Cybersecurity and Privacy Risks in the United Nations Database Breaches

Cybersecurity Risks Unveiled

A database containing sensitive, sometimes personal information from the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women was openly accessible on the internet, revealing more than 115,000 files related to organizations that partner with or receive funding from UN Women. The documents range from staffing information and contracts to letters and even detailed financial audits about organizations working with vulnerable communities around the world, including under repressive regimes.

Discovery and Implications

Security researcher Jeremiah Fowler discovered the database, which was not password protected or otherwise access controlled, and disclosed the finding to the UN, which secured the database. Such incidents are not uncommon, and many researchers regularly find and disclose examples of exposures to help organizations correct data management mistakes. But Fowler emphasizes that this ubiquity is exactly why it is important to continue to raise awareness about the threat of such misconfigurations.

The UN Women database is a prime example of a small error that could create additional risk for women, children, and LGBTQ people living in hostile situations worldwide. “They're doing great work and helping real people on the ground, but the cybersecurity aspect is still critical,” Fowler tells WIRED.

Potential Risks from Breaches

A spokesperson for UN Women acknowledged the issue, stating that containment measures were rapidly put in place with ongoing investigative actions. They stressed the importance of communication with potentially affected persons to raise awareness about privacy concerns and the lessons learned from this incident.

The breached data could expose individuals to multiple dangers. At the organizational level, financial audits include bank account information, but the broader disclosures detail funding sources and budget allocations. Such data is particularly vulnerable to being exploited in scams, as the UN is a trusted entity.

Worrisome Data Exploitation

“If this data fell into the wrong hands or it reached the dark web, you could have scammers or an authoritarian government looking at which organizations are working where,” warns Fowler.

This breach emphasizes the need for better cybersecurity measures within the UN system. If findings from incidents like this spur infrastructure review, they could significantly reduce risks of future data breaches.