A Homeland Security breach is under investigation after the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed a cyber incident involving one of its information-sharing networks.
The agency said the attack affected an unclassified legacy information-sharing environment. However, officials released few details. They also have not identified those responsible.
DHS Confirms Cyber Incident
DHS acknowledged the cyber incident in a statement released on Thursday.
The department did not identify the affected platform. It also did not explain how attackers gained access. In addition, officials declined to answer follow-up questions.
According to GovExec, the incident involved the Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN). The platform allows federal agencies to share sensitive but unclassified information. State and local governments, foreign law enforcement agencies, and other trusted partners also use the network.
Breach May Have Lasted Several Weeks
GovExec cited two people familiar with the matter. According to the report, the Homeland Security breach likely occurred between late May and early June.
Officials have not confirmed that timeline. They also have not disclosed whether attackers accessed or stole any information.
For now, the investigation remains ongoing.
Senator Warns of National Security Risks
The incident has already attracted attention on Capitol Hill.
Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, warned that the network contains highly sensitive information. Although the data is not classified, he said its exposure could threaten national security.
Warner urged DHS and the Department of Justice to investigate the incident thoroughly. He also called on both agencies to determine who carried out the attack and what information was compromised.
Investigation Continues
Officials have not linked the Homeland Security breach to a specific threat group or nation-state.
Likewise, DHS has not confirmed whether the attackers still had access to the affected environment. The agency also has not said whether the incident has been fully contained.
Until investigators release more details, the full scope of the breach and its impact on government partners will remain unknown.
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