The European Space Agency (ESA) is grappling with a serious cybersecurity incident after hackers reportedly infiltrated its systems and stole hundreds of gigabytes of sensitive data. The breach has triggered an official criminal investigation, with authorities examining how attackers accessed internal systems and extracted confidential scientific and operational material. The incident highlights growing cyber risks faced by space agencies worldwide.

According to reports, the first breach occurred on Boxing Day, when a hacker operating under the alias “888” allegedly leaked more than 200 gigabytes of ESA-related data online. Soon after, another hacking group known as “Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters” claimed responsibility for an additional theft of around 500 gigabytes, suggesting that a critical security vulnerability remained unpatched within ESA’s digital infrastructure.

The stolen data is believed to include proprietary software, internal mission documents, security credentials, and sensitive communications involving major aerospace partners such as Airbus, SpaceX, and Thales Alenia Space. While ESA has stated that there is no immediate threat to ongoing missions, cybersecurity experts warn that cumulative leaks could expose strategic insights to malicious actors.

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Experts point to poor cyber hygiene and the possible use of infostealer malware as key factors enabling the breach. Such malware can silently harvest login credentials, session cookies, and internal access tokens, often originating from compromised contractor systems rather than central agency networks. Investigators are now assessing whether the vulnerability stemmed from ESA itself or one of its external partners.

The incident underscores a broader trend of rising cyberattacks targeting space agencies, with both ESA and NASA increasingly becoming high-value targets. As the space sector grows more competitive and technologically complex, officials are urging stronger cybersecurity protocols, regular system audits, and tighter controls across supply chains to prevent future breaches.

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