Ethical Hacking News
The recent events surrounding the US government's cyber security practices have brought to light a disturbing trend of incompetence, which threatens not only the nation's information infrastructure but also its very way of life. A growing concern over the US government's handling of cyber security threats has been highlighted by the recent breach at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which raises questions about the agency's ability to protect sensitive data and prevent cyber attacks.
FEMA's IT department was found to have serious security problems during an audit conducted by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). A breach of sensitive data occurred at FEMA without the agency's knowledge until July, after attackers exploited stolen credentials. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem claimed that FEMA's security preparedness was not compromised due to an online attack, but new evidence suggests otherwise. FEMA failed to address vulnerabilities despite warnings of a CVSS 9.3 bug in Netscaler's ADC and Gateway platforms. A surge in scanning attacks against Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect and PAN-OS profiles has been reported, indicating FEMA's IT department is still vulnerable to cyber attacks.
The recent events surrounding the United States government's cyber security practices have brought to light a disturbing trend of incompetence, which threatens not only the nation's information infrastructure but also its very way of life. At the forefront of this issue is the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which has been embroiled in controversy over its handling of cybersecurity threats.
According to sources, FEMA's IT department was found to be riddled with serious security problems during an audit conducted by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The agency's failure to address these vulnerabilities had led to a breakdown in its ability to protect sensitive data and prevent cyber attacks. Despite this, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem claimed that the agency's security preparedness was not compromised due to an online attack.
However, new evidence suggests otherwise. In June, attackers exploited stolen credentials to access FEMA's Citrix system, which led to a breach of sensitive data stored on Region 6 servers in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. The breach occurred without the agency's knowledge until July.
Moreover, there were warnings that the CitrixBleed 2 attacks exploited a CVSS 9.3 bug in Netscaler's ADC and Gateway platforms. These platforms allowed hackers to steal sensitive data such as session tokens and bypass multi-factor authentication. Despite these warnings, it appears that FEMA's IT department failed to take adequate measures to prevent this breach.
In light of this new information, it seems that DHS Secretary Noem's claim may be false. The recent changes made to FEMA's IT department, including the hiring of new staff last month to fix lax security, do not appear to have addressed the underlying issues that led to this breach.
Furthermore, a surge in scanning attacks against Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect and PAN-OS profiles has been reported. According to Greynoise, a security shop that tracks such activity, there was a massive increase in scans from 1,300 unique IPs, with 93 percent of these being classified as suspicious and the remaining 7 percent actively malicious. This surge suggests that FEMA's IT department is still vulnerable to cyber attacks.
The recent events surrounding FEMA's cybersecurity failures serve as a stark reminder of the importance of robust security measures in protecting sensitive information. It highlights the need for agencies like FEMA to prioritize their cybersecurity practices, invest in adequate training and staff, and take proactive steps to prevent breaches.
As the US government continues to grapple with the consequences of its own incompetence, it is imperative that agencies such as FEMA learn from their mistakes and take concrete steps to improve their security posture. Anything less would be a dereliction of duty and a betrayal of the public's trust.
The recent revelations surrounding FEMA's cybersecurity failures have far-reaching implications for the nation's information infrastructure. The fact that these vulnerabilities were not addressed in a timely manner suggests a lack of urgency and a general disregard for the importance of security. This is unacceptable, especially given the risks posed by cyber threats to national security and individual safety.
The recent surge in scanning attacks against Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect and PAN-OS profiles highlights the ongoing threat landscape that agencies such as FEMA must contend with. The fact that these systems are being targeted suggests a level of sophistication and planning on the part of malicious actors, which underscores the need for robust security measures to be put in place.
The recent events surrounding FEMA's cybersecurity failures serve as a stark reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in government agencies. The lack of clear communication from DHS Secretary Noem regarding the reasons behind the termination of FEMA's IT staff raises questions about the agency's willingness to address its own shortcomings.
In conclusion, the recent events surrounding FEMA's cybersecurity failures have highlighted a growing concern over the US government's handling of cyber security threats. The failure to prioritize robust security measures, invest in adequate training and staff, and take proactive steps to prevent breaches has left a nation vulnerable to attack. As the US government continues to grapple with the consequences of its own incompetence, it is imperative that agencies such as FEMA learn from their mistakes and take concrete steps to improve their security posture.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/The-Shadow-of-Incompetence-A-Growing-Concern-Over-the-US-Governments-Cybersecurity-Failings-ehn.shtml
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2025/10/06/infosec_in_brief/
Published: Mon Oct 6 11:35:12 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
