentials for initial access**. The vulnerability stems from systemic password mismanagement (e.g., reuse, weak enforcement by websites) and the lack of passkey adoption, despite Google’s 352% yearly increase in passkey usage. Though Google advocates for passkeys to mitigate phishing and credential stuffing, the sheer volume of exposed Gmail credentials—combined with SSO’s broad attack surface—creates a high-risk scenario for mass account takeovers, financial fraud, and downstream breaches across interconnected platforms. The threat is amplified by AI-enhanced scams, with **57% of adults experiencing scams in the past year (23% losing money)**, signaling a systemic failure in traditional authentication security.

Google (Gmail users)
Breach
Severity: 85
Impact: 4
Seen: 10/2025
Blog:
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack with significant impact with customers data leaks

Description: A massive credential leak exposed **183 million email passwords**, including millions from Gmail accounts, via **infostealer malware campaigns** monitored over nearly a year. The breach, surfacing on *Have I Been Pwned* (October 2025), stems from malware-infected user devices—not a direct Gmail server compromise—though **16.4 million email addresses** were newly exposed. The dataset (3.5TB, 23 billion records) includes **active passwords, URLs, and login credentials** harvested from infected machines, heightening risks of **credential stuffing attacks** across platforms. While Google denied a 'Gmail breach,' the leaked data—validated by affected users—originated from malware like **RedLine, Vidar, and Racoon**, spread via phishing, malicious downloads, or compromised extensions. Researchers warn of an **800% surge in stolen credentials** in early 2025, with peak daily thefts reaching **600 million records**. Users were urged to enable **two-step verification and passkeys** to mitigate risks.

Google
Breach
Severity: 85
Impact: 4
Seen: 9/2025
Blog:
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack with significant impact with customers data leaks

Description: A sophisticated phishing attack targeted Google earlier this year, orchestrated by the hacking group **ShinyHunters**. The attackers tricked a Google employee into downloading malware via a deceptive email, granting them unauthorized access to the company’s internal systems. This breach led to a raid on Google’s **Salesforce database**, exposing sensitive corporate data belonging to high-profile clients, including **Cisco, Louis Vuitton, and Adidas**. While Google confirmed that regular Gmail user data remained uncompromised, the incident highlighted the escalating threat of **credential-based attacks** exploiting weak authentication measures. The breach underscored vulnerabilities in single-factor authentication, as the hackers leveraged legitimate employee credentials to infiltrate systems. The stolen data included proprietary business information, though the full scope of the leak—such as whether customer or financial records were exposed—was not publicly detailed. The attack demonstrated the growing sophistication of phishing tactics, compounded by the potential for AI-driven social engineering in future cyber threats. Security experts, including **Damien Fortune (CEO of Syntriqs)**, emphasized the critical need for **multi-factor authentication (MFA)** to mitigate such risks, noting that attackers exploit gaps where legacy security protocols fail to adapt to evolving threats. The breach served as a stark reminder of how even tech giants remain vulnerable to human-error-driven cyber intrusions, with cascading consequences for partner organizations.

Google
Cyber Attack
Severity: 60
Impact: 2
Seen: 9/2025
Blog:
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack limited on finance or reputation

Description: Hackers from the group *Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters* (linked to Shiny Hunters, Scattered Spider, and Lapsus$) created a **fraudulent account** in Google’s **Law Enforcement Request System (LERS)**, a platform used by global law enforcement to submit data requests (subpoenas, court orders, emergency disclosures). While **no requests were made** and **no data was accessed**, the unauthorized account posed a severe risk of **impersonating law enforcement** to extract sensitive user data. The group also claimed breaches of the **FBI’s eCheck system** and taunted Google, Mandiant, and the FBI before announcing a temporary retreat. Their prior attacks involved **social engineering** (tricking employees into exposing Salesforce data via Data Loader) and **GitHub secret leaks** (exploiting exposed tokens in Salesloft’s repositories), affecting major corporations like Adidas, Cisco, and Louis Vuitton. Though Google disabled the fraudulent account, the incident highlights vulnerabilities in high-stakes systems used for legal data requests, risking **future abuse for unauthorized data extraction** or **reputational damage** due to the group’s public threats.

Google
Cyber Attack
Severity: 60
Impact: 2
Seen: 8/2023
Blog:
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack limited on finance or reputation

Description: A hacking collective identifying itself as **Scattered LapSus Hunters**—a coalition of members from **Scattered Spider, LapSus$, and ShinyHunters**—has threatened to leak Google’s internal databases unless the company terminates two employees: **Austin Larsen and Charles Carmakal**, both part of Google’s **Threat Intelligence Group**. The group also demanded Google halt its investigations into their network. While no direct evidence of a breach into Google’s systems was provided, the threat follows a confirmed incident in **August 2023**, where **ShinyHunters** (a subgroup within the collective) exfiltrated data from **Salesforce**, a third-party vendor used by Google. The attack appears to be a **targeted extortion attempt**, leveraging reputational pressure and potential operational disruption. Although no Google-owned data has been confirmed as compromised, the threat exploits prior third-party vulnerabilities to coerce compliance. The involvement of **Google Threat Intelligence Group**—a team focused on countering cyber threats—suggests the attackers aim to undermine Google’s defensive capabilities while exploiting media exposure for leverage. The lack of immediate data leaks or system infiltrations keeps the direct impact speculative, but the reputational risk and operational strain (e.g., potential internal investigations, PR fallout) remain significant.

Google Cloud
Vulnerability
Severity: 25
Impact: 1
Seen: 5/2025
Blog:
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack without any consequences

Description: In a comprehensive analysis of nearly five million internet-exposed assets, Google Cloud-hosted services showed 38% of assets with at least one security issue, more than double AWS’s 15% rate. Moreover, 5.35% of Google Cloud assets contained vulnerabilities deemed easy to exploit by attackers, driven by both misconfigurations and known software flaws. Although no widespread data theft or severe breaches have been reported to date, this high exposure rate leaves customer workloads susceptible to unauthorized access, potential data exposure, and service disruptions. Critical issues, while less common at 0.04%, combined with easily exploitable vulnerabilities could allow attackers to pivot through cloud environments, potentially undermining trust and disrupting business operations. Left unaddressed, these vulnerabilities may result in unexpected downtime, compliance violations, and reputational harm as security incidents attract media attention and scrutiny from regulatory bodies. The complexity of multi-cloud deployments further exacerbates the challenge, with overlooked assets and shadow IT creating additional attack surface. Security teams must prioritize continuous monitoring, automated patch management, and seedless discovery to identify and remediate misconfigurations and software flaws before they can be weaponized by adversaries.

Google
Vulnerability
Severity: 50
Impact: 2
Seen: 10/2025
Blog:
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack limited on finance or reputation

Description: Google released an urgent security update for its Chrome browser to patch **CVE-2025-12036**, a high-severity vulnerability in the **V8 JavaScript engine** that could allow **remote code execution (RCE)** on affected systems. The flaw, classified as an *‘inappropriate implementation in V8’*, was discovered by Google’s **AI-powered Big Sleep project** on October 15, 2025. V8 is a critical component handling JavaScript execution in Chrome and Chromium-based browsers, making it a prime target for exploitation.Successful exploitation could enable attackers to **compromise user systems, steal sensitive data, or deploy malicious payloads** (e.g., malware, ransomware, or spyware). While no active exploits were reported at disclosure, the high-severity rating underscores the potential for **widespread abuse** if left unpatched. Google deployed the fix within **six days** via Chrome versions **141.0.7390.122/123** (Windows/Mac/Linux), urging users to update immediately. The vulnerability’s technical details remain restricted to prevent reverse-engineering by threat actors until most users apply the patch.The incident highlights the risks of **supply-chain vulnerabilities** in widely used software, where a single flaw in a core component (like V8) can expose **millions of users** to attacks ranging from data theft to system takeover. Google’s proactive use of **AI-driven security tools** (e.g., AddressSanitizer, libFuzzer) mitigated the risk, but unpatched systems remain at high risk of exploitation.

Google
Vulnerability
Severity: 50
Impact: 2
Seen: 6/2025
Blog:
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack limited on finance or reputation

Description: Google recently addressed a critical zero-day vulnerability (CVE-2025-13223) in its Chrome browser’s V8 JavaScript engine, marking the third such incident in recent months. The flaw, rated 'high' with a CVSS score of 8.8, was actively exploited in the wild before an emergency out-of-band patch was released on Monday. Discovered by Clément Lecigne of Google’s Threat Analysis Group (TAG), the vulnerability posed a significant risk, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code, compromise user data, or escalate privileges on affected systems. While no specific data breaches or direct financial losses were reported, the exploitation of such a high-severity flaw in a widely used browser like Chrome could have led to large-scale attacks, including phishing, malware distribution, or unauthorized access to sensitive user information. The proactive patching mitigated immediate risks, but the incident underscores the persistent threats posed by zero-day exploits in widely deployed software, which can undermine user trust and expose millions to cyber threats if left unaddressed.

Google
Vulnerability
Severity: 85
Impact: 4
Seen: 7/2024
Blog:
Rankiteo Explanation
Attack with significant impact with customers data leaks

Description: Google’s Vulnerability Rewards Program (VRP) faced inefficiencies due to a flood of low-value bug reports, diverting security team resources from critical threats. Before July 2024, the program struggled with a high volume of low-severity submissions, straining triage and remediation efforts. While the program aimed to uncover high-impact vulnerabilities, the lack of targeted incentives led to an imbalance—skilled researchers prioritized easier, lower-tier bugs, and new contributors often submitted minimal or irrelevant findings. After restructuring payouts in July 2024—with up to a **200% increase for Tier 0 (most severe) vulnerabilities**—Google observed a **tripling of critical bug reports**, but the shift also revealed systemic risks. The delay in addressing this imbalance had already allowed potential **high-severity vulnerabilities (e.g., zero-days, authentication bypasses, or data exfiltration paths)** to remain undetected longer than necessary. Competitors or malicious actors could have exploited these gaps, leading to **unauthorized access, data breaches, or systemic compromises** had the program not adapted. The initial misalignment in rewards effectively **masked critical risks**, leaving Google exposed to attacks that could have escalated to **organizational disruption or reputational damage** if unmitigated.

Ailogo

GCS Company Scoring based on AI Models

Cyber Incidents Likelihood 3 - 6 - 9 months

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Incident Predictions locked
Access Monitoring Plan

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

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A.I. Risk Score Predictions locked
Access Monitoring Plan
statics

Underwriter Stats for GCS

Incidents vs Computer and Network Security Industry Average (This Year)

Google Cloud Security has 2073.91% more incidents than the average of same-industry companies with at least one recorded incident.

Incidents vs All-Companies Average (This Year)

Google Cloud Security has 1462.5% more incidents than the average of all companies with at least one recorded incident.

Incident Types GCS vs Computer and Network Security Industry Avg (This Year)

Google Cloud Security reported 10 incidents this year: 1 cyber attacks, 0 ransomware, 3 vulnerabilities, 6 data breaches, compared to industry peers with at least 1 incident.

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

GCS cyber incidents detection timeline including parent company and subsidiaries

GCS Company Subsidiaries

SubsidiaryImage

With comprehensive cybersecurity solutions, organizations can address their tough security challenges with many of the same capabilities Google uses to keep more people and organizations safe online than anyone else in the world. Experience Mandiant frontline intelligence and expertise, a modern, intel-driven security operations platform, a secure-by-design cloud foundation, and more — all supercharged by AI.

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newsone

GCS CyberSecurity News

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faq

Frequently Asked Questions

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

GCS CyberSecurity History Information

Official Website of Google Cloud Security

The official website of Google Cloud Security is https://cloud.google.com/security.

Google Cloud Security’s AI-Generated Cybersecurity Score

According to Rankiteo, Google Cloud Security’s AI-generated cybersecurity score is 100, reflecting their Critical security posture.

How many security badges does Google Cloud Security’ have ?

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

Does Google Cloud Security have SOC 2 Type 1 certification ?

According to Rankiteo, Google Cloud Security is not certified under SOC 2 Type 1.

Does Google Cloud Security have SOC 2 Type 2 certification ?

According to Rankiteo, Google Cloud Security does not hold a SOC 2 Type 2 certification.

Does Google Cloud Security comply with GDPR ?

According to Rankiteo, Google Cloud Security is not listed as GDPR compliant.

Does Google Cloud Security have PCI DSS certification ?

According to Rankiteo, Google Cloud Security does not currently maintain PCI DSS compliance.

Does Google Cloud Security comply with HIPAA ?

According to Rankiteo, Google Cloud Security is not compliant with HIPAA regulations.

Does Google Cloud Security have ISO 27001 certification ?

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

Industry Classification of Google Cloud Security

Google Cloud Security operates primarily in the Computer and Network Security industry.

Number of Employees at Google Cloud Security

Google Cloud Security employs approximately 464 people worldwide.

Subsidiaries Owned by Google Cloud Security

Google Cloud Security presently has no subsidiaries across any sectors.

Google Cloud Security’s LinkedIn Followers

Google Cloud Security’s official LinkedIn profile has approximately 50,322 followers.

NAICS Classification of Google Cloud Security

Google Cloud Security is classified under the NAICS code 541514, which corresponds to Others.

Google Cloud Security’s Presence on Crunchbase

No, Google Cloud Security does not have a profile on Crunchbase.

Google Cloud Security’s Presence on LinkedIn

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

Cybersecurity Incidents Involving Google Cloud Security

As of November 29, 2025, Rankiteo reports that Google Cloud Security has experienced 14 cybersecurity incidents.

Number of Peer and Competitor Companies

Google Cloud Security has an estimated 2,798 peer or competitor companies worldwide.

What types of cybersecurity incidents have occurred at Google Cloud Security ?

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

How does Google Cloud Security detect and respond to cybersecurity incidents ?

Detection and Response: The company detects and responds to cybersecurity incidents through an remediation measures with continuous monitoring, remediation measures with automated patch management, remediation measures with seedless discovery, and communication strategy with media statement pending (newsweek contacted google for comment), and incident response plan activated with yes (google threat intelligence group monitoring), and containment measures with user notifications (email alerts), containment measures with public advisory, and communication strategy with urgent warning via media (geek spin, fox news), communication strategy with direct user emails, communication strategy with blog post by google cloud, and enhanced monitoring with yes (ongoing by gtig), and and containment measures with revoked oauth tokens for drift email integration, containment measures with disabled gmail-salesloft drift connectivity, containment measures with notified google workspace administrators, and remediation measures with password update recommendations for gmail users, remediation measures with promotion of passkeys (biometric authentication), remediation measures with enhanced phishing detection filters, and communication strategy with global security alert to 2.5b gmail users, communication strategy with official blog post (august 5, 2025), communication strategy with direct notifications to workspace administrators, communication strategy with security help resources (passkey adoption guides), and enhanced monitoring with phishing and vishing attack patterns, and remediation measures with advisory to enable multi-factor authentication (mfa) for critical services, and communication strategy with public disclosure of incident (excluding gmail compromise), communication strategy with expert commentary on mitigation strategies (e.g., mfa), and incident response plan activated with yes (account disabled), and law enforcement notified with likely (fbi declined to comment), and containment measures with disabled fraudulent account, and communication strategy with public statement to bleepingcomputer, communication strategy with article title update to clarify no breach occurred, and third party assistance with academic researchers (harvard, bocconi university, hebrew university), third party assistance with industry experts (intigriti, alvearium associates, upcloud), and communication strategy with public disclosure of study findings, communication strategy with expert commentary (help net security, industry interviews), communication strategy with recommendations for bug bounty program optimization, and and containment measures with urgent patch release (chrome 141.0.7390.122/.123), containment measures with automatic update rollout to users, and remediation measures with patch deployment via chrome's auto-update mechanism, remediation measures with user advisories to manually check/update browser versions, and communication strategy with public security advisory, communication strategy with restricted vulnerability details until majority of users patched, and and and containment measures with forensic investigation, containment measures with internal audit of contractor processes, and remediation measures with enhanced access controls (multi-factor authentication for contractors), remediation measures with ai-driven anomaly detection for screenshot activities, and communication strategy with notification to relevant authorities, communication strategy with internal transparency (likely), and and third party assistance with have i been pwned, third party assistance with synthient, third party assistance with troy hunt, and remediation measures with google advised users to enable two-step verification, remediation measures with adopt passkeys, remediation measures with change compromised passwords, remediation measures with activate multi-factor authentication, and communication strategy with google disputed 'gmail breach' claims via social media, communication strategy with public advisories via have i been pwned and media outlets, and containment measures with public advisory to reset compromised passwords, containment measures with promotion of passkeys as default authentication, and remediation measures with encouraging passkey adoption (352% increase in usage), remediation measures with advocating for non-sms multi-factor authentication (mfa), and recovery measures with user guidance on secure authentication practices, recovery measures with default passkey deployment for personal accounts (october 2023), and communication strategy with public statements denying 'new breach' claims, communication strategy with security advisories via media (forbes, dashlane report), communication strategy with emphasis on proactive security measures, and containment measures with promotion of passkey adoption, containment measures with tightened monitoring of password-based sign-ins, and remediation measures with encouraging users to delete passwords, remediation measures with replacing 2sv with passkeys, remediation measures with advanced protection program integration, and communication strategy with public advisory via media (e.g., fast company), communication strategy with blog posts, communication strategy with user notifications, and enhanced monitoring with increased scrutiny of password fallback sign-ins, and and containment measures with emergency 'out-of-band' patch, and remediation measures with patch for cve-2025-13223, and incident response plan activated with google issued public denial, incident response plan activated with security firms (e.g., synthient) analyzed data sources, and third party assistance with synthient (data collection/analysis), third party assistance with enzoic (continuous password monitoring solutions), and remediation measures with google clarified no breach occurred, remediation measures with security community emphasized need for continuous credential monitoring, remediation measures with recommendations for password hygiene (e.g., avoiding reuse), and communication strategy with google's public statement via cybernews, communication strategy with technical explainers by synthient and cybernews, communication strategy with blog posts (e.g., enzoic) on mitigation strategies, and enhanced monitoring with enzoic's continuous password monitoring solutions..

Incident Details

Can you provide details on each incident ?

Incident : Vulnerability Exploitation

Title: Cloud Security Issues in Google Cloud and AWS

Description: A comprehensive analysis of nearly five million internet-exposed assets revealed that 38% of Google Cloud-hosted services had at least one security issue, more than double AWS’s 15% rate. Additionally, 5.35% of Google Cloud assets contained vulnerabilities deemed easy to exploit by attackers, driven by both misconfigurations and known software flaws. Although no widespread data theft or severe breaches have been reported to date, this high exposure rate leaves customer workloads susceptible to unauthorized access, potential data exposure, and service disruptions. Critical issues, while less common at 0.04%, combined with easily exploitable vulnerabilities could allow attackers to pivot through cloud environments, potentially undermining trust and disrupting business operations. Left unaddressed, these vulnerabilities may result in unexpected downtime, compliance violations, and reputational harm as security incidents attract media attention and scrutiny from regulatory bodies. The complexity of multi-cloud deployments further exacerbates the challenge, with overlooked assets and shadow IT creating additional attack surface. Security teams must prioritize continuous monitoring, automated patch management, and seedless discovery to identify and remediate misconfigurations and software flaws before they can be weaponized by adversaries.

Type: Vulnerability Exploitation

Attack Vector: MisconfigurationKnown Software Flaws

Vulnerability Exploited: Easily Exploitable VulnerabilitiesCritical Issues

Incident : threat

Title: Hackers Threaten to Leak Google Databases Unless Employees Are Fired

Description: A hacking group, identifying itself as 'Scattered LapSus Hunters' (a collective of members from Scattered Spider, LapSus, and ShinyHunters), threatened to leak Google databases unless the company fires two employees: Austin Larsen and Charles Carmakal (both part of Google Threat Intelligence Group). The group also demanded the suspension of Google Threat Intelligence Group investigations into their network. No proof of access to Google databases was provided, but the threat follows a prior incident in August where ShinyHunters obtained data from Salesforce, a third-party service provider for Google.

Type: threat

Threat Actor: Scattered LapSus HuntersScattered SpiderLapSusShinyHunters

Motivation: extortiondisruption of investigationsretaliation

Incident : Data Breach

Title: Major Third-Party Breach Exposes Billions of Gmail Users to Cyberattacks via Salesforce Cloud Platform

Description: Google issued an urgent warning to Gmail users after a breach in Salesforce’s cloud platform exposed billions of individuals to potential cyberattacks. Hackers, including the group 'ShinyHunters,' used social engineering (e.g., vishing) to trick users into sharing login credentials. The stolen data, initially deemed 'basic,' is now being weaponized for extortion and escalated attacks. Google’s Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) detected the campaign in June 2024, with successful intrusions occurring by August. Affected users were notified on August 8. Separately, Google Cloud customers face 'dangling bucket' attacks, where deleted storage buckets are hijacked to inject malware or steal data.

Date Detected: 2024-06

Date Publicly Disclosed: 2024-08-08

Type: Data Breach

Attack Vector: Vishing (Voice Phishing)Social Engineering (IT Support Impersonation)Stolen Credentials from Third-Party BreachDangling Cloud Storage Buckets

Vulnerability Exploited: Human Trust in IT Support ImpersonationReused/Weak PasswordsUnsecured Deleted Cloud Storage Buckets

Threat Actor: ShinyHuntersUNC6040 (associated with Salesforce breaches)

Motivation: Data ExfiltrationExtortionFinancial GainEscalation via Data Leak Site (DLS)

Incident : Data Breach

Title: Google Salesforce Database Breach Leading to Phishing and Vishing Attacks

Description: Google issued a global security alert advising its 2.5 billion Gmail users to update their passwords following a data breach involving one of its Salesforce databases. While consumer Gmail and Cloud accounts were not directly compromised, the stolen business contact details were used in phishing and 'vishing' (voice phishing) campaigns mimicking legitimate Google communications. The breach was attributed to the hacker group ShinyHunters, who impersonated an IT help desk to deploy malware and extract the database contents. Google revoked compromised OAuth tokens for the 'Drift Email' integration and disabled connections between Gmail and Salesforce services to mitigate risks.

Date Publicly Disclosed: 2025-08-05

Type: Data Breach

Attack Vector: Impersonation (IT Help Desk)Malware DeploymentOAuth Token Compromise

Vulnerability Exploited: Human Error (Social Engineering)Weak Authentication for OAuth TokensThird-Party Integration (Drift Email/Salesloft)

Threat Actor: ShinyHunters

Motivation: Financial Gain (Phishing/Scams)Data Exfiltration for ResaleDisruption

Incident : phishing

Title: Sophisticated Phishing Attack on Google Leading to Data Exposure of Multiple Companies

Description: A phishing attack on Google employees resulted in the compromise of a Salesforce database, exposing information from major companies including Cisco, Louis Vuitton, and Adidas. The hacking group ShinyHunters tricked a Google employee into downloading malware, granting access to sensitive corporate data. While regular Gmail data remained uncompromised, the attack highlighted the growing sophistication of phishing techniques, especially with the advent of AI. The incident underscored the critical need for multi-factor authentication (MFA) to prevent unauthorized access via stolen credentials.

Type: phishing

Attack Vector: email phishingmalware downloadcredential harvesting

Vulnerability Exploited: lack of multi-factor authentication (MFA)human error (employee tricked into clicking malicious link)legitimate credentials misuse

Threat Actor: ShinyHunters

Motivation: financial gaindata theftcorporate espionage

Incident : Unauthorized Access

Title: Fraudulent Account Created in Google's Law Enforcement Request System (LERS)

Description: Google confirmed that hackers created a fraudulent account in its Law Enforcement Request System (LERS) platform, which law enforcement uses to submit official data requests. The account was disabled, and no requests were made or data accessed. The threat actor group 'Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters' claimed responsibility, also alleging access to the FBI's eCheck background check system. The group has ties to Shiny Hunters, Scattered Spider, and Lapsus$ extortion groups and has been involved in widespread data theft attacks targeting Salesforce and other major companies.

Date Publicly Disclosed: 2025-09-15

Type: Unauthorized Access

Attack Vector: Fraudulent Account CreationSocial EngineeringCredential Theft

Threat Actor: Scattered Lapsus$ HuntersShiny HuntersScattered SpiderLapsus$

Motivation: Data TheftExtortionDisruptionTaunting Security Researchers

Incident : Bug Bounty Program Analysis

Title: Google Vulnerability Rewards Program (VRP) Study: Impact of Increased Bug Bounty Payouts on Vulnerability Reporting Quality and Quantity

Description: A study conducted by researchers from Harvard, Bocconi University, Hebrew University, and Google Research analyzed the effects of Google's July 2024 decision to increase payouts for Tier 0 (most severe) vulnerabilities by up to 200%. The study found that higher rewards led to a tripling of critical vulnerability reports, a 20% rise in total submissions, and an increase in high-merit submissions (well-documented and actionable). The shift also attracted veteran researchers to focus on high-value targets and brought in a small group of new, highly productive contributors. However, the study highlighted challenges such as resource strain from low-value submissions and competition for skilled researchers among bug bounty programs. Experts emphasized the importance of targeted rewards, researcher engagement, fast triage, and trust-building measures (e.g., recognition, transparency, safe harbor) for long-term program success. The study predates the rise of AI-powered bug-hunting tools, suggesting future research may need to account for automation's impact.

Date Publicly Disclosed: 2024-07-01

Type: Bug Bounty Program Analysis

Motivation: Financial Incentives (Bug Bounty Payouts)Research RecognitionCompetitive Advantage for Researchers

Incident : Vulnerability

Title: Google Chrome V8 JavaScript Engine Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (CVE-2025-12036)

Description: Google has released an urgent security update for its Chrome browser to address a high-severity vulnerability (CVE-2025-12036) in the V8 JavaScript engine that could allow attackers to execute remote code on affected systems. The flaw, classified as an 'inappropriate implementation in V8,' was discovered by Google’s AI-powered Big Sleep project. The vulnerability affects Chrome versions prior to 141.0.7390.122/.123 (Windows/Mac) and 141.0.7390.122 (Linux). Google patched the issue within six days of discovery, emphasizing the urgency due to potential severe consequences like system compromise, data theft, or malicious payload delivery.

Date Detected: 2025-10-15

Date Publicly Disclosed: 2025-10-21

Date Resolved: 2025-10-21

Type: Vulnerability

Attack Vector: Network-based (via malicious JavaScript execution in Chrome)

Vulnerability Exploited: CVE-2025-12036 (Inappropriate implementation in V8 JavaScript engine)

Incident : insider threat

Title: Prolonged Insider Breach at Google Involving Play Store Infrastructure Data Exfiltration

Description: Google experienced a prolonged breach orchestrated by a contractor with privileged access, resulting in the unauthorized capture of nearly 2,000 screenshots and exfiltration of critical internal files. The compromised data included proprietary details on Google’s Play Store infrastructure and security protocols, raising concerns about vulnerabilities in one of Google’s core revenue drivers. The breach underscores risks associated with third-party access and insider threats in highly secure environments.

Type: insider threat

Attack Vector: privileged access abusesocial engineering (possible)screenshot capture

Vulnerability Exploited: inadequate contractor monitoringlack of anomaly detection for screenshot activitiesprivileged access controls

Threat Actor: contractor (identity undisclosed)

Motivation: financial incentives (possible)external coercion (possible)

Incident : Data Breach

Title: Massive Exposure of 183 Million Email Passwords via Infostealer Malware Campaigns

Description: A massive collection of 183 million email passwords, including millions from Gmail accounts, was exposed through infostealer malware campaigns. The breach, surfacing on the Have I Been Pwned database on October 21, 2025, represents one of the largest credential leaks of the year. The compromised accounts stem from malware infections on users’ devices rather than a security failure of Gmail’s servers. The dataset, monitored by cybersecurity firm Synthient, includes 3.5 terabytes of information spanning 23 billion records, with 16.4 million email addresses appearing for the first time in breach records. The incident heightens risks for credential stuffing attacks across multiple platforms.

Date Detected: 2025-10-21

Date Publicly Disclosed: 2025-10-21

Type: Data Breach

Attack Vector: Infostealer MalwarePhishing EmailsMalicious Software DownloadsCompromised Browser Extensions

Vulnerability Exploited: User Device Infections (Malware)

Motivation: Financial GainCredential TheftData Exfiltration for Dark Web Sales

Incident : Credential Stuffing

Title: Gmail Security Credential Compromise and Passkey Adoption Push

Description: Google confirmed that while there was no new Gmail data breach, compromised security credentials (including passwords and authentication tokens) from prior leaks are being exploited by attackers. The company emphasized the importance of resetting passwords found in large batches and adopting passkeys as a stronger alternative to traditional passwords. Google also reported a 352% increase in passkey authentications over the past year, driven by making passkeys the default login option for personal Google Accounts in October 2023. The incident highlights the ongoing risks of credential theft, phishing, and infostealer malware, with Google advocating for multi-factor authentication (MFA) and passkeys to mitigate account compromises.

Date Publicly Disclosed: 2023-11-03

Type: Credential Stuffing

Attack Vector: Compromised Passwords from Prior BreachesPhishingInfostealers (Malware)Cookie and Authentication Token Theft

Vulnerability Exploited: Weak or Reused PasswordsLack of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)Over-reliance on SMS-based 2FA

Motivation: Account TakeoverData TheftUnauthorized Access

Incident : Zero-day vulnerability

Title: Google Chrome Zero-Day Vulnerability (CVE-2025-13223) in V8 JavaScript Engine

Description: For the third time in recent months, Google has addressed a potentially serious zero-day flaw in the Chrome browser’s V8 JavaScript engine. The vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-13223, was discovered by Clément Lecigne of Google’s Threat Analysis Group (TAG). Evidence suggests the flaw (CVSS score: 8.8, rated 'high') was being exploited in the wild. An emergency 'out-of-band' patch was released on Monday to mitigate the issue.

Date Resolved: 2025-MM-DD (Monday, exact date unspecified)

Type: Zero-day vulnerability

Vulnerability Exploited: CVE-2025-13223 (V8 JavaScript engine flaw)

Incident : Credential Theft

Title: Aggregated Credential Leak from Infostealer Malware (Misreported as '183 Million Gmail Breach')

Description: A large dataset of 183 million credentials, primarily collected via infostealer malware over time, was misreported as a 'Gmail breach.' The credentials were aggregated from malware logs and legacy breaches, not from a compromise of Google's infrastructure. The incident highlights the ongoing risk of credential theft via infostealers, which harvest login details from infected endpoints and trade them in criminal markets (e.g., Telegram). The dataset included unique email:password pairs with associated domains, emphasizing the need for continuous password monitoring to mitigate credential-stuffing attacks.

Type: Credential Theft

Attack Vector: Infostealer MalwareMalware LogsLegacy Breach DataTelegram Criminal Channels

Vulnerability Exploited: Password ReuseUnpatched EndpointsLack of Continuous Credential MonitoringBrowser-Stored Credentials

Threat Actor: Unknown CybercriminalsInfostealer OperatorsCredential Aggregators

Motivation: Financial GainCredential StuffingFraudAccount Takeover

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 Stolen Salesforce Cloud DataVishing Calls (IT Support Impersonation), IT Help Desk Impersonation (Social Engineering), phishing email to Google employee, Fraudulent account creation in LERS platform, privileged contractor access, Phishing EmailsMalicious Software DownloadsCompromised Browser Extensions, Compromised Credentials from Prior BreachesPhishing LinksInfostealer Malware, Phishing LinksMalicious SMSInfostealer Malware and Infostealer malware infections on endpoints.

Impact of the Incidents

What was the impact of each incident ?

Incident : Vulnerability Exploitation GOO1046050625

Systems Affected: Google CloudAWS

Downtime: ['Unexpected Downtime']

Operational Impact: Service DisruptionsBusiness Operations Disruptions

Brand Reputation Impact: Reputational Harm

Legal Liabilities: Compliance Violations

Incident : threat GOO905090225

Brand Reputation Impact: potential (due to public threat and media coverage)

Incident : Data Breach GOO913090225

Data Compromised: Business data (initially 'basic and publicly available'), Login credentials, Potential customer data (via dangling buckets)

Systems Affected: Gmail AccountsGoogle Cloud Storage Buckets

Operational Impact: Increased Phishing/Social Engineering RisksHeightened Monitoring Requirements

Brand Reputation Impact: High (Urgent warning issued to 2.5B users; trust in platform security questioned)

Identity Theft Risk: High (Stolen credentials enable account takeovers)

Incident : Data Breach GOO21105921090425

Data Compromised: Business contact information (company names, customer names)

Systems Affected: Salesforce Database (Advertiser Management)Drift Email IntegrationOAuth Tokens

Operational Impact: Temporary Suspension of Gmail-Salesforce IntegrationsRevocation of OAuth Tokens

Brand Reputation Impact: Increased Phishing Risks for 2.5B Gmail UsersErosion of Trust in Google Workspace Security

Identity Theft Risk: ['Low (No PII or Passwords Compromised)']

Incident : phishing GOO1162311090825

Data Compromised: Corporate data from salesforce database, Information from cisco, louis vuitton, adidas, and other companies

Systems Affected: Salesforce database accessed via Google employee credentials

Brand Reputation Impact: potential reputational damage to Google and affected companies (Cisco, Louis Vuitton, Adidas, etc.)eroded trust in Google's security measures

Incident : Unauthorized Access GOO4002740091625

Data Compromised: None (no data accessed)

Systems Affected: Google Law Enforcement Request System (LERS)

Operational Impact: Potential risk of impersonating law enforcement to access sensitive user data

Brand Reputation Impact: Moderate (public disclosure of fraudulent account creation)

Identity Theft Risk: Potential (if account had been used to impersonate law enforcement)

Incident : Bug Bounty Program Analysis GOO3062030100725

Operational Impact: Increased triage workload for low-value submissionsResource allocation challenges for security teamsCompetition for skilled researchers among programs

Brand Reputation Impact: Positive: Improved vulnerability detectionPotential negative: Delays in triage or communication could harm researcher trust

Incident : Vulnerability GOO1232812102225

Systems Affected: Chrome browsers (Windows, Mac, Linux) running versions prior to 141.0.7390.122/.123

Operational Impact: Potential for remote code execution, system compromise, or malicious payload delivery if exploited

Brand Reputation Impact: Minimal (proactive patching mitigated risk)

Identity Theft Risk: High (if exploited, could lead to sensitive data theft)

Payment Information Risk: High (if exploited, could expose payment data processed via browser)

Incident : insider threat GOO5092350102625

Data Compromised: Play store infrastructure details, Security protocols, Proprietary insights into app distribution mechanisms, Screenshots (~2,000)

Systems Affected: Google Play Store ecosysteminternal systems with sensitive data

Operational Impact: internal audit of contractor vetting processesenhanced access controls implementationforensic investigation

Brand Reputation Impact: potential erosion of trust in Play Store securityregulatory scrutinyinvestor confidence fluctuations

Incident : Data Breach GOO0502305103125

Data Compromised: Email addresses, Passwords, Website urls, Browser data, Session tokens

Systems Affected: User Devices (Infected with Infostealer Malware)

Brand Reputation Impact: Moderate (Google disputed claims of a 'Gmail breach' but acknowledged user device infections)

Identity Theft Risk: High (Active passwords exposed increase risk of credential stuffing)

Incident : Credential Stuffing GOO3632636110425

Data Compromised: User credentials (passwords), Authentication tokens, Cookies

Systems Affected: Gmail AccountsGoogle Personal Accounts

Brand Reputation Impact: Misinformation about 'Massive Breach'User Confusion Over Security Advice

Identity Theft Risk: ['High (Due to Credential Reuse Across Platforms)']

Incident : Zero-day vulnerability GOO0402404111925

Systems Affected: Google Chrome browser (V8 JavaScript engine)

Brand Reputation Impact: Potential reputational risk due to repeated zero-day exploits

Incident : Credential Theft GOO2212622112625

Data Compromised: 183 million credentials (email:password pairs with domains), Legacy breach data, Fresh infostealer logs

Operational Impact: Increased risk of credential-stuffing attacksPotential account takeovers across services (corporate/personal)Reputational harm from misreporting

Customer Complaints: ['Potential user panic due to misleading headlines']

Brand Reputation Impact: Google's denial clarified no breach, but misreporting caused confusionHighlighted broader industry issue of credential theft

Identity Theft Risk: ['High (due to credential reuse across services)']

What types of data are most commonly compromised in incidents ?

Commonly Compromised Data Types: The types of data most commonly compromised in incidents are Business Data, Login Credentials, Potentially Sensitive Customer Data (Via Dangling Buckets), , Business Contact Information (Non-Sensitive), , Corporate Data, Business Information From Salesforce Database, , None, Proprietary Business Information, Security Protocols, Internal Documentation, Screenshots, , Email Addresses, Passwords, Website Urls, Browser Data, Session Tokens, , Passwords, Authentication Tokens, Cookies, , Email Addresses, Passwords, , Email:Password Pairs, Domain Associations, Browser-Stored Credentials and .

Which entities were affected by each incident ?

Incident : Vulnerability Exploitation GOO1046050625

Entity Name: Google Cloud

Entity Type: Cloud Service Provider

Industry: Technology

Incident : Vulnerability Exploitation GOO1046050625

Entity Name: AWS

Entity Type: Cloud Service Provider

Industry: Technology

Incident : threat GOO905090225

Entity Name: Google

Entity Type: corporation

Industry: technology

Location: Mountain View, California, USA

Size: large (multinational)

Incident : threat GOO905090225

Entity Name: Salesforce

Entity Type: corporation

Industry: cloud computing / CRM

Location: San Francisco, California, USA

Size: large (multinational)

Incident : Data Breach GOO913090225

Entity Name: Google (Gmail/Google Cloud Users)

Entity Type: Technology Company

Industry: Internet Services/Cloud Computing

Location: Global

Size: 2.5 billion users

Customers Affected: Billions (exact number unspecified)

Incident : Data Breach GOO913090225

Entity Name: Salesforce

Entity Type: Cloud Platform Provider

Industry: Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Location: Global

Incident : Data Breach GOO21105921090425

Entity Name: Google (Alphabet Inc.)

Entity Type: Corporation

Industry: Technology (Cloud Services, Advertising, Email)

Location: Mountain View, California, USA (HQ); Breach Linked to Salesforce Database

Size: 2.5 billion Gmail users (indirectly affected); Google Workspace administrators (directly notified)

Customers Affected: Potential advertisers (business contact data exposed)

Incident : Data Breach GOO21105921090425

Entity Name: Salesforce (Third-Party Vendor)

Entity Type: Corporation

Industry: Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Location: San Francisco, California, USA

Incident : Data Breach GOO21105921090425

Entity Name: Drift Email (Salesloft Integration)

Entity Type: Software Service

Industry: Sales Engagement Platform

Incident : phishing GOO1162311090825

Entity Name: Google

Entity Type: technology company

Industry: internet services

Location: Mountain View, California, USA

Size: large (Alphabet Inc.)

Incident : phishing GOO1162311090825

Entity Name: Cisco

Entity Type: technology company

Industry: networking hardware

Location: San Jose, California, USA

Size: large

Incident : phishing GOO1162311090825

Entity Name: Louis Vuitton (LVMH)

Entity Type: luxury goods company

Industry: fashion & retail

Location: Paris, France

Size: large

Incident : phishing GOO1162311090825

Entity Name: Adidas

Entity Type: sportswear company

Industry: apparel & footwear

Location: Herzogenaurach, Germany

Size: large

Incident : phishing GOO1162311090825

Entity Name: Other unnamed big companies

Incident : Unauthorized Access GOO4002740091625

Entity Name: Google

Entity Type: Technology Company

Industry: Internet Services

Location: Global (HQ: Mountain View, California, USA)

Size: Large (Alphabet Inc.)

Customers Affected: None (no data accessed)

Incident : Unauthorized Access GOO4002740091625

Entity Name: FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation)

Entity Type: Government Agency

Industry: Law Enforcement

Location: USA

Size: Large

Incident : Bug Bounty Program Analysis GOO3062030100725

Entity Name: Google

Entity Type: Technology Company

Industry: Internet Services

Location: Global (HQ: Mountain View, California, USA)

Size: Large (Alphabet Inc. subsidiary)

Incident : Bug Bounty Program Analysis GOO3062030100725

Entity Name: Bug Bounty Programs (Industry-Wide)

Entity Type: Cybersecurity Initiatives

Industry: Technology/Information Security

Location: Global

Incident : Vulnerability GOO1232812102225

Entity Name: Google Chrome Users

Entity Type: Software Users

Industry: Technology (Browser Software)

Location: Global

Customers Affected: All users running Chrome versions prior to 141.0.7390.122/.123 (Windows/Mac/Linux)

Incident : insider threat GOO5092350102625

Entity Name: Google (Alphabet Inc.)

Entity Type: technology corporation

Industry: internet services, cloud computing, software

Location: Mountain View, California, USA

Size: large (global enterprise)

Incident : Data Breach GOO0502305103125

Entity Name: Google (Gmail Users)

Entity Type: Technology Company

Industry: Internet Services

Location: Global

Customers Affected: 183 million email passwords (including millions of Gmail accounts)

Incident : Data Breach GOO0502305103125

Entity Name: General Internet Users

Entity Type: Individuals/Organizations

Industry: Multiple

Location: Global

Customers Affected: 23 billion records (including 16.4 million previously unseen email addresses)

Incident : Credential Stuffing GOO3632636110425

Entity Name: Google (Gmail Users)

Entity Type: Technology Company

Industry: Internet Services

Location: Global

Size: Billions of Users

Customers Affected: Unknown (Potentially Millions with Compromised Credentials)

Incident : Zero-day vulnerability GOO0402404111925

Entity Name: Google

Entity Type: Corporation

Industry: Technology (Internet, Software)

Location: Mountain View, California, USA

Size: Large (Alphabet Inc. subsidiary)

Incident : Credential Theft GOO2212622112625

Entity Name: Google (Gmail Users)

Entity Type: Technology Company

Industry: Internet Services

Location: Global

Customers Affected: 183 million credentials (not necessarily active or unique users)

Incident : Credential Theft GOO2212622112625

Entity Name: Users of Other Services (via Credential Reuse)

Entity Type: Individuals/Organizations

Industry: Multiple

Location: Global

Response to the Incidents

What measures were taken in response to each incident ?

Incident : Vulnerability Exploitation GOO1046050625

Remediation Measures: Continuous MonitoringAutomated Patch ManagementSeedless Discovery

Incident : threat GOO905090225

Communication Strategy: media statement pending (Newsweek contacted Google for comment)

Incident : Data Breach GOO913090225

Incident Response Plan Activated: Yes (Google Threat Intelligence Group monitoring)

Containment Measures: User Notifications (Email Alerts)Public Advisory

Communication Strategy: Urgent Warning via Media (Geek Spin, Fox News)Direct User EmailsBlog Post by Google Cloud

Enhanced Monitoring: Yes (Ongoing by GTIG)

Incident : Data Breach GOO21105921090425

Incident Response Plan Activated: True

Containment Measures: Revoked OAuth Tokens for Drift Email IntegrationDisabled Gmail-Salesloft Drift ConnectivityNotified Google Workspace Administrators

Remediation Measures: Password Update Recommendations for Gmail UsersPromotion of Passkeys (Biometric Authentication)Enhanced Phishing Detection Filters

Communication Strategy: Global Security Alert to 2.5B Gmail UsersOfficial Blog Post (August 5, 2025)Direct Notifications to Workspace AdministratorsSecurity Help Resources (Passkey Adoption Guides)

Enhanced Monitoring: Phishing and Vishing Attack Patterns

Incident : phishing GOO1162311090825

Remediation Measures: advisory to enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for critical services

Communication Strategy: public disclosure of incident (excluding Gmail compromise)expert commentary on mitigation strategies (e.g., MFA)

Incident : Unauthorized Access GOO4002740091625

Incident Response Plan Activated: Yes (account disabled)

Law Enforcement Notified: Likely (FBI declined to comment)

Containment Measures: Disabled fraudulent account

Communication Strategy: Public statement to BleepingComputerArticle title update to clarify no breach occurred

Incident : Bug Bounty Program Analysis GOO3062030100725

Third Party Assistance: Academic Researchers (Harvard, Bocconi University, Hebrew University), Industry Experts (Intigriti, Alvearium Associates, Upcloud).

Communication Strategy: Public disclosure of study findingsExpert commentary (Help Net Security, industry interviews)Recommendations for bug bounty program optimization

Incident : Vulnerability GOO1232812102225

Incident Response Plan Activated: True

Containment Measures: Urgent patch release (Chrome 141.0.7390.122/.123)Automatic update rollout to users

Remediation Measures: Patch deployment via Chrome's auto-update mechanismUser advisories to manually check/update browser versions

Communication Strategy: Public security advisoryRestricted vulnerability details until majority of users patched

Incident : insider threat GOO5092350102625

Incident Response Plan Activated: True

Containment Measures: forensic investigationinternal audit of contractor processes

Remediation Measures: enhanced access controls (multi-factor authentication for contractors)AI-driven anomaly detection for screenshot activities

Communication Strategy: notification to relevant authoritiesinternal transparency (likely)

Incident : Data Breach GOO0502305103125

Third Party Assistance: Have I Been Pwned, Synthient, Troy Hunt.

Remediation Measures: Google advised users to enable two-step verificationAdopt passkeysChange compromised passwordsActivate multi-factor authentication

Communication Strategy: Google disputed 'Gmail breach' claims via social mediaPublic advisories via Have I Been Pwned and media outlets

Incident : Credential Stuffing GOO3632636110425

Containment Measures: Public Advisory to Reset Compromised PasswordsPromotion of Passkeys as Default Authentication

Remediation Measures: Encouraging Passkey Adoption (352% Increase in Usage)Advocating for Non-SMS Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Recovery Measures: User Guidance on Secure Authentication PracticesDefault Passkey Deployment for Personal Accounts (October 2023)

Communication Strategy: Public Statements Denying 'New Breach' ClaimsSecurity Advisories via Media (Forbes, Dashlane Report)Emphasis on Proactive Security Measures

Incident : Zero-day vulnerability GOO0402404111925

Incident Response Plan Activated: True

Containment Measures: Emergency 'out-of-band' patch

Remediation Measures: Patch for CVE-2025-13223

Incident : Credential Theft GOO2212622112625

Incident Response Plan Activated: ['Google issued public denial', 'Security firms (e.g., Synthient) analyzed data sources']

Third Party Assistance: Synthient (Data Collection/Analysis), Enzoic (Continuous Password Monitoring Solutions).

Remediation Measures: Google clarified no breach occurredSecurity community emphasized need for continuous credential monitoringRecommendations for password hygiene (e.g., avoiding reuse)

Communication Strategy: Google's public statement via CybernewsTechnical explainers by Synthient and CybernewsBlog posts (e.g., Enzoic) on mitigation strategies

Enhanced Monitoring: Enzoic's continuous password monitoring solutions

What is the company's incident response plan?

Incident Response Plan: The company's incident response plan is described as Yes (Google Threat Intelligence Group monitoring), , Yes (account disabled), , , , Google issued public denial, Security firms (e.g., Synthient) analyzed data sources, .

How does the company involve third-party assistance in incident response ?

Third-Party Assistance: The company involves third-party assistance in incident response through Academic researchers (Harvard, Bocconi University, Hebrew University), Industry experts (Intigriti, Alvearium Associates, UpCloud), , Have I Been Pwned, Synthient, Troy Hunt, , Synthient (data collection/analysis), Enzoic (continuous password monitoring solutions), .

Data Breach Information

What type of data was compromised in each breach ?

Incident : Data Breach GOO913090225

Type of Data Compromised: Business data, Login credentials, Potentially sensitive customer data (via dangling buckets)

Number of Records Exposed: Billions (exact number unspecified)

Sensitivity of Data: Low (initially 'publicly available')High (credentials enable account takeovers)

Data Exfiltration: Yes (by ShinyHunters/UNC6040)

Personally Identifiable Information: Potential (via credential reuse)

Incident : Data Breach GOO21105921090425

Type of Data Compromised: Business contact information (non-sensitive)

Sensitivity of Data: Low (No PII, Passwords, or Financial Data)

Incident : phishing GOO1162311090825

Type of Data Compromised: Corporate data, Business information from salesforce database

Sensitivity of Data: high (corporate-sensitive information)

Incident : Unauthorized Access GOO4002740091625

Type of Data Compromised: None

Number of Records Exposed: 0

Sensitivity of Data: None

Data Exfiltration: No

Personally Identifiable Information: None

Incident : insider threat GOO5092350102625

Type of Data Compromised: Proprietary business information, Security protocols, Internal documentation, Screenshots

Sensitivity of Data: high (internal infrastructure and security details)

File Types Exposed: documentsscreenshotsproprietary files

Incident : Data Breach GOO0502305103125

Type of Data Compromised: Email addresses, Passwords, Website urls, Browser data, Session tokens

Number of Records Exposed: 23 billion records (183 million unique email passwords, including 16.4 million previously unseen)

Sensitivity of Data: High (Active credentials for multiple services)

Data Exfiltration: Yes (via infostealer malware to underground channels)

Personally Identifiable Information: Yes (Email addresses linked to passwords and service logins)

Incident : Credential Stuffing GOO3632636110425

Type of Data Compromised: Passwords, Authentication tokens, Cookies

Sensitivity of Data: High (Account Access Credentials)

Personally Identifiable Information: Potential (If Credentials Linked to PII)

Incident : Credential Theft GOO2212622112625

Type of Data Compromised: Email:password pairs, Domain associations, Browser-stored credentials

Number of Records Exposed: 183 million

Sensitivity of Data: Moderate to High (depends on credential reuse and service access)

Data Exfiltration: Via infostealer malware from endpoints

Personally Identifiable Information: Email addressesPasswords

What measures does the company take to prevent data exfiltration ?

Prevention of Data Exfiltration: The company takes the following measures to prevent data exfiltration: Continuous Monitoring, Automated Patch Management, Seedless Discovery, , Password Update Recommendations for Gmail Users, Promotion of Passkeys (Biometric Authentication), Enhanced Phishing Detection Filters, , advisory to enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for critical services, , Patch deployment via Chrome's auto-update mechanism, User advisories to manually check/update browser versions, , enhanced access controls (multi-factor authentication for contractors), AI-driven anomaly detection for screenshot activities, , Google advised users to enable two-step verification, Adopt passkeys, Change compromised passwords, Activate multi-factor authentication, , Encouraging Passkey Adoption (352% Increase in Usage), Advocating for Non-SMS Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), , Encouraging Users to Delete Passwords, Replacing 2SV with Passkeys, Advanced Protection Program Integration, , Patch for CVE-2025-13223, , Google clarified no breach occurred, Security community emphasized need for continuous credential monitoring, Recommendations for password hygiene (e.g., avoiding reuse), .

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 user notifications (email alerts), public advisory, , revoked oauth tokens for drift email integration, disabled gmail-salesloft drift connectivity, notified google workspace administrators, , disabled fraudulent account, , urgent patch release (chrome 141.0.7390.122/.123), automatic update rollout to users, , forensic investigation, internal audit of contractor processes, , public advisory to reset compromised passwords, promotion of passkeys as default authentication, , promotion of passkey adoption, tightened monitoring of password-based sign-ins, , emergency 'out-of-band' patch and .

Ransomware Information

Was ransomware involved in any of the incidents ?

Incident : insider threat GOO5092350102625

Data Exfiltration: True

How does the company recover data encrypted by ransomware ?

Data Recovery from Ransomware: The company recovers data encrypted by ransomware through User Guidance on Secure Authentication Practices, Default Passkey Deployment for Personal Accounts (October 2023), .

Regulatory Compliance

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

Incident : insider threat GOO5092350102625

Regulatory Notifications: relevant authorities notified (unspecified)

Lessons Learned and Recommendations

What lessons were learned from each incident ?

Incident : Vulnerability Exploitation GOO1046050625

Lessons Learned: Security teams must prioritize continuous monitoring, automated patch management, and seedless discovery to identify and remediate misconfigurations and software flaws before they can be weaponized by adversaries.

Incident : Data Breach GOO913090225

Lessons Learned: Third-party breaches can cascade into attacks on unrelated platforms (e.g., Salesforce → Gmail)., Vishing remains highly effective, especially against English-speaking global employees., Dangling cloud storage buckets are an underaddressed attack vector., User vigilance (2FA, password hygiene) is critical even when primary platforms (e.g., Google) are secure.

Incident : Data Breach GOO21105921090425

Lessons Learned: Third-party integrations (e.g., Salesforce, Drift) introduce attack surfaces even for tech giants like Google., Social engineering (e.g., IT help desk impersonation) remains a critical vector for initial access., OAuth token security requires stricter authentication and monitoring., Phishing risks escalate significantly even with non-sensitive data breaches (e.g., business contacts used for convincing scams).

Incident : phishing GOO1162311090825

Lessons Learned: Phishing attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, especially with AI-driven techniques., Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is critical for protecting against credential theft., Legitimate credentials can be weaponized if MFA is not enforced., Hackers exploit the lack of regulatory constraints, allowing rapid iteration of attack methods ('throwing spaghetti at the wall')., Employee training and awareness are essential to mitigate human-error risks.

Incident : Bug Bounty Program Analysis GOO3062030100725

Lessons Learned: Higher payouts for critical vulnerabilities (Tier 0) significantly increase high-quality submissions, but broad payout increases may strain resources with low-value reports., Veteran researchers shift focus to high-value targets when rewards increase, while a small group of new, productive researchers may join the program., Competition for skilled researchers intensifies when programs raise payouts, creating a talent marketplace dynamic., Success depends on more than payouts: fast triage, clear scope, researcher engagement, and trust-building (e.g., recognition, transparency, safe harbor) are critical., Researcher experience (e.g., fast feedback, respectful communication) often matters more than reward amounts alone., Metrics like signal-to-noise ratio, time-to-triage, and researcher retention should be tracked to assess program maturity., Future programs may need to adapt to AI-powered bug-hunting tools and their impact on human effort.

Incident : Vulnerability GOO1232812102225

Lessons Learned: Proactive AI-powered vulnerability discovery (e.g., Google's Big Sleep project) and rapid patch deployment are critical to mitigating high-severity flaws in widely used software like Chrome. Automated security tools (e.g., AddressSanitizer, libFuzzer) play a key role in identifying vulnerabilities before exploitation.

Incident : insider threat GOO5092350102625

Lessons Learned: Human element (contractors/insiders) remains a critical weak link in cybersecurity defenses., Inadequate monitoring of privileged access can lead to prolonged, undetected breaches., Supply chain security (third-party contractors) requires stricter oversight and controls., Proactive measures like AI-driven anomaly detection and zero-trust models are essential to mitigate insider threats., Balancing cost-cutting (outsourcing) with security risks is a persistent challenge for large enterprises.

Incident : Data Breach GOO0502305103125

Lessons Learned: Infostealer malware poses a rapidly growing threat, with an 800% increase in stolen credentials in early 2025., User device security is critical; malware infections can bypass service-level protections (e.g., Gmail servers)., Credential stuffing risks escalate when active passwords are exposed across multiple platforms., Proactive monitoring of dark web/underground channels can help mitigate large-scale credential leaks.

Incident : Credential Stuffing GOO3632636110425

Lessons Learned: Default security settings (e.g., passkeys) drive mass adoption more effectively than opt-in features., Credential theft remains a dominant attack vector, necessitating stronger authentication beyond passwords., Public misinformation about breaches can undermine trust, requiring clear and proactive communication., SMS-based 2FA is insufficient; non-SMS MFA and passkeys are critical for account security.

Incident : Credential Theft GOO2212622112625

Lessons Learned: Headlines about large credential dumps often misrepresent the source (e.g., not a direct breach of the named service)., Infostealer malware is a persistent, high-volume threat that harvests credentials from endpoints., Credential reuse across services amplifies risk (e.g., personal email passwords used for corporate logins)., Periodic credential checks are insufficient; continuous monitoring is critical to detect exposures in real time., Automated tools (e.g., Enzoic) can block compromised passwords at creation and monitor existing credentials.

What recommendations were made to prevent future incidents ?

Incident : Vulnerability Exploitation GOO1046050625

Recommendations: Prioritize continuous monitoring, automated patch management, and seedless discovery to identify and remediate misconfigurations and software flaws before they can be weaponized by adversaries.

Incident : Data Breach GOO913090225

Recommendations: Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for all accounts., Use unique, strong passwords and change them regularly., Avoid clicking unrecognized links or sharing credentials over phone/email., Monitor accounts for suspicious activity (e.g., unauthorized logins)., Organizations should audit cloud storage for dangling buckets., Conduct regular security awareness training on vishing/social engineering.Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for all accounts., Use unique, strong passwords and change them regularly., Avoid clicking unrecognized links or sharing credentials over phone/email., Monitor accounts for suspicious activity (e.g., unauthorized logins)., Organizations should audit cloud storage for dangling buckets., Conduct regular security awareness training on vishing/social engineering.Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for all accounts., Use unique, strong passwords and change them regularly., Avoid clicking unrecognized links or sharing credentials over phone/email., Monitor accounts for suspicious activity (e.g., unauthorized logins)., Organizations should audit cloud storage for dangling buckets., Conduct regular security awareness training on vishing/social engineering.Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for all accounts., Use unique, strong passwords and change them regularly., Avoid clicking unrecognized links or sharing credentials over phone/email., Monitor accounts for suspicious activity (e.g., unauthorized logins)., Organizations should audit cloud storage for dangling buckets., Conduct regular security awareness training on vishing/social engineering.Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for all accounts., Use unique, strong passwords and change them regularly., Avoid clicking unrecognized links or sharing credentials over phone/email., Monitor accounts for suspicious activity (e.g., unauthorized logins)., Organizations should audit cloud storage for dangling buckets., Conduct regular security awareness training on vishing/social engineering.Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for all accounts., Use unique, strong passwords and change them regularly., Avoid clicking unrecognized links or sharing credentials over phone/email., Monitor accounts for suspicious activity (e.g., unauthorized logins)., Organizations should audit cloud storage for dangling buckets., Conduct regular security awareness training on vishing/social engineering.

Incident : Data Breach GOO21105921090425

Recommendations: Replace passwords with passkeys (biometric authentication) for all users., Enable non-SMS two-factor authentication (2FA) across Google Workspace., Enroll high-risk users in Google’s Advanced Protection Program., Monitor for phishing/vishing campaigns leveraging breached business data., Audit and secure third-party integrations (e.g., Salesforce, Drift) with granular OAuth permissions., Conduct regular social engineering drills for employees (e.g., IT help desk impersonation scenarios).Replace passwords with passkeys (biometric authentication) for all users., Enable non-SMS two-factor authentication (2FA) across Google Workspace., Enroll high-risk users in Google’s Advanced Protection Program., Monitor for phishing/vishing campaigns leveraging breached business data., Audit and secure third-party integrations (e.g., Salesforce, Drift) with granular OAuth permissions., Conduct regular social engineering drills for employees (e.g., IT help desk impersonation scenarios).Replace passwords with passkeys (biometric authentication) for all users., Enable non-SMS two-factor authentication (2FA) across Google Workspace., Enroll high-risk users in Google’s Advanced Protection Program., Monitor for phishing/vishing campaigns leveraging breached business data., Audit and secure third-party integrations (e.g., Salesforce, Drift) with granular OAuth permissions., Conduct regular social engineering drills for employees (e.g., IT help desk impersonation scenarios).Replace passwords with passkeys (biometric authentication) for all users., Enable non-SMS two-factor authentication (2FA) across Google Workspace., Enroll high-risk users in Google’s Advanced Protection Program., Monitor for phishing/vishing campaigns leveraging breached business data., Audit and secure third-party integrations (e.g., Salesforce, Drift) with granular OAuth permissions., Conduct regular social engineering drills for employees (e.g., IT help desk impersonation scenarios).Replace passwords with passkeys (biometric authentication) for all users., Enable non-SMS two-factor authentication (2FA) across Google Workspace., Enroll high-risk users in Google’s Advanced Protection Program., Monitor for phishing/vishing campaigns leveraging breached business data., Audit and secure third-party integrations (e.g., Salesforce, Drift) with granular OAuth permissions., Conduct regular social engineering drills for employees (e.g., IT help desk impersonation scenarios).Replace passwords with passkeys (biometric authentication) for all users., Enable non-SMS two-factor authentication (2FA) across Google Workspace., Enroll high-risk users in Google’s Advanced Protection Program., Monitor for phishing/vishing campaigns leveraging breached business data., Audit and secure third-party integrations (e.g., Salesforce, Drift) with granular OAuth permissions., Conduct regular social engineering drills for employees (e.g., IT help desk impersonation scenarios).

Incident : phishing GOO1162311090825

Recommendations: Enable MFA for all critical services (banking, healthcare, employment, etc.)., Implement advanced email filtering and anti-phishing solutions., Conduct regular security awareness training for employees., Monitor dark web for stolen credentials or data leaks., Enforce least-privilege access controls to limit lateral movement.Enable MFA for all critical services (banking, healthcare, employment, etc.)., Implement advanced email filtering and anti-phishing solutions., Conduct regular security awareness training for employees., Monitor dark web for stolen credentials or data leaks., Enforce least-privilege access controls to limit lateral movement.Enable MFA for all critical services (banking, healthcare, employment, etc.)., Implement advanced email filtering and anti-phishing solutions., Conduct regular security awareness training for employees., Monitor dark web for stolen credentials or data leaks., Enforce least-privilege access controls to limit lateral movement.Enable MFA for all critical services (banking, healthcare, employment, etc.)., Implement advanced email filtering and anti-phishing solutions., Conduct regular security awareness training for employees., Monitor dark web for stolen credentials or data leaks., Enforce least-privilege access controls to limit lateral movement.Enable MFA for all critical services (banking, healthcare, employment, etc.)., Implement advanced email filtering and anti-phishing solutions., Conduct regular security awareness training for employees., Monitor dark web for stolen credentials or data leaks., Enforce least-privilege access controls to limit lateral movement.

Incident : Unauthorized Access GOO4002740091625

Recommendations: Strengthen authentication mechanisms for law enforcement request systems, Monitor for fraudulent account creation attempts, Enhance social engineering defenses, Improve collaboration with law enforcement to track threat actorsStrengthen authentication mechanisms for law enforcement request systems, Monitor for fraudulent account creation attempts, Enhance social engineering defenses, Improve collaboration with law enforcement to track threat actorsStrengthen authentication mechanisms for law enforcement request systems, Monitor for fraudulent account creation attempts, Enhance social engineering defenses, Improve collaboration with law enforcement to track threat actorsStrengthen authentication mechanisms for law enforcement request systems, Monitor for fraudulent account creation attempts, Enhance social engineering defenses, Improve collaboration with law enforcement to track threat actors

Incident : Bug Bounty Program Analysis GOO3062030100725

Recommendations: Benchmark payouts against similar programs in your industry, but concentrate rewards on high-impact vulnerabilities., Run targeted campaigns with bonus rewards for medium-to-critical vulnerabilities in specific areas of concern., Identify worst-case scenario vulnerabilities and attach significant bonuses to prioritize researcher focus., Define a clear, focused scope for external research to avoid low-risk submissions and align with high-risk breach prevention., Prioritize researcher experience: fast, human triage; respectful feedback; and transparent communication (e.g., updates on delays)., Implement trust-building measures like safe harbor policies, paid researcher engagements, and non-monetary recognition (e.g., hall of fame, swag, CEO letters)., Track key metrics (signal quality, triage speed, time-to-fix) to evaluate program effectiveness and researcher satisfaction., Prepare for the impact of AI tools on bug hunting by monitoring automation trends and adjusting reward structures accordingly.Benchmark payouts against similar programs in your industry, but concentrate rewards on high-impact vulnerabilities., Run targeted campaigns with bonus rewards for medium-to-critical vulnerabilities in specific areas of concern., Identify worst-case scenario vulnerabilities and attach significant bonuses to prioritize researcher focus., Define a clear, focused scope for external research to avoid low-risk submissions and align with high-risk breach prevention., Prioritize researcher experience: fast, human triage; respectful feedback; and transparent communication (e.g., updates on delays)., Implement trust-building measures like safe harbor policies, paid researcher engagements, and non-monetary recognition (e.g., hall of fame, swag, CEO letters)., Track key metrics (signal quality, triage speed, time-to-fix) to evaluate program effectiveness and researcher satisfaction., Prepare for the impact of AI tools on bug hunting by monitoring automation trends and adjusting reward structures accordingly.Benchmark payouts against similar programs in your industry, but concentrate rewards on high-impact vulnerabilities., Run targeted campaigns with bonus rewards for medium-to-critical vulnerabilities in specific areas of concern., Identify worst-case scenario vulnerabilities and attach significant bonuses to prioritize researcher focus., Define a clear, focused scope for external research to avoid low-risk submissions and align with high-risk breach prevention., Prioritize researcher experience: fast, human triage; respectful feedback; and transparent communication (e.g., updates on delays)., Implement trust-building measures like safe harbor policies, paid researcher engagements, and non-monetary recognition (e.g., hall of fame, swag, CEO letters)., Track key metrics (signal quality, triage speed, time-to-fix) to evaluate program effectiveness and researcher satisfaction., Prepare for the impact of AI tools on bug hunting by monitoring automation trends and adjusting reward structures accordingly.Benchmark payouts against similar programs in your industry, but concentrate rewards on high-impact vulnerabilities., Run targeted campaigns with bonus rewards for medium-to-critical vulnerabilities in specific areas of concern., Identify worst-case scenario vulnerabilities and attach significant bonuses to prioritize researcher focus., Define a clear, focused scope for external research to avoid low-risk submissions and align with high-risk breach prevention., Prioritize researcher experience: fast, human triage; respectful feedback; and transparent communication (e.g., updates on delays)., Implement trust-building measures like safe harbor policies, paid researcher engagements, and non-monetary recognition (e.g., hall of fame, swag, CEO letters)., Track key metrics (signal quality, triage speed, time-to-fix) to evaluate program effectiveness and researcher satisfaction., Prepare for the impact of AI tools on bug hunting by monitoring automation trends and adjusting reward structures accordingly.Benchmark payouts against similar programs in your industry, but concentrate rewards on high-impact vulnerabilities., Run targeted campaigns with bonus rewards for medium-to-critical vulnerabilities in specific areas of concern., Identify worst-case scenario vulnerabilities and attach significant bonuses to prioritize researcher focus., Define a clear, focused scope for external research to avoid low-risk submissions and align with high-risk breach prevention., Prioritize researcher experience: fast, human triage; respectful feedback; and transparent communication (e.g., updates on delays)., Implement trust-building measures like safe harbor policies, paid researcher engagements, and non-monetary recognition (e.g., hall of fame, swag, CEO letters)., Track key metrics (signal quality, triage speed, time-to-fix) to evaluate program effectiveness and researcher satisfaction., Prepare for the impact of AI tools on bug hunting by monitoring automation trends and adjusting reward structures accordingly.Benchmark payouts against similar programs in your industry, but concentrate rewards on high-impact vulnerabilities., Run targeted campaigns with bonus rewards for medium-to-critical vulnerabilities in specific areas of concern., Identify worst-case scenario vulnerabilities and attach significant bonuses to prioritize researcher focus., Define a clear, focused scope for external research to avoid low-risk submissions and align with high-risk breach prevention., Prioritize researcher experience: fast, human triage; respectful feedback; and transparent communication (e.g., updates on delays)., Implement trust-building measures like safe harbor policies, paid researcher engagements, and non-monetary recognition (e.g., hall of fame, swag, CEO letters)., Track key metrics (signal quality, triage speed, time-to-fix) to evaluate program effectiveness and researcher satisfaction., Prepare for the impact of AI tools on bug hunting by monitoring automation trends and adjusting reward structures accordingly.Benchmark payouts against similar programs in your industry, but concentrate rewards on high-impact vulnerabilities., Run targeted campaigns with bonus rewards for medium-to-critical vulnerabilities in specific areas of concern., Identify worst-case scenario vulnerabilities and attach significant bonuses to prioritize researcher focus., Define a clear, focused scope for external research to avoid low-risk submissions and align with high-risk breach prevention., Prioritize researcher experience: fast, human triage; respectful feedback; and transparent communication (e.g., updates on delays)., Implement trust-building measures like safe harbor policies, paid researcher engagements, and non-monetary recognition (e.g., hall of fame, swag, CEO letters)., Track key metrics (signal quality, triage speed, time-to-fix) to evaluate program effectiveness and researcher satisfaction., Prepare for the impact of AI tools on bug hunting by monitoring automation trends and adjusting reward structures accordingly.Benchmark payouts against similar programs in your industry, but concentrate rewards on high-impact vulnerabilities., Run targeted campaigns with bonus rewards for medium-to-critical vulnerabilities in specific areas of concern., Identify worst-case scenario vulnerabilities and attach significant bonuses to prioritize researcher focus., Define a clear, focused scope for external research to avoid low-risk submissions and align with high-risk breach prevention., Prioritize researcher experience: fast, human triage; respectful feedback; and transparent communication (e.g., updates on delays)., Implement trust-building measures like safe harbor policies, paid researcher engagements, and non-monetary recognition (e.g., hall of fame, swag, CEO letters)., Track key metrics (signal quality, triage speed, time-to-fix) to evaluate program effectiveness and researcher satisfaction., Prepare for the impact of AI tools on bug hunting by monitoring automation trends and adjusting reward structures accordingly.

Incident : Vulnerability GOO1232812102225

Recommendations: Users should enable automatic updates for Chrome to ensure timely patching., Organizations should enforce browser update policies and verify patch deployment across endpoints., Developers should prioritize security testing for core components like JavaScript engines using tools like AddressSanitizer and fuzz testing., Google should continue restricting vulnerability details until widespread patching is confirmed to prevent exploit development.Users should enable automatic updates for Chrome to ensure timely patching., Organizations should enforce browser update policies and verify patch deployment across endpoints., Developers should prioritize security testing for core components like JavaScript engines using tools like AddressSanitizer and fuzz testing., Google should continue restricting vulnerability details until widespread patching is confirmed to prevent exploit development.Users should enable automatic updates for Chrome to ensure timely patching., Organizations should enforce browser update policies and verify patch deployment across endpoints., Developers should prioritize security testing for core components like JavaScript engines using tools like AddressSanitizer and fuzz testing., Google should continue restricting vulnerability details until widespread patching is confirmed to prevent exploit development.Users should enable automatic updates for Chrome to ensure timely patching., Organizations should enforce browser update policies and verify patch deployment across endpoints., Developers should prioritize security testing for core components like JavaScript engines using tools like AddressSanitizer and fuzz testing., Google should continue restricting vulnerability details until widespread patching is confirmed to prevent exploit development.

Incident : insider threat GOO5092350102625

Recommendations: Implement stricter access controls for contractors, including multi-factor authentication and least-privilege principles., Deploy AI-driven behavioral analytics to detect unusual activities (e.g., excessive screenshot capture)., Conduct regular audits of third-party vendor and contractor security practices., Enhance threat intelligence sharing with industry peers to mitigate similar risks., Reevaluate outsourcing strategies for critical operations, favoring in-house expertise where feasible., Adopt zero-trust security models to minimize blind spots in monitoring.Implement stricter access controls for contractors, including multi-factor authentication and least-privilege principles., Deploy AI-driven behavioral analytics to detect unusual activities (e.g., excessive screenshot capture)., Conduct regular audits of third-party vendor and contractor security practices., Enhance threat intelligence sharing with industry peers to mitigate similar risks., Reevaluate outsourcing strategies for critical operations, favoring in-house expertise where feasible., Adopt zero-trust security models to minimize blind spots in monitoring.Implement stricter access controls for contractors, including multi-factor authentication and least-privilege principles., Deploy AI-driven behavioral analytics to detect unusual activities (e.g., excessive screenshot capture)., Conduct regular audits of third-party vendor and contractor security practices., Enhance threat intelligence sharing with industry peers to mitigate similar risks., Reevaluate outsourcing strategies for critical operations, favoring in-house expertise where feasible., Adopt zero-trust security models to minimize blind spots in monitoring.Implement stricter access controls for contractors, including multi-factor authentication and least-privilege principles., Deploy AI-driven behavioral analytics to detect unusual activities (e.g., excessive screenshot capture)., Conduct regular audits of third-party vendor and contractor security practices., Enhance threat intelligence sharing with industry peers to mitigate similar risks., Reevaluate outsourcing strategies for critical operations, favoring in-house expertise where feasible., Adopt zero-trust security models to minimize blind spots in monitoring.Implement stricter access controls for contractors, including multi-factor authentication and least-privilege principles., Deploy AI-driven behavioral analytics to detect unusual activities (e.g., excessive screenshot capture)., Conduct regular audits of third-party vendor and contractor security practices., Enhance threat intelligence sharing with industry peers to mitigate similar risks., Reevaluate outsourcing strategies for critical operations, favoring in-house expertise where feasible., Adopt zero-trust security models to minimize blind spots in monitoring.Implement stricter access controls for contractors, including multi-factor authentication and least-privilege principles., Deploy AI-driven behavioral analytics to detect unusual activities (e.g., excessive screenshot capture)., Conduct regular audits of third-party vendor and contractor security practices., Enhance threat intelligence sharing with industry peers to mitigate similar risks., Reevaluate outsourcing strategies for critical operations, favoring in-house expertise where feasible., Adopt zero-trust security models to minimize blind spots in monitoring.

Incident : Data Breach GOO0502305103125

Recommendations: Enable two-step verification and adopt passkeys for all critical accounts., Regularly monitor credentials via services like Have I Been Pwned., Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) universally., Educate users on recognizing phishing attempts and malicious downloads., Deploy endpoint protection to detect and block infostealer malware., Assume breach mindset: Encourage password managers and unique passwords per service.Enable two-step verification and adopt passkeys for all critical accounts., Regularly monitor credentials via services like Have I Been Pwned., Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) universally., Educate users on recognizing phishing attempts and malicious downloads., Deploy endpoint protection to detect and block infostealer malware., Assume breach mindset: Encourage password managers and unique passwords per service.Enable two-step verification and adopt passkeys for all critical accounts., Regularly monitor credentials via services like Have I Been Pwned., Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) universally., Educate users on recognizing phishing attempts and malicious downloads., Deploy endpoint protection to detect and block infostealer malware., Assume breach mindset: Encourage password managers and unique passwords per service.Enable two-step verification and adopt passkeys for all critical accounts., Regularly monitor credentials via services like Have I Been Pwned., Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) universally., Educate users on recognizing phishing attempts and malicious downloads., Deploy endpoint protection to detect and block infostealer malware., Assume breach mindset: Encourage password managers and unique passwords per service.Enable two-step verification and adopt passkeys for all critical accounts., Regularly monitor credentials via services like Have I Been Pwned., Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) universally., Educate users on recognizing phishing attempts and malicious downloads., Deploy endpoint protection to detect and block infostealer malware., Assume breach mindset: Encourage password managers and unique passwords per service.Enable two-step verification and adopt passkeys for all critical accounts., Regularly monitor credentials via services like Have I Been Pwned., Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) universally., Educate users on recognizing phishing attempts and malicious downloads., Deploy endpoint protection to detect and block infostealer malware., Assume breach mindset: Encourage password managers and unique passwords per service.

Incident : Credential Stuffing GOO3632636110425

Recommendations: Enable passkeys as the primary authentication method for Google Accounts., Replace weak or reused passwords with strong, unique credentials and non-SMS MFA., Monitor accounts for unauthorized access, especially if credentials appear in known breaches., Educate users on recognizing phishing attempts and securing authentication tokens., Organizations should follow Google’s lead in defaulting to passwordless authentication where feasible.Enable passkeys as the primary authentication method for Google Accounts., Replace weak or reused passwords with strong, unique credentials and non-SMS MFA., Monitor accounts for unauthorized access, especially if credentials appear in known breaches., Educate users on recognizing phishing attempts and securing authentication tokens., Organizations should follow Google’s lead in defaulting to passwordless authentication where feasible.Enable passkeys as the primary authentication method for Google Accounts., Replace weak or reused passwords with strong, unique credentials and non-SMS MFA., Monitor accounts for unauthorized access, especially if credentials appear in known breaches., Educate users on recognizing phishing attempts and securing authentication tokens., Organizations should follow Google’s lead in defaulting to passwordless authentication where feasible.Enable passkeys as the primary authentication method for Google Accounts., Replace weak or reused passwords with strong, unique credentials and non-SMS MFA., Monitor accounts for unauthorized access, especially if credentials appear in known breaches., Educate users on recognizing phishing attempts and securing authentication tokens., Organizations should follow Google’s lead in defaulting to passwordless authentication where feasible.Enable passkeys as the primary authentication method for Google Accounts., Replace weak or reused passwords with strong, unique credentials and non-SMS MFA., Monitor accounts for unauthorized access, especially if credentials appear in known breaches., Educate users on recognizing phishing attempts and securing authentication tokens., Organizations should follow Google’s lead in defaulting to passwordless authentication where feasible.

Incident : Credential Theft GOO2212622112625

Recommendations: Implement continuous password monitoring to detect exposed credentials in real time., Integrate credential checks into authentication flows (e.g., block known-compromised passwords)., Enforce password hygiene policies (e.g., no reuse, strong passwords)., Deploy rate limiting and anomaly detection to thwart credential-stuffing attacks., Improve endpoint hygiene (patching, anti-malware) to reduce infostealer infections., Educate users on risks of password reuse and phishing/trojanized software., Use solutions like Enzoic to automate responses (e.g., forced password resets for exposed credentials).Implement continuous password monitoring to detect exposed credentials in real time., Integrate credential checks into authentication flows (e.g., block known-compromised passwords)., Enforce password hygiene policies (e.g., no reuse, strong passwords)., Deploy rate limiting and anomaly detection to thwart credential-stuffing attacks., Improve endpoint hygiene (patching, anti-malware) to reduce infostealer infections., Educate users on risks of password reuse and phishing/trojanized software., Use solutions like Enzoic to automate responses (e.g., forced password resets for exposed credentials).Implement continuous password monitoring to detect exposed credentials in real time., Integrate credential checks into authentication flows (e.g., block known-compromised passwords)., Enforce password hygiene policies (e.g., no reuse, strong passwords)., Deploy rate limiting and anomaly detection to thwart credential-stuffing attacks., Improve endpoint hygiene (patching, anti-malware) to reduce infostealer infections., Educate users on risks of password reuse and phishing/trojanized software., Use solutions like Enzoic to automate responses (e.g., forced password resets for exposed credentials).Implement continuous password monitoring to detect exposed credentials in real time., Integrate credential checks into authentication flows (e.g., block known-compromised passwords)., Enforce password hygiene policies (e.g., no reuse, strong passwords)., Deploy rate limiting and anomaly detection to thwart credential-stuffing attacks., Improve endpoint hygiene (patching, anti-malware) to reduce infostealer infections., Educate users on risks of password reuse and phishing/trojanized software., Use solutions like Enzoic to automate responses (e.g., forced password resets for exposed credentials).Implement continuous password monitoring to detect exposed credentials in real time., Integrate credential checks into authentication flows (e.g., block known-compromised passwords)., Enforce password hygiene policies (e.g., no reuse, strong passwords)., Deploy rate limiting and anomaly detection to thwart credential-stuffing attacks., Improve endpoint hygiene (patching, anti-malware) to reduce infostealer infections., Educate users on risks of password reuse and phishing/trojanized software., Use solutions like Enzoic to automate responses (e.g., forced password resets for exposed credentials).Implement continuous password monitoring to detect exposed credentials in real time., Integrate credential checks into authentication flows (e.g., block known-compromised passwords)., Enforce password hygiene policies (e.g., no reuse, strong passwords)., Deploy rate limiting and anomaly detection to thwart credential-stuffing attacks., Improve endpoint hygiene (patching, anti-malware) to reduce infostealer infections., Educate users on risks of password reuse and phishing/trojanized software., Use solutions like Enzoic to automate responses (e.g., forced password resets for exposed credentials).Implement continuous password monitoring to detect exposed credentials in real time., Integrate credential checks into authentication flows (e.g., block known-compromised passwords)., Enforce password hygiene policies (e.g., no reuse, strong passwords)., Deploy rate limiting and anomaly detection to thwart credential-stuffing attacks., Improve endpoint hygiene (patching, anti-malware) to reduce infostealer infections., Educate users on risks of password reuse and phishing/trojanized software., Use solutions like Enzoic to automate responses (e.g., forced password resets for exposed credentials).

What are the key lessons learned from past incidents ?

Key Lessons Learned: The key lessons learned from past incidents are Security teams must prioritize continuous monitoring, automated patch management, and seedless discovery to identify and remediate misconfigurations and software flaws before they can be weaponized by adversaries.Third-party breaches can cascade into attacks on unrelated platforms (e.g., Salesforce → Gmail).,Vishing remains highly effective, especially against English-speaking global employees.,Dangling cloud storage buckets are an underaddressed attack vector.,User vigilance (2FA, password hygiene) is critical even when primary platforms (e.g., Google) are secure.Third-party integrations (e.g., Salesforce, Drift) introduce attack surfaces even for tech giants like Google.,Social engineering (e.g., IT help desk impersonation) remains a critical vector for initial access.,OAuth token security requires stricter authentication and monitoring.,Phishing risks escalate significantly even with non-sensitive data breaches (e.g., business contacts used for convincing scams).Phishing attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, especially with AI-driven techniques.,Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is critical for protecting against credential theft.,Legitimate credentials can be weaponized if MFA is not enforced.,Hackers exploit the lack of regulatory constraints, allowing rapid iteration of attack methods ('throwing spaghetti at the wall').,Employee training and awareness are essential to mitigate human-error risks.Higher payouts for critical vulnerabilities (Tier 0) significantly increase high-quality submissions, but broad payout increases may strain resources with low-value reports.,Veteran researchers shift focus to high-value targets when rewards increase, while a small group of new, productive researchers may join the program.,Competition for skilled researchers intensifies when programs raise payouts, creating a talent marketplace dynamic.,Success depends on more than payouts: fast triage, clear scope, researcher engagement, and trust-building (e.g., recognition, transparency, safe harbor) are critical.,Researcher experience (e.g., fast feedback, respectful communication) often matters more than reward amounts alone.,Metrics like signal-to-noise ratio, time-to-triage, and researcher retention should be tracked to assess program maturity.,Future programs may need to adapt to AI-powered bug-hunting tools and their impact on human effort.Proactive AI-powered vulnerability discovery (e.g., Google's Big Sleep project) and rapid patch deployment are critical to mitigating high-severity flaws in widely used software like Chrome. Automated security tools (e.g., AddressSanitizer, libFuzzer) play a key role in identifying vulnerabilities before exploitation.Human element (contractors/insiders) remains a critical weak link in cybersecurity defenses.,Inadequate monitoring of privileged access can lead to prolonged, undetected breaches.,Supply chain security (third-party contractors) requires stricter oversight and controls.,Proactive measures like AI-driven anomaly detection and zero-trust models are essential to mitigate insider threats.,Balancing cost-cutting (outsourcing) with security risks is a persistent challenge for large enterprises.Infostealer malware poses a rapidly growing threat, with an 800% increase in stolen credentials in early 2025.,User device security is critical; malware infections can bypass service-level protections (e.g., Gmail servers).,Credential stuffing risks escalate when active passwords are exposed across multiple platforms.,Proactive monitoring of dark web/underground channels can help mitigate large-scale credential leaks.Default security settings (e.g., passkeys) drive mass adoption more effectively than opt-in features.,Credential theft remains a dominant attack vector, necessitating stronger authentication beyond passwords.,Public misinformation about breaches can undermine trust, requiring clear and proactive communication.,SMS-based 2FA is insufficient; non-SMS MFA and passkeys are critical for account security.Password-based authentication remains a critical vulnerability, especially for SSO providers.,AI tools are amplifying the scale and sophistication of scam campaigns.,User education on phishing and credential hygiene is insufficient to counter organized crime groups.,Passkeys significantly reduce risks of phishing and credential stuffing.Headlines about large credential dumps often misrepresent the source (e.g., not a direct breach of the named service).,Infostealer malware is a persistent, high-volume threat that harvests credentials from endpoints.,Credential reuse across services amplifies risk (e.g., personal email passwords used for corporate logins).,Periodic credential checks are insufficient; continuous monitoring is critical to detect exposures in real time.,Automated tools (e.g., Enzoic) can block compromised passwords at creation and monitor existing credentials.

What recommendations has the company implemented to improve cybersecurity ?

Implemented Recommendations: The company has implemented the following recommendations to improve cybersecurity: Conduct regular security awareness training on vishing/social engineering., Monitor accounts for suspicious activity (e.g., unauthorized logins)., Prioritize continuous monitoring, automated patch management, and seedless discovery to identify and remediate misconfigurations and software flaws before they can be weaponized by adversaries., Use unique, strong passwords and change them regularly., Implement stricter password policies for third-party services using Google SSO., Organizations should audit cloud storage for dangling buckets., Disable password fallback options where possible., Monitor dark web for exposed credentials linked to corporate domains., Avoid clicking unrecognized links or sharing credentials over phone/email., Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for all accounts., Transition entirely to passkeys for Google Accounts., Educate users on recognizing AI-enhanced scams (e.g., deepfake calls and automated phishing)..

References

Where can I find more information about each incident ?

Incident : threat GOO905090225

Source: Newsweek

Incident : Data Breach GOO913090225

Source: Geek Spin

Incident : Data Breach GOO913090225

Source: Google Cloud Blog Post (GTIG)

Date Accessed: 2024-08

Incident : Data Breach GOO913090225

Source: Fox News

Incident : Data Breach GOO21105921090425

Source: Newsweek

URL: https://www.newsweek.com/google-gmail-password-update-data-breach-1823456

Date Accessed: 2025-08-28

Incident : Data Breach GOO21105921090425

Source: Google Official Blog

URL: https://blog.google/technology/safety-security/google-security-alert-august-2025/

Date Accessed: 2025-08-05

Incident : Data Breach GOO21105921090425

Source: Google Account Help (Passkeys)

URL: https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/13115501

Date Accessed: 2025-08-28

Incident : phishing GOO1162311090825

Source: Article describing the Google phishing incident and ShinyHunters attack

Incident : phishing GOO1162311090825

Source: Commentary by Damien Fortune, CEO of Syntriqs

Incident : Unauthorized Access GOO4002740091625

Source: BleepingComputer

Date Accessed: 2025-09-15

Incident : Bug Bounty Program Analysis GOO3062030100725

Source: Help Net Security

URL: https://www.helpnetsecurity.com

Incident : Bug Bounty Program Analysis GOO3062030100725

Source: Google Research (Vulnerability Rewards Program Study)

Incident : Bug Bounty Program Analysis GOO3062030100725

Source: Intigriti (Ottilia Westerlund, Hacker Engagement Manager)

URL: https://www.intigriti.com

Incident : Bug Bounty Program Analysis GOO3062030100725

Source: Alvearium Associates (Christian Toon, Chief Security Strategist)

Incident : Bug Bounty Program Analysis GOO3062030100725

Source: UpCloud (Jukka Seppänen, CISO and CIO)

URL: https://www.upcloud.com

Incident : Vulnerability GOO1232812102225

Source: Google Chrome Releases Blog

Date Accessed: 2025-10-21

Incident : Vulnerability GOO1232812102225

Source: CVE Details for CVE-2025-12036

Incident : insider threat GOO5092350102625

Source: The Information

Incident : insider threat GOO5092350102625

Source: Axios (2025 Salesforce-related breach)

Incident : insider threat GOO5092350102625

Source: Bloomberg (federal contractor hacks report)

Incident : insider threat GOO5092350102625

Source: Google Cloud Blog (vishing attacks)

Incident : Data Breach GOO0502305103125

Source: Have I Been Pwned

URL: https://haveibeenpwned.com

Date Accessed: 2025-10-21

Incident : Data Breach GOO0502305103125

Source: Synthient Research Report

Incident : Data Breach GOO0502305103125

Source: Troy Hunt (Creator of Have I Been Pwned)

Incident : Data Breach GOO0502305103125

Source: Google Security Advisory (Social Media)

Date Accessed: 2025-10-21

Incident : Data Breach GOO0502305103125

Source: Perplexity Article

Incident : Credential Stuffing GOO3632636110425

Source: Forbes

URL: https://www.forbes.com

Date Accessed: 2023-11-03

Incident : Credential Stuffing GOO3632636110425

Source: Dashlane Passkey Adoption Report

Date Accessed: 2023-11-03

Incident : Credential Stuffing GOO3632636110425

Source: Google Security Blog

Date Accessed: 2023-11-03

Incident : Zero-day vulnerability GOO0402404111925

Source: Google Threat Analysis Group (TAG) report (implied)

Incident : Credential Theft GOO2212622112625

Source: Cybernews (Google's Denial)

URL: https://cybernews.com/security/google-denies-183-million-gmail-passwords-leaked/

Incident : Credential Theft GOO2212622112625

Source: Cybernews (Technical Explainer)

URL: https://cybernews.com/security/183-million-gmail-passwords-leaked-expert-analysis/

Incident : Credential Theft GOO2212622112625

Source: Synthient's Analysis

Incident : Credential Theft GOO2212622112625

Source: Enzoic Blog Post

URL: https://www.enzoic.com/blog/183-million-credentials/

Incident : Credential Theft GOO2212622112625

Source: Google Security Infographic (Password Reuse)

Incident : Credential Theft GOO2212622112625

Source: The Independent (Coverage)

Incident : Credential Theft GOO2212622112625

Source: Techi (Coverage)

Where can stakeholders find additional resources on cybersecurity best practices ?

Additional Resources: Stakeholders can find additional resources on cybersecurity best practices at and Source: Newsweek, and Source: Geek Spin, and Source: Google Cloud Blog Post (GTIG)Date Accessed: 2024-08, and Source: Fox News, and Source: NewsweekUrl: https://www.newsweek.com/google-gmail-password-update-data-breach-1823456Date Accessed: 2025-08-28, and Source: Google Official BlogUrl: https://blog.google/technology/safety-security/google-security-alert-august-2025/Date Accessed: 2025-08-05, and Source: Google Account Help (Passkeys)Url: https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/13115501Date Accessed: 2025-08-28, and Source: Article describing the Google phishing incident and ShinyHunters attack, and Source: Commentary by Damien Fortune, CEO of Syntriqs, and Source: BleepingComputerDate Accessed: 2025-09-15, and Source: Help Net SecurityUrl: https://www.helpnetsecurity.com, and Source: Google Research (Vulnerability Rewards Program Study), and Source: Intigriti (Ottilia Westerlund, Hacker Engagement Manager)Url: https://www.intigriti.com, and Source: Alvearium Associates (Christian Toon, Chief Security Strategist), and Source: UpCloud (Jukka Seppänen, CISO and CIO)Url: https://www.upcloud.com, and Source: Google Chrome Releases BlogDate Accessed: 2025-10-21, and Source: CVE Details for CVE-2025-12036, and Source: The Information, and Source: Axios (2025 Salesforce-related breach), and Source: Bloomberg (federal contractor hacks report), and Source: Google Cloud Blog (vishing attacks), and Source: Have I Been PwnedUrl: https://haveibeenpwned.comDate Accessed: 2025-10-21, and Source: Synthient Research Report, and Source: Troy Hunt (Creator of Have I Been Pwned), and Source: Google Security Advisory (Social Media)Date Accessed: 2025-10-21, and Source: Perplexity Article, and Source: ForbesUrl: https://www.forbes.comDate Accessed: 2023-11-03, and Source: Dashlane Passkey Adoption ReportDate Accessed: 2023-11-03, and Source: Google Security BlogDate Accessed: 2023-11-03, and Source: Fast CompanyUrl: https://www.fastcompany.com/91060569/google-gmail-passwords-passkeys-scams-aiDate Accessed: 2024-05-01, and Source: NordPass ResearchUrl: https://nordpass.com/most-common-passwords-list/Date Accessed: 2024-05-01, and Source: Dashlane Passkey Adoption ReportUrl: https://www.dashlane.com/blog/passkey-adoption-reportDate Accessed: 2024-05-01, and Source: Google Threat Analysis Group (TAG) report (implied), and Source: Cybernews (Google's Denial)Url: https://cybernews.com/security/google-denies-183-million-gmail-passwords-leaked/, and Source: Cybernews (Technical Explainer)Url: https://cybernews.com/security/183-million-gmail-passwords-leaked-expert-analysis/, and Source: Synthient's Analysis, and Source: Enzoic Blog PostUrl: https://www.enzoic.com/blog/183-million-credentials/, and Source: Google Security Infographic (Password Reuse), and Source: The Independent (Coverage), and Source: Techi (Coverage).

Investigation Status

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

Incident : threat GOO905090225

Investigation Status: ongoing (developing story)

Incident : Data Breach GOO913090225

Investigation Status: Ongoing (Google GTIG monitoring ShinyHunters/UNC6040)

Incident : Data Breach GOO21105921090425

Investigation Status: Ongoing (OAuth token revocation and integration suspension pending further analysis)

Incident : Unauthorized Access GOO4002740091625

Investigation Status: Ongoing (Google and FBI involved)

Incident : Bug Bounty Program Analysis GOO3062030100725

Investigation Status: Completed (Academic Study)

Incident : Vulnerability GOO1232812102225

Investigation Status: Resolved (Patch released; no known exploits in the wild)

Incident : insider threat GOO5092350102625

Investigation Status: ongoing (forensic teams assessing extent of compromise)

Incident : Data Breach GOO0502305103125

Investigation Status: Ongoing (Monitoring by Synthient and Have I Been Pwned; user remediation advised)

Incident : Credential Stuffing GOO3632636110425

Investigation Status: Ongoing (No New Breach Confirmed; Focus on Mitigating Credential Reuse)

Incident : Zero-day vulnerability GOO0402404111925

Investigation Status: Ongoing (evidence of exploitation in the wild confirmed)

Incident : Credential Theft GOO2212622112625

Investigation Status: Completed (by Google, Synthient, and independent researchers)

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 media statement pending (Newsweek contacted Google for comment), Urgent Warning Via Media (Geek Spin, Fox News), Direct User Emails, Blog Post By Google Cloud, Global Security Alert To 2.5B Gmail Users, Official Blog Post (August 5, 2025), Direct Notifications To Workspace Administrators, Security Help Resources (Passkey Adoption Guides), Public Disclosure Of Incident (Excluding Gmail Compromise), Expert Commentary On Mitigation Strategies (E.G., Mfa), Public Statement To Bleepingcomputer, Article Title Update To Clarify No Breach Occurred, Public Disclosure Of Study Findings, Expert Commentary (Help Net Security, Industry Interviews), Recommendations For Bug Bounty Program Optimization, Public Security Advisory, Restricted Vulnerability Details Until Majority Of Users Patched, Notification To Relevant Authorities, Internal Transparency (Likely), Google Disputed 'Gmail Breach' Claims Via Social Media, Public Advisories Via Have I Been Pwned And Media Outlets, Public Statements Denying 'New Breach' Claims, Security Advisories Via Media (Forbes, Dashlane Report), Emphasis On Proactive Security Measures, Public Advisory Via Media (E.G., Fast Company), Blog Posts, User Notifications, Google'S Public Statement Via Cybernews, Technical Explainers By Synthient And Cybernews, Blog Posts (E.G. and Enzoic) On Mitigation Strategies.

Stakeholder and Customer Advisories

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

Incident : Data Breach GOO913090225

Stakeholder Advisories: Urgent Warning To 2.5B Gmail/Google Cloud Users.

Customer Advisories: Email notifications sent on 2024-08-08Public guidance on password hygiene and 2FA

Incident : Data Breach GOO21105921090425

Stakeholder Advisories: Google Workspace Administrators Notified Of Breach And Mitigation Steps., Gmail Users Advised To Update Passwords, Enable 2Fa, And Adopt Passkeys..

Customer Advisories: Avoid clicking unsolicited email links.Check for login alerts in Gmail.Report phishing attempts via Google’s reporting tools.Consider enrolling in the Advanced Protection Program for high-risk accounts.

Incident : phishing GOO1162311090825

Customer Advisories: Google clarified that regular Gmail data was not compromised.

Incident : Unauthorized Access GOO4002740091625

Customer Advisories: Public statement confirming no data was accessed

Incident : Bug Bounty Program Analysis GOO3062030100725

Stakeholder Advisories: Bug Bounty Program Managers Should Align Reward Structures With Business-Critical Vulnerabilities To Optimize Resource Allocation., Security Teams Must Balance Triage Efficiency With Researcher Engagement To Maintain Trust And Program Effectiveness., Industry Collaboration (E.G., Benchmarking, Shared Insights) Can Help Smaller Programs Compete For Researcher Attention..

Incident : Vulnerability GOO1232812102225

Stakeholder Advisories: Google advised users to update Chrome immediately via the 'About Chrome' settings menu.

Customer Advisories: Users were instructed to verify their Chrome version and install updates to mitigate the RCE risk.

Incident : Data Breach GOO0502305103125

Stakeholder Advisories: Google and cybersecurity firms urge users to check exposure via Have I Been Pwned and secure accounts.

Customer Advisories: Users advised to change passwords, enable MFA, and monitor for suspicious activity.

Incident : Credential Stuffing GOO3632636110425

Stakeholder Advisories: Users Advised To Reset Passwords If Found In Breaches., Strong Recommendation To Adopt Passkeys And Non-Sms Mfa., Clarification That No New Gmail Breach Occurred, But Credential Hygiene Remains Critical..

Customer Advisories: Reset compromised passwords immediately.Enable passkeys for Google Accounts (default since October 2023).Use non-SMS MFA (e.g., authenticator apps or hardware keys).Avoid reusing passwords across platforms.

Incident : Credential Theft GOO2212622112625

Stakeholder Advisories: Google'S Public Statement Clarifying No Breach Occurred., Security Community Advisories On Credential Monitoring Best Practices..

Customer Advisories: Users advised to change passwords if reused across services.Recommendations to enable multi-factor authentication (MFA).

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 Urgent Warning To 2.5B Gmail/Google Cloud Users, Email Notifications Sent On 2024-08-08, Public Guidance On Password Hygiene And 2Fa, , Google Workspace Administrators Notified Of Breach And Mitigation Steps., Gmail Users Advised To Update Passwords, Enable 2Fa, And Adopt Passkeys., Avoid Clicking Unsolicited Email Links., Check For Login Alerts In Gmail., Report Phishing Attempts Via Google’S Reporting Tools., Consider Enrolling In The Advanced Protection Program For High-Risk Accounts., , Google Clarified That Regular Gmail Data Was Not Compromised., , Public Statement Confirming No Data Was Accessed, , Bug Bounty Program Managers Should Align Reward Structures With Business-Critical Vulnerabilities To Optimize Resource Allocation., Security Teams Must Balance Triage Efficiency With Researcher Engagement To Maintain Trust And Program Effectiveness., Industry Collaboration (E.G., Benchmarking, Shared Insights) Can Help Smaller Programs Compete For Researcher Attention., Google advised users to update Chrome immediately via the 'About Chrome' settings menu., Users were instructed to verify their Chrome version and install updates to mitigate the RCE risk., Google and cybersecurity firms urge users to check exposure via Have I Been Pwned and secure accounts., Users advised to change passwords, enable MFA, and monitor for suspicious activity., Users Advised To Reset Passwords If Found In Breaches., Strong Recommendation To Adopt Passkeys And Non-Sms Mfa., Clarification That No New Gmail Breach Occurred, But Credential Hygiene Remains Critical., Reset Compromised Passwords Immediately., Enable Passkeys For Google Accounts (Default Since October 2023)., Use Non-Sms Mfa (E.G., Authenticator Apps Or Hardware Keys)., Avoid Reusing Passwords Across Platforms., , Users advised to enable passkeys and review account activity for unauthorized access., Google published guidelines on passkey setup and scam avoidance (e.g., https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/13669361)., Google'S Public Statement Clarifying No Breach Occurred., Security Community Advisories On Credential Monitoring Best Practices., Users Advised To Change Passwords If Reused Across Services., Recommendations To Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (Mfa). and .

Initial Access Broker

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

Incident : threat GOO905090225

High Value Targets: Google Threat Intelligence Group, Google Databases,

Data Sold on Dark Web: Google Threat Intelligence Group, Google Databases,

Incident : Data Breach GOO913090225

Entry Point: Stolen Salesforce Cloud Data, Vishing Calls (It Support Impersonation),

Reconnaissance Period: Detected in June 2024; intrusions by August 2024

High Value Targets: English-Speaking Employees Of Global Organizations,

Data Sold on Dark Web: English-Speaking Employees Of Global Organizations,

Incident : Data Breach GOO21105921090425

Entry Point: IT Help Desk Impersonation (Social Engineering)

Backdoors Established: ['Malware Deployment on Salesforce Database']

High Value Targets: Google Workspace Oauth Tokens, Drift Email Integration,

Data Sold on Dark Web: Google Workspace Oauth Tokens, Drift Email Integration,

Incident : phishing GOO1162311090825

Entry Point: phishing email to Google employee

High Value Targets: Salesforce Database Containing Corporate Data From Multiple Companies,

Data Sold on Dark Web: Salesforce Database Containing Corporate Data From Multiple Companies,

Incident : Unauthorized Access GOO4002740091625

Entry Point: Fraudulent account creation in LERS platform

High Value Targets: Google Lers, Fbi Echeck System,

Data Sold on Dark Web: Google Lers, Fbi Echeck System,

Incident : insider threat GOO5092350102625

Entry Point: privileged contractor access

Reconnaissance Period: several weeks (prolonged breach)

High Value Targets: Play Store Infrastructure, Security Protocols, App Distribution Mechanisms,

Data Sold on Dark Web: Play Store Infrastructure, Security Protocols, App Distribution Mechanisms,

Incident : Data Breach GOO0502305103125

Entry Point: Phishing Emails, Malicious Software Downloads, Compromised Browser Extensions,

Reconnaissance Period: Nearly one year (monitored by Synthient)

High Value Targets: Email Credentials, Browser Session Tokens, Service Logins,

Data Sold on Dark Web: Email Credentials, Browser Session Tokens, Service Logins,

Incident : Credential Stuffing GOO3632636110425

Entry Point: Compromised Credentials From Prior Breaches, Phishing Links, Infostealer Malware,

High Value Targets: Gmail Accounts, Linked Google Services (E.G., Drive, Youtube),

Data Sold on Dark Web: Gmail Accounts, Linked Google Services (E.G., Drive, Youtube),

Incident : Credential Theft GOO2212622112625

Entry Point: Infostealer Malware Infections On Endpoints,

Reconnaissance Period: ['Ongoing (credentials collected over ~1 year)']

High Value Targets: Credentials For Corporate Vpns, Cloud Consoles, Payroll Systems (Via Reuse),

Data Sold on Dark Web: Credentials For Corporate Vpns, Cloud Consoles, Payroll Systems (Via Reuse),

Post-Incident Analysis

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

Incident : Vulnerability Exploitation GOO1046050625

Root Causes: Misconfigurations, Known Software Flaws,

Corrective Actions: Continuous Monitoring, Automated Patch Management, Seedless Discovery,

Incident : Data Breach GOO913090225

Root Causes: Over-Reliance On Third-Party Security (Salesforce Breach Enabled Gmail Targeting)., Effectiveness Of Vishing Against Human Trust In Authority Figures (It Support)., Lack Of User Adherence To Password Hygiene Best Practices (E.G., Reuse, Infrequent Changes)., Unsecured Cloud Storage Practices (Dangling Buckets).,

Corrective Actions: Google Enhanced Monitoring Of Shinyhunters/Unc6040., Public Awareness Campaign On 2Fa And Phishing Risks., Advisories For Organizations To Audit Cloud Storage Configurations.,

Incident : Data Breach GOO21105921090425

Root Causes: Successful Social Engineering Attack (It Help Desk Impersonation)., Inadequate Safeguards For Third-Party Oauth Token Integrations (Drift/Salesloft)., Lack Of Real-Time Monitoring For Anomalous Database Access Patterns.,

Corrective Actions: Disabled Vulnerable Integrations (Drift Email) Pending Security Review., Revoked Compromised Oauth Tokens And Enforced Re-Authentication., Accelerated Rollout Of Passkey Adoption To Reduce Password-Based Risks., Enhanced Employee Training On Social Engineering Tactics.,

Incident : phishing GOO1162311090825

Root Causes: Successful Phishing Attack Due To Lack Of Employee Vigilance., Absence Of Mfa For Accessing Sensitive Systems., Over-Reliance On Single-Factor Authentication (Credentials Only).,

Corrective Actions: Promotion Of Mfa Adoption Across Services., Heightened Awareness Of Ai-Enhanced Phishing Risks.,

Incident : Unauthorized Access GOO4002740091625

Root Causes: Insufficient Authentication Controls For Account Creation In Lers,

Incident : Bug Bounty Program Analysis GOO3062030100725

Root Causes: Generic Payout Increases Can Lead To Resource Strain From Low-Value Submissions Without Improving Quality., Competition For Skilled Researchers May Divert Talent From Smaller Or Less Competitive Programs., Lack Of Clear Scope Or Reward Structure Can Result In Misaligned Researcher Efforts (E.G., Low-Risk Submissions).,

Corrective Actions: Implement Tiered Reward Structures Prioritizing High-Impact Vulnerabilities (E.G., Tier 0)., Adopt Targeted Campaigns And Bonuses For Specific Areas Of Concern To Guide Researcher Focus., Enhance Researcher Experience Through Faster Triage, Transparent Communication, And Non-Monetary Recognition., Establish Metrics To Track Program Maturity (E.G., Signal-To-Noise Ratio, Researcher Retention)., Explore Safe Harbor Policies And Paid Engagements To Build Trust With The Researcher Community., Monitor Emerging Trends (E.G., Ai Tools) And Adapt Program Designs To Integrate Automation Effectively.,

Incident : Vulnerability GOO1232812102225

Root Causes: Inappropriate implementation in the V8 JavaScript engine, discovered via AI-powered security research (Big Sleep project).

Corrective Actions: Released Patch For Chrome 141.0.7390.122/.123 To Fix The V8 Vulnerability., Leveraged Automated Tools (Addresssanitizer, Libfuzzer) To Prevent Similar Flaws., Delayed Public Disclosure Of Vulnerability Details To Allow User Patching.,

Incident : insider threat GOO5092350102625

Root Causes: Insufficient Monitoring Of Contractor Activities (E.G., Screenshot Capture)., Privileged Access Granted Without Adequate Safeguards Or Anomaly Detection., Potential Gaps In Contractor Vetting And Background Checks., Lack Of Proactive Threat Detection For Insider Threats.,

Corrective Actions: Enhancing Access Controls (Mfa, Zero-Trust Principles)., Implementing Ai-Driven Anomaly Detection For Unusual Behaviors., Conducting Internal Audits Of Contractor Security Processes., Reevaluating Outsourcing Strategies For High-Risk Operations.,

Incident : Data Breach GOO0502305103125

Root Causes: Widespread Infostealer Malware Infections On User Devices., Lack Of User Awareness About Malware Distribution Vectors (E.G., Phishing, Malicious Extensions)., Reuse Of Passwords Across Multiple Services (Enabling Credential Stuffing).,

Corrective Actions: Enhanced User Education On Malware Prevention., Promotion Of Password Managers And Passkeys., Collaboration Between Tech Companies And Cybersecurity Firms To Disrupt Malware Networks., Expansion Of Dark Web Monitoring For Leaked Credentials.,

Incident : Credential Stuffing GOO3632636110425

Root Causes: Widespread Reuse Of Passwords Across Services., Over-Reliance On Passwords And Sms-Based 2Fa., Success Of Phishing And Infostealer Campaigns In Harvesting Credentials., Delayed User Action In Resetting Compromised Passwords.,

Corrective Actions: Default Deployment Of Passkeys For Personal Google Accounts (October 2023)., Public Awareness Campaigns On Passkey Adoption And Mfa., Continuous Monitoring For Credential Stuffing Attacks., Collaboration With Password Managers (E.G., Dashlane) To Promote Secure Authentication.,

Incident : Zero-day vulnerability GOO0402404111925

Corrective Actions: Emergency Patch Deployment,

Incident : Credential Theft GOO2212622112625

Root Causes: Widespread Infostealer Malware Infections Harvesting Credentials From Endpoints., User Behavior (Password Reuse Across Services)., Lack Of Continuous Credential Monitoring In Many Organizations., Misleading Media Coverage Amplifying 'Breach' Narratives.,

Corrective Actions: Adopt Continuous Password Monitoring Solutions (E.G., Enzoic)., Block Compromised Passwords At Creation/Reset., Monitor Existing Credentials For Exposure In Real Time., Improve Endpoint Security To Prevent Infostealer Infections., Educate Users And Media On Distinguishing Credential Dumps From Direct Breaches.,

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 (Ongoing by GTIG), Phishing And Vishing Attack Patterns, , Academic Researchers (Harvard, Bocconi University, Hebrew University), Industry Experts (Intigriti, Alvearium Associates, Upcloud), , , Have I Been Pwned, Synthient, Troy Hunt, , Increased scrutiny of password fallback sign-ins, Synthient (Data Collection/Analysis), Enzoic (Continuous Password Monitoring Solutions), , Enzoic'S Continuous Password Monitoring Solutions, .

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: Continuous Monitoring, Automated Patch Management, Seedless Discovery, , Google Enhanced Monitoring Of Shinyhunters/Unc6040., Public Awareness Campaign On 2Fa And Phishing Risks., Advisories For Organizations To Audit Cloud Storage Configurations., , Disabled Vulnerable Integrations (Drift Email) Pending Security Review., Revoked Compromised Oauth Tokens And Enforced Re-Authentication., Accelerated Rollout Of Passkey Adoption To Reduce Password-Based Risks., Enhanced Employee Training On Social Engineering Tactics., , Promotion Of Mfa Adoption Across Services., Heightened Awareness Of Ai-Enhanced Phishing Risks., , Implement Tiered Reward Structures Prioritizing High-Impact Vulnerabilities (E.G., Tier 0)., Adopt Targeted Campaigns And Bonuses For Specific Areas Of Concern To Guide Researcher Focus., Enhance Researcher Experience Through Faster Triage, Transparent Communication, And Non-Monetary Recognition., Establish Metrics To Track Program Maturity (E.G., Signal-To-Noise Ratio, Researcher Retention)., Explore Safe Harbor Policies And Paid Engagements To Build Trust With The Researcher Community., Monitor Emerging Trends (E.G., Ai Tools) And Adapt Program Designs To Integrate Automation Effectively., , Released Patch For Chrome 141.0.7390.122/.123 To Fix The V8 Vulnerability., Leveraged Automated Tools (Addresssanitizer, Libfuzzer) To Prevent Similar Flaws., Delayed Public Disclosure Of Vulnerability Details To Allow User Patching., , Enhancing Access Controls (Mfa, Zero-Trust Principles)., Implementing Ai-Driven Anomaly Detection For Unusual Behaviors., Conducting Internal Audits Of Contractor Security Processes., Reevaluating Outsourcing Strategies For High-Risk Operations., , Enhanced User Education On Malware Prevention., Promotion Of Password Managers And Passkeys., Collaboration Between Tech Companies And Cybersecurity Firms To Disrupt Malware Networks., Expansion Of Dark Web Monitoring For Leaked Credentials., , Default Deployment Of Passkeys For Personal Google Accounts (October 2023)., Public Awareness Campaigns On Passkey Adoption And Mfa., Continuous Monitoring For Credential Stuffing Attacks., Collaboration With Password Managers (E.G., Dashlane) To Promote Secure Authentication., , Accelerate Passkey Adoption Via Incentives (E.G., Bypassing 2Sv)., Collaborate With Fido Alliance To Standardize Passkey Implementation., Partner With Law Enforcement To Disrupt Transnational Scam Operations., Develop Ai-Driven Defenses To Detect And Block Ai-Generated Phishing Content., , Emergency Patch Deployment, , Adopt Continuous Password Monitoring Solutions (E.G., Enzoic)., Block Compromised Passwords At Creation/Reset., Monitor Existing Credentials For Exposure In Real Time., Improve Endpoint Security To Prevent Infostealer Infections., Educate Users And Media On Distinguishing Credential Dumps From Direct Breaches., .

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 Scattered LapSus HuntersScattered SpiderLapSusShinyHunters, ShinyHuntersUNC6040 (associated with Salesforce breaches), ShinyHunters, ShinyHunters, Scattered Lapsus$ HuntersShiny HuntersScattered SpiderLapsus$, contractor (identity undisclosed), Transnational Crime GroupsChinese Organized Criminal Gangs and Unknown CybercriminalsInfostealer OperatorsCredential Aggregators.

Incident Details

What was the most recent incident detected ?

Most Recent Incident Detected: The most recent incident detected was on 2024-06.

What was the most recent incident publicly disclosed ?

Most Recent Incident Publicly Disclosed: The most recent incident publicly disclosed was on 2024-05-01T00:00:00Z.

What was the most recent incident resolved ?

Most Recent Incident Resolved: The most recent incident resolved was on 2025-10-21.

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 Business Data (initially 'basic and publicly available'), Login Credentials, Potential Customer Data (via dangling buckets), , Business Contact Information (Company Names, Customer Names), , corporate data from Salesforce database, information from Cisco, Louis Vuitton, Adidas, and other companies, , None (no data accessed), Play Store infrastructure details, security protocols, proprietary insights into app distribution mechanisms, screenshots (~2,000), , Email Addresses, Passwords, Website URLs, Browser Data, Session Tokens, , User Credentials (Passwords), Authentication Tokens, Cookies, , 394 million unique Gmail addresses, 183 million Gmail passwords (via infostealer malware), , 183 million credentials (email:password pairs with domains), Legacy breach data, Fresh infostealer logs and .

What was the most significant system affected in an incident ?

Most Significant System Affected: The most significant system affected in an incident were Google CloudAWS and Gmail AccountsGoogle Cloud Storage Buckets and Salesforce Database (Advertiser Management)Drift Email IntegrationOAuth Tokens and Salesforce database accessed via Google employee credentials and Google Law Enforcement Request System (LERS) and Chrome browsers (Windows, Mac, Linux) running versions prior to 141.0.7390.122/.123 and Google Play Store ecosysteminternal systems with sensitive data and and Gmail AccountsGoogle Personal Accounts and Google Chrome browser (V8 JavaScript engine).

Response to the Incidents

What third-party assistance was involved in the most recent incident ?

Third-Party Assistance in Most Recent Incident: The third-party assistance involved in the most recent incident was academic researchers (harvard, bocconi university, hebrew university), industry experts (intigriti, alvearium associates, upcloud), , have i been pwned, synthient, troy hunt, , synthient (data collection/analysis), enzoic (continuous password monitoring solutions), .

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 User Notifications (Email Alerts)Public Advisory, Revoked OAuth Tokens for Drift Email IntegrationDisabled Gmail-Salesloft Drift ConnectivityNotified Google Workspace Administrators, Disabled fraudulent account, Urgent patch release (Chrome 141.0.7390.122/.123)Automatic update rollout to users, forensic investigationinternal audit of contractor processes, Public Advisory to Reset Compromised PasswordsPromotion of Passkeys as Default Authentication, Promotion of Passkey AdoptionTightened Monitoring of Password-Based Sign-Ins and Emergency 'out-of-band' patch.

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 394 million unique Gmail addresses, Website URLs, Authentication Tokens, Play Store infrastructure details, Potential Customer Data (via dangling buckets), Session Tokens, Fresh infostealer logs, None (no data accessed), security protocols, Cookies, Legacy breach data, User Credentials (Passwords), screenshots (~2,000), Passwords, 183 million credentials (email:password pairs with domains), Business Data (initially 'basic and publicly available'), Email Addresses, Login Credentials, proprietary insights into app distribution mechanisms, 183 million Gmail passwords (via infostealer malware), information from Cisco, Louis Vuitton, Adidas, and other companies, corporate data from Salesforce database, Browser Data, Business Contact Information (Company Names and Customer Names).

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 23.4B.

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 Automated tools (e.g., Enzoic) can block compromised passwords at creation and monitor existing credentials.

What was the most significant recommendation implemented to improve cybersecurity ?

Most Significant Recommendation Implemented: The most significant recommendation implemented to improve cybersecurity was Implement stricter password policies for third-party services using Google SSO., Enable MFA for all critical services (banking, healthcare, employment, etc.)., Organizations should audit cloud storage for dangling buckets., Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for all accounts., Benchmark payouts against similar programs in your industry, but concentrate rewards on high-impact vulnerabilities., Conduct regular audits of third-party vendor and contractor security practices., Enhance threat intelligence sharing with industry peers to mitigate similar risks., Use solutions like Enzoic to automate responses (e.g., forced password resets for exposed credentials)., Developers should prioritize security testing for core components like JavaScript engines using tools like AddressSanitizer and fuzz testing., Monitor accounts for unauthorized access, especially if credentials appear in known breaches., Conduct regular security awareness training for employees., Monitor for phishing/vishing campaigns leveraging breached business data., Monitor dark web for stolen credentials or data leaks., Users should enable automatic updates for Chrome to ensure timely patching., Improve endpoint hygiene (patching, anti-malware) to reduce infostealer infections., Deploy rate limiting and anomaly detection to thwart credential-stuffing attacks., Assume breach mindset: Encourage password managers and unique passwords per service., Replace passwords with passkeys (biometric authentication) for all users., Avoid clicking unrecognized links or sharing credentials over phone/email., Enhance social engineering defenses, Audit and secure third-party integrations (e.g., Salesforce, Drift) with granular OAuth permissions., Replace weak or reused passwords with strong, unique credentials and non-SMS MFA., Identify worst-case scenario vulnerabilities and attach significant bonuses to prioritize researcher focus., Enroll high-risk users in Google’s Advanced Protection Program., Run targeted campaigns with bonus rewards for medium-to-critical vulnerabilities in specific areas of concern., Implement stricter access controls for contractors, including multi-factor authentication and least-privilege principles., Enable two-step verification and adopt passkeys for all critical accounts., Transition entirely to passkeys for Google Accounts., Adopt zero-trust security models to minimize blind spots in monitoring., Conduct regular security awareness training on vishing/social engineering., Enforce least-privilege access controls to limit lateral movement., Improve collaboration with law enforcement to track threat actors, Prioritize continuous monitoring, automated patch management, and seedless discovery to identify and remediate misconfigurations and software flaws before they can be weaponized by adversaries., Use unique, strong passwords and change them regularly., Regularly monitor credentials via services like Have I Been Pwned., Educate users on recognizing phishing attempts and malicious downloads., Track key metrics (signal quality, triage speed, time-to-fix) to evaluate program effectiveness and researcher satisfaction., Implement continuous password monitoring to detect exposed credentials in real time., Google should continue restricting vulnerability details until widespread patching is confirmed to prevent exploit development., Educate users on risks of password reuse and phishing/trojanized software., Organizations should follow Google’s lead in defaulting to passwordless authentication where feasible., Monitor dark web for exposed credentials linked to corporate domains., Prepare for the impact of AI tools on bug hunting by monitoring automation trends and adjusting reward structures accordingly., Monitor for fraudulent account creation attempts, Prioritize researcher experience: fast, human triage; respectful feedback; and transparent communication (e.g., updates on delays)., Educate users on recognizing phishing attempts and securing authentication tokens., Strengthen authentication mechanisms for law enforcement request systems, Conduct regular social engineering drills for employees (e.g., IT help desk impersonation scenarios)., Educate users on recognizing AI-enhanced scams (e.g., deepfake calls, automated phishing)., Monitor accounts for suspicious activity (e.g., unauthorized logins)., Define a clear, focused scope for external research to avoid low-risk submissions and align with high-risk breach prevention., Enable non-SMS two-factor authentication (2FA) across Google Workspace., Deploy AI-driven behavioral analytics to detect unusual activities (e.g., excessive screenshot capture)., Organizations should enforce browser update policies and verify patch deployment across endpoints., Reevaluate outsourcing strategies for critical operations, favoring in-house expertise where feasible., Disable password fallback options where possible., Implement trust-building measures like safe harbor policies, paid researcher engagements, and non-monetary recognition (e.g., hall of fame, swag, CEO letters)., Implement advanced email filtering and anti-phishing solutions., Enforce password hygiene policies (e.g., no reuse, strong passwords)., Integrate credential checks into authentication flows (e.g., block known-compromised passwords)., Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) universally., Deploy endpoint protection to detect and block infostealer malware. and Enable passkeys as the primary authentication method for Google Accounts..

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 Help Net Security, The Independent (Coverage), Google Security Infographic (Password Reuse), Have I Been Pwned, Commentary by Damien Fortune, CEO of Syntriqs, Newsweek, Perplexity Article, Enzoic Blog Post, Axios (2025 Salesforce-related breach), UpCloud (Jukka Seppänen, CISO and CIO), Intigriti (Ottilia Westerlund, Hacker Engagement Manager), Synthient Research Report, Cybernews (Google's Denial), Google Chrome Releases Blog, Troy Hunt (Creator of Have I Been Pwned), Google Research (Vulnerability Rewards Program Study), Geek Spin, Google Threat Analysis Group (TAG) report (implied), Article describing the Google phishing incident and ShinyHunters attack, Fast Company, Google Cloud Blog Post (GTIG), Google Security Advisory (Social Media), The Information, Forbes, NordPass Research, Cybernews (Technical Explainer), BleepingComputer, Synthient's Analysis, Google Security Blog, Google Cloud Blog (vishing attacks), CVE Details for CVE-2025-12036, Google Official Blog, Google Account Help (Passkeys), Alvearium Associates (Christian Toon, Chief Security Strategist), Bloomberg (federal contractor hacks report), Fox News, Techi (Coverage) and Dashlane Passkey Adoption Report.

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.newsweek.com/google-gmail-password-update-data-breach-1823456, https://blog.google/technology/safety-security/google-security-alert-august-2025/, https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/13115501, https://www.helpnetsecurity.com, https://www.intigriti.com, https://www.upcloud.com, https://haveibeenpwned.com, https://www.forbes.com, https://www.fastcompany.com/91060569/google-gmail-passwords-passkeys-scams-ai, https://nordpass.com/most-common-passwords-list/, https://www.dashlane.com/blog/passkey-adoption-report, https://cybernews.com/security/google-denies-183-million-gmail-passwords-leaked/, https://cybernews.com/security/183-million-gmail-passwords-leaked-expert-analysis/, https://www.enzoic.com/blog/183-million-credentials/ .

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 (developing story).

Stakeholder and Customer Advisories

What was the most recent stakeholder advisory issued ?

Most Recent Stakeholder Advisory: The most recent stakeholder advisory issued was Urgent warning to 2.5B Gmail/Google Cloud users, Google Workspace administrators notified of breach and mitigation steps., Gmail users advised to update passwords, enable 2FA, and adopt passkeys., Bug bounty program managers should align reward structures with business-critical vulnerabilities to optimize resource allocation., Security teams must balance triage efficiency with researcher engagement to maintain trust and program effectiveness., Industry collaboration (e.g., benchmarking, shared insights) can help smaller programs compete for researcher attention., Google advised users to update Chrome immediately via the 'About Chrome' settings menu., Google and cybersecurity firms urge users to check exposure via Have I Been Pwned and secure accounts., Users advised to reset passwords if found in breaches., Strong recommendation to adopt passkeys and non-SMS MFA., Clarification that no new Gmail breach occurred, but credential hygiene remains critical., Users advised to enable passkeys and review account activity for unauthorized access., Google's public statement clarifying no breach occurred., Security community advisories on credential monitoring best practices., .

What was the most recent customer advisory issued ?

Most Recent Customer Advisory: The most recent customer advisory issued were an Email notifications sent on 2024-08-08Public guidance on password hygiene and 2FA, Avoid clicking unsolicited email links.Check for login alerts in Gmail.Report phishing attempts via Google’s reporting tools.Consider enrolling in the Advanced Protection Program for high-risk accounts., Google clarified that regular Gmail data was not compromised., Public statement confirming no data was accessed, Users were instructed to verify their Chrome version and install updates to mitigate the RCE risk., Users advised to change passwords, enable MFA, and monitor for suspicious activity., Reset compromised passwords immediately.Enable passkeys for Google Accounts (default since October 2023).Use non-SMS MFA (e.g., authenticator apps or hardware keys).Avoid reusing passwords across platforms., Google published guidelines on passkey setup and scam avoidance (e.g., https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/13669361). and Users advised to change passwords if reused across services.Recommendations to enable multi-factor authentication (MFA).

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 phishing email to Google employee, IT Help Desk Impersonation (Social Engineering), Fraudulent account creation in LERS platform and privileged contractor access.

What was the most recent reconnaissance period for an incident ?

Most Recent Reconnaissance Period: The most recent reconnaissance period for an incident was Detected in June 2024; intrusions by August 2024, several weeks (prolonged breach), Nearly one year (monitored by Synthient), Ongoing (credentials collected over ~1 year).

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 MisconfigurationsKnown Software Flaws, Over-reliance on third-party security (Salesforce breach enabled Gmail targeting).Effectiveness of vishing against human trust in authority figures (IT support).Lack of user adherence to password hygiene best practices (e.g., reuse, infrequent changes).Unsecured cloud storage practices (dangling buckets)., Successful social engineering attack (IT help desk impersonation).Inadequate safeguards for third-party OAuth token integrations (Drift/Salesloft).Lack of real-time monitoring for anomalous database access patterns., Successful phishing attack due to lack of employee vigilance.Absence of MFA for accessing sensitive systems.Over-reliance on single-factor authentication (credentials only)., Insufficient authentication controls for account creation in LERS, Generic payout increases can lead to resource strain from low-value submissions without improving quality.Competition for skilled researchers may divert talent from smaller or less competitive programs.Lack of clear scope or reward structure can result in misaligned researcher efforts (e.g., low-risk submissions)., Inappropriate implementation in the V8 JavaScript engine, discovered via AI-powered security research (Big Sleep project)., Insufficient monitoring of contractor activities (e.g., screenshot capture).Privileged access granted without adequate safeguards or anomaly detection.Potential gaps in contractor vetting and background checks.Lack of proactive threat detection for insider threats., Widespread infostealer malware infections on user devices.Lack of user awareness about malware distribution vectors (e.g., phishing, malicious extensions).Reuse of passwords across multiple services (enabling credential stuffing)., Widespread reuse of passwords across services.Over-reliance on passwords and SMS-based 2FA.Success of phishing and infostealer campaigns in harvesting credentials.Delayed user action in resetting compromised passwords., Over-reliance on password-based authentication despite known risks.Lack of enforcement for MFA/passkeys across SSO-dependent services.Exploitation of human vulnerabilities (e.g., urgency in scam messages).AI tools lowering the barrier for scalable phishing campaigns., Widespread infostealer malware infections harvesting credentials from endpoints.User behavior (password reuse across services).Lack of continuous credential monitoring in many organizations.Misleading media coverage amplifying 'breach' narratives..

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 Continuous MonitoringAutomated Patch ManagementSeedless Discovery, Google enhanced monitoring of ShinyHunters/UNC6040.Public awareness campaign on 2FA and phishing risks.Advisories for organizations to audit cloud storage configurations., Disabled vulnerable integrations (Drift Email) pending security review.Revoked compromised OAuth tokens and enforced re-authentication.Accelerated rollout of passkey adoption to reduce password-based risks.Enhanced employee training on social engineering tactics., Promotion of MFA adoption across services.Heightened awareness of AI-enhanced phishing risks., Implement tiered reward structures prioritizing high-impact vulnerabilities (e.g., Tier 0).Adopt targeted campaigns and bonuses for specific areas of concern to guide researcher focus.Enhance researcher experience through faster triage, transparent communication, and non-monetary recognition.Establish metrics to track program maturity (e.g., signal-to-noise ratio, researcher retention).Explore safe harbor policies and paid engagements to build trust with the researcher community.Monitor emerging trends (e.g., AI tools) and adapt program designs to integrate automation effectively., Released patch for Chrome 141.0.7390.122/.123 to fix the V8 vulnerability.Leveraged automated tools (AddressSanitizer, libFuzzer) to prevent similar flaws.Delayed public disclosure of vulnerability details to allow user patching., Enhancing access controls (MFA, zero-trust principles).Implementing AI-driven anomaly detection for unusual behaviors.Conducting internal audits of contractor security processes.Reevaluating outsourcing strategies for high-risk operations., Enhanced user education on malware prevention.Promotion of password managers and passkeys.Collaboration between tech companies and cybersecurity firms to disrupt malware networks.Expansion of dark web monitoring for leaked credentials., Default deployment of passkeys for personal Google Accounts (October 2023).Public awareness campaigns on passkey adoption and MFA.Continuous monitoring for credential stuffing attacks.Collaboration with password managers (e.g., Dashlane) to promote secure authentication., Accelerate passkey adoption via incentives (e.g., bypassing 2SV).Collaborate with FIDO Alliance to standardize passkey implementation.Partner with law enforcement to disrupt transnational scam operations.Develop AI-driven defenses to detect and block AI-generated phishing content., Emergency patch deployment, Adopt continuous password monitoring solutions (e.g., Enzoic).Block compromised passwords at creation/reset.Monitor existing credentials for exposure in real time.Improve endpoint security to prevent infostealer infections.Educate users and media on distinguishing credential dumps from direct breaches..

cve

Latest Global CVEs (Not Company-Specific)

Description

ThingsBoard in versions prior to v4.2.1 allows an authenticated user to upload malicious SVG images via the "Image Gallery", leading to a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability. The exploit can be triggered when any user accesses the public API endpoint of the malicious SVG images, or if the malicious images are embedded in an `iframe` element, during a widget creation, deployed to any page of the platform (e.g., dashboards), and accessed during normal operations. The vulnerability resides in the `ImageController`, which fails to restrict the execution of JavaScript code when an image is loaded by the user's browser. This vulnerability can lead to the execution of malicious code in the context of other users' sessions, potentially compromising their accounts and allowing unauthorized actions.

Risk Information
cvss4
Base: 6.2
Severity: LOW
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:P/VC:N/VI:N/VA:N/SC:H/SI:L/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
Description

Mattermost versions 11.0.x <= 11.0.2, 10.12.x <= 10.12.1, 10.11.x <= 10.11.4, 10.5.x <= 10.5.12 fail to to verify that the token used during the code exchange originates from the same authentication flow, which allows an authenticated user to perform account takeover via a specially crafted email address used when switching authentication methods and sending a request to the /users/login/sso/code-exchange endpoint. The vulnerability requires ExperimentalEnableAuthenticationTransfer to be enabled (default: enabled) and RequireEmailVerification to be disabled (default: disabled).

Risk Information
cvss3
Base: 9.9
Severity: LOW
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Description

Mattermost versions 11.0.x <= 11.0.2, 10.12.x <= 10.12.1, 10.11.x <= 10.11.4, 10.5.x <= 10.5.12 fail to sanitize team email addresses to be visible only to Team Admins, which allows any authenticated user to view team email addresses via the GET /api/v4/channels/{channel_id}/common_teams endpoint

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
Description

Exposure of email service credentials to users without administrative rights in Devolutions Server.This issue affects Devolutions Server: before 2025.2.21, before 2025.3.9.

Description

Exposure of credentials in unintended requests in Devolutions Server.This issue affects Server: through 2025.2.20, through 2025.3.8.

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