GoDaddy, one of the largest domain registrars and hosting service providers in the world announced that its shared website hosting environment has been breached for multiple years by a sophisticated threat actor group. The attackers installed malware on its servers, stole source code, and accessed several pieces of code related to different services within the company. This breach has been linked to previous security incidents and has impacted some of its customers.
The Breach and its Impact
GoDaddy announced the breach in a filing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in December 2022. The company initially discovered the breach after receiving customer reports that their sites were redirecting to random domains. The investigation revealed that unknown attackers had accessed GoDaddy’s network for multiple years, leading to the theft of source code and installation of malware on its servers.
While the full extent of the breach is not yet clear, it could have severe consequences for the company and its clients. The theft of source code could lead to the exploitation of vulnerabilities in GoDaddy’s software, potentially compromising the security of millions of websites. Additionally, the installation of malware on the company’s servers could enable the attackers to conduct further attacks on GoDaddy and its customers.
Links to Previous Breaches
GoDaddy says that the recent breach is part of a multi-year campaign by a sophisticated threat actor group that has targeted hosting companies worldwide. The company has also linked the breach to two previous incidents disclosed in November 2021 and March 2020. In the November 2021 attack, attackers breached GoDaddy’s WordPress hosting environment and accessed the data of 1.2 million Managed WordPress customers. In the March 2020 incident, 28,000 customers were alerted that an attacker had used their web hosting account credentials to connect to their accounts.
The links between the breaches suggest that GoDaddy’s security has been compromised for several years, potentially exposing its customers to significant risks. The company has stated that it is working with external cybersecurity experts and law enforcement agencies worldwide to investigate the root cause of the breach.
The Broader Campaign and Potential Impacts
GoDaddy has also found evidence linking the threat actors to a broader campaign targeting hosting companies worldwide. According to the company, the attackers’ apparent goal is to infect websites and servers with malware for phishing campaigns, malware distribution, and other malicious activities. This could have significant implications for the cybersecurity of many hosting providers and their clients.
The breach highlights the risks faced by companies that provide critical internet services, particularly those that hold sensitive data on millions of customers. While GoDaddy has not yet provided details on the full extent of the breach, it is clear that the impact could be significant for both the company and its customers.
Conclusion
The GoDaddy breach is a stark reminder of the threats faced by internet service providers and the importance of robust cybersecurity measures. Companies must prioritize their security posture and work with experts to detect and respond to breaches quickly, mitigating the potential damage to their clients and the wider internet community.