Hacker Honeypot? BreachForums Reopens via Emails from French Ministry of the Interior Domain

Key Findings

• The original founder of the BreachForums hacking forum has been arrested and sentenced to prison.

• Numerous reincarnations of BreachForums have continued to surface, despite several being shut down.

• Users who had previously registered on BreachForums recently received emails claiming the forum had reopened.

• The emails were sent from the domain pppj-sdpj92-ger2@interieur.gouv.fr, which belongs to the French Ministry of the Interior.

• This incident coincides with a reported breach of the French Ministry of the Interior's systems, resulting in the leakage of email server data.

Background

The BreachForums hacking forum has a history of resurfacing under different names and operators, even after the original founder's arrest and conviction. This pattern of ongoing reincarnations has continued to plague the cybersecurity landscape.

Phishing Attempt or Honeypot?

The recent emails claiming BreachForums had reopened, sent from an official French government domain, have raised suspicions within the hacker community. Many believe this is either a sophisticated phishing attempt or a deliberate honeypot operation designed to lure cybercriminals.

Breach of the French Ministry of the Interior

Coinciding with the BreachForums email incident, the French Ministry of the Interior has confirmed that its systems were breached, resulting in the leakage of email server data. The ministry has acknowledged the intrusion as an act of provocation, though the precise motive remains unclear.

Indra's Claims and Community Skepticism

An individual named Indra has claimed to be the new administrator of BreachForums and has posted an announcement about the platform's reopening. However, the hacker community is highly skeptical of Indra's claims and is warning others not to register on the forum, as it could expose their personal information.

Ongoing Investigation and Tightened Security

The French government has launched an investigation into the cyberattack on the Ministry of the Interior, exploring various scenarios, including foreign interference, hacktivism, or cybercrime. In response, the ministry has reinforced access controls and tightened security measures across its information systems.

Sources

• https://securityonline.info/hacker-honeypot-breachforums-reopens-via-emails-sent-from-french-ministry-of-the-interior-domain/

• https://securityaffairs.com/185725/hacking/french-interior-minister-says-hackers-breached-its-email-servers.html