Despite some early conflicting positions from the Trump Administration identifying responsibility for the SolarWinds hack, a joint statement by the the National Security Council’s Cyber Unified Coordination Group – including the FBI, CISA, ODNI, and NSA – now states that it is “likely Russian in origin,” calling it “a serious compromise that will require a sustained and dedicated effort to remediate.” The extent of the breach is still being determined, but the UCG believes that fewer than ten federal agencies were compromised beyond infection and initial probes. Although some experts have characterized it as an act of war, the UCG identifies the attack as a case of espionage.
Sources:
- CyberScoop: US Investigators say SolarWinds Hack is ‘Likely Russian in Origin’
- NextGov: Russia ‘Likely’ Behind Widespread Hack, Cyber Response Agencies Say
- Lawfare: Document: Joint Intelligence Community Statement on ‘Likely Russian’ Role in SolarWinds Incident
- Federal Computer Week: White House Task Forces says Russia Likely to Blame for SolarWinds Hack