CISA orders agencies impacted by Microsoft hack to mitigate risks

By Sergiu Gatlan, Bleeping Computer

CISA has issued a new emergency directive ordering U.S. federal agencies to address risks resulting from the breach of multiple Microsoft corporate email accounts by the Russian APT29 hacking group.

Emergency Directive 24-02 was issued to Federal Civilian Executive Branch (FCEB) agencies on April 2. It requires them to investigate potentially affected emails, reset any compromised credentials (if any), and take measures to secure privileged Microsoft Azure accounts.


CISA says Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) operatives now use information stolen from Microsoft's corporate email systems, including the authentication details shared between Microsoft and its customers by email, to gain access to certain customer systems.

"This Emergency Directive requires immediate action by agencies to reduce risk to our federal systems. For several years, the U.S. government has documented malicious cyber activity as a standard part of the Russian playbook; this latest compromise of Microsoft adds to their long list," said CISA Director Jen Easterly on Thursday.

"We will continue efforts in collaboration with our federal government and private sector partners to protect and defend our systems from such threat activity."


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