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A malicious entity identified as “zestix” has declared its involvement in a considerable data breach impacting Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), reportedly extracting 18.3 GB of confidential legal and client data.
The malicious entity has listed the dataset for purchase on a dark web forum, setting the price for the entire collection at $5,000. The advertisement claims that the breach reveals a diverse range of internal documents, covering both ongoing and concluded litigation records from 48 U.S. states.
As noted by ThreatMon, which detected the announcement, the leak seemingly targets the legal framework that aids Mercedes-Benz in countering consumer warranty claims, particularly the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act.
If confirmed, this occurrence emphasizes the significant susceptibility of third-party legal providers who manage extremely sensitive corporate and consumer information. The entity asserts that the breach encompasses “every defensive tactic, external counsel billing rate, and settlement protocol” employed by the automotive titan in the United States.
The compromised archive is reportedly extensive, comprising both operational legal information and Personally Identifiable Information (PII) of clients.
This incident highlights the ongoing danger posed by vulnerabilities in the supply chain. Although Mercedes-Benz USA has encountered data exposure incidents in the past, such as the unintended cloud storage leak in 2021 that impacted nearly 1,000 clients, this particular event focuses on the legal supply chain rather than the corporation’s direct operational structure.
The revelation of “secret MBUSA templates/forms” and defensive legal approaches could have enduring consequences for ongoing legal proceedings. Moreover, the presence of “New Vendor Questionnaire forms” containing banking information raises alarms about possible business email compromise (BEC) or financial deceit targeting the automaker’s vendor network.
At the time of this publication, neither Mercedes-Benz USA nor Burris & MacOmber LLP has released an official announcement validating the legitimacy of the data. Security experts advise that clients engaged in recent warranty disputes with the manufacturer should monitor their credit reports and remain alert against phishing attempts related to their case files.
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