Incident Details
An incident involving the security of personal data has been detected, and we would like to inform you about it. This notification outlines the details of the incident, the measures that Xfinity has implemented to address it, and provides guidance on actions you can take to safeguard your personal information.
Xfinity's software provider, Citrix, disclosed a security vulnerability in one of its products on October 10, 2023, which was utilized by Xfinity and numerous other companies globally. Upon the announcement, Citrix issued a patch to rectify the vulnerability and provided further mitigation advice on October 23, 2023. Xfinity promptly applied the necessary patches and mitigations to its systems. However, it was later uncovered that unauthorized access to certain internal systems occurred between October 16 and October 19, 2023, before the mitigation was in place. This breach was attributed to the aforementioned vulnerability. Subsequently, federal law enforcement was informed, and an investigation was initiated to determine the extent and nature of the breach. By November 16, 2023, it was established that unauthorized access had likely resulted in the acquisition of information.
On December 6, 2023, it was confirmed that the compromised information included usernames and hashed passwords. Additionally, for some customers, other data such as names, contact details, the last four digits of social security numbers, dates of birth, and/or security questions and answers were also accessed. The data review process is ongoing, and further updates will be provided as needed.
Incident
How Did the Breach Happen?
The security breach occurred as a result of an exposed weakness in a product utilized by Xfinity, which was supplied by Citrix. This flaw enabled unauthorized individuals to gain entry into Xfinity's internal networks.
What Data has been Compromised?
The data breach involves the exposure of usernames and encrypted passwords. In certain cases, other details like full names, contact details, last four digits of Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and secret responses may also have been compromised.
Why Did the company's Security Measures Fail?
Security breaches occurred within the company due to a weakness found in the Citrix product, leading to unauthorized entry into the internal systems.
What Immediate Impact Did the Breach Have on the company?
The security breach resulted in unauthorized entry to the personal data of Xfinity clients, which could have jeopardized their accounts and confidentiality.
How could this have been prevented?
By promptly applying the patch provided by Citrix to address the vulnerability in their product, it would have been possible to avoid this breach. Moreover, conducting routine security checks and monitoring could have assisted in identifying and addressing the unauthorized access at an earlier stage.
What have we learned from this data breach?
The significance of promptly addressing vulnerabilities and applying patches is underscored by this incident of a data breach. It also highlights the critical role of ongoing security monitoring in identifying and addressing unauthorized access.
Summary of Coverage
Approximately 35,879,455 consumers were informed by Xfinity, a division of Comcast Cable Communications, about a data breach caused by a vulnerability in a Citrix product. This breach led to unauthorized entry into internal systems, compromising customer usernames, hashed passwords, and potentially other personal data. Remedial actions were implemented, such as applying patches, mitigation efforts, alerting law enforcement, and initiating an investigation. This event highlights the importance of promptly installing patches and maintaining ongoing security surveillance to avert and identify unauthorized access.