A recent cyberattack targeting the U.S. federal court records system, known as PACER, may be connected to the Russian government, according to The New York Times.

Citing anonymous sources, the newspaper reported that Russia is “at least partially responsible” for the breach, though it did not specify which branch of its administration might be involved. The hackers allegedly targeted mid-level criminal cases in New York and other jurisdictions, focusing on individuals with Russian or Eastern European surnames.

The breach, first reported by Politico, is believed to have compromised sensitive information, including the identities of protected witnesses—typically redacted in court filings—potentially exposing them to retaliation by criminal organizations. Stolen data may also include sealed indictments, non-public arrest warrants, and other confidential legal records.

The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts confirmed the incident on August 7. Additionally, The New York Times cited an internal memo sent to Justice Department officials warning that “sophisticated cyber threat actors” had accessed sealed court files, calling it an “URGENT matter” requiring immediate action.

This would not be Russia’s first alleged attack on the U.S. judicial system. In 2020, a Kremlin-linked espionage operation exploited a vulnerability in SolarWinds software—used by government agencies and corporations—to infiltrate critical networks, including PACER, leaking confidential court documents.

In response, court authorities stated they are strengthening system security and working with federal courts to minimize disruptions to ongoing legal proceedings.

By: Nestor Castillo, ForAllTechNews Director