Education Sector Common Breaches and Cyber Threats

Educational institutions manage the daily activities of hundreds or thousands of students and faculty members. Consequently, they handle extensive and sensitive data such as student and educator login details, home addresses, birthdates, full names, social security numbers, and credit card details along with other financial records. 

According to a study from Nord Security, education has become the fifth most targeted industry for data breaches in the United States. 

Data breaches in the education sector are particularly common due to several factors. First, as we mentioned, educational institutions often hold vast amounts of sensitive data, making them attractive targets for cybercriminals. Additionally, these institutions typically have limited cybersecurity resources compared to other sectors, which can lead to vulnerabilities in their systems. Many schools and universities also have open networks to facilitate a collaborative learning environment, which can inadvertently increase the risk of unauthorized access. Furthermore, the frequent turnover of students and staff complicates the management of access rights and security protocols. Finally, there is often a lack of consistent cybersecurity training for all users of the institution’s networks, which increases the likelihood of security oversights and successful phishing attacks. These factors combined make the education sector a prime target for data breaches.

In this article, we will dissect the current threat environment for educational institutions and learn about the biggest data breaches. 

Phishing, a type of social engineering attack, against educational institutions typically involve cybercriminals sending fraudulent emails or messages that mimic legitimate communications. These deceptive messages aim to trick students, faculty, and staff into revealing sensitive information such as login credentials, personal data, or financial details. Given the large, diverse population within educational institutions, including individuals who may not be well-versed in cybersecurity practices, attackers find a fertile ground for exploitation. The emails might appear to come from trusted sources like the school administration, IT services, or popular software providers used in education. Often, these messages include urgent requests or threats, compelling recipients to act quickly without proper scrutiny, leading to compromised accounts or data breaches. Educational institutions’ reliance on digital communication and numerous interconnected systems further amplify the risks and potential impacts of phishing schemes.

Ransomware attacks against educational institutions involve malicious software that encrypts data on the victim’s systems, rendering them inaccessible. The attackers then demand a ransom for the decryption key. Educational institutions are particularly vulnerable due to their extensive networks and the critical nature of their stored data. These attacks can be devastating, often paralyzing entire systems, disrupting academic operations, and causing significant financial and reputational damage. Attackers may gain entry through phishing emails, exploiting unpatched software vulnerabilities, or inadequate security practices. The interconnectedness of educational networks, combined with often underfunded IT departments and lack of access to comprehensive cybersecurity courses and training, exacerbate the risk and impact of ransomware incidents. Such attacks not only demand immediate financial costs but also long-term recovery and system fortification efforts.

DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks against educational institutions involve overwhelming their network servers with a flood of internet traffic, usually generated from multiple compromised computer systems. These attacks aim to disrupt the availability of online resources such as websites, email servers, and online learning platforms, which are critical for daily operations in education. Because schools and universities increasingly rely on digital services for teaching, learning, and administration, a successful DDoS attack can cause significant disruption, halting academic activities and administrative processes. The diversity of users and devices connecting to these networks often leads to security inconsistencies, which attackers exploit. The impact extends beyond mere inconvenience; it can also harm the institution’s reputation and entail substantial costs for mitigation and prevention of future attacks.

Insider threats in educational institutions involve current or former students, faculty, or staff members who misuse their access to compromise the institution’s systems or data. These threats can be particularly damaging because insiders already have legitimate access. Such attacks might stem from malicious intent, such as a disgruntled employee seeking revenge, or could be the result of negligence, like inadvertently sharing sensitive information or falling for a phishing scam. Since educational environments are typically open and collaborative, maintaining strict controls over data access can be challenging. The varied user base, which constantly changes with new admissions and graduations, further complicates monitoring and managing access rights effectively. Insider threats can lead to significant data breaches, loss of intellectual property, and disruption of educational services, often with severe financial and reputational consequences for the institution.

Vulnerability exploitation in educational institutions involves attackers identifying and leveraging weaknesses in the institution’s software or systems to gain unauthorized access or cause harm. Educational institutions often use a wide array of technologies, including older legacy systems that may not be regularly updated or patched, making them susceptible to such exploits. These vulnerabilities can be in operating systems, educational platforms, databases, or even in the network infrastructure itself. Attackers exploit these flaws to steal sensitive information, deploy malware, or gain control over the institution’s digital resources. The open network environments common in educational settings, coupled with the high turnover of students and staff, can exacerbate these security challenges. Additionally, limited cybersecurity budgets and resources mean that necessary updates and security practices may be neglected. The consequences of vulnerability exploitation can be severe, ranging from data breaches and loss of privacy to substantial disruptions in educational services and financial losses.

The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) confirmed a significant data breach involving their Snowflake account, where sensitive information about students and employees was stolen. The breach was identified on June 6, 2024, when the district became aware of an offer to sell their data on hacker forums. The stolen data includes comprehensive personal information such as student names, addresses, family information, financial records, and academic details.

This incident was part of a larger breach affecting multiple organizations, attributed to a group using the alias “UNC5537”. They exploited weak multi-factor authentication settings across several Snowflake accounts. On June 18, 2024, the data was put up for sale by a hacker known as ‘Sp1d3r’, marking a serious escalation in the exposure of personal data to potential misuse.

In response, LAUSD has been actively collaborating with the FBI, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and their vendors to investigate and mitigate the breach’s impact. There are indications that more than one hacker accessed the data, complicating the situation further.

The exposure of such detailed personal information poses a severe risk of identity theft and other fraudulent activities against affected individuals, urging vigilance against phishing and other exploitative attacks​.

MOVEit, a file transfer solution developed by Progress Software, is widely used by educational institutions, government agencies, and financial entities for the secure transfer of large data files. This software is noted for its high cybersecurity standards, making it an essential tool for handling sensitive information.

In 2023, a major data breach affected MOVEit, impacting approximately 900 schools across the United States. The breach was initiated through an SQL injection vulnerability, exposing sensitive data including names, dates of birth, social security numbers, student IDs, and detailed academic records from various educational institutions. The National Student Clearinghouse, a service provider for these schools, confirmed the breach and disclosed that the stolen data varied by individual, affecting personal and academic information. This incident underscored the complex web of data exchanges between educational institutions and highlighted the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures, especially concerning third-party services that manage and transfer sensitive data.

In August 2023, the University of Michigan reported a data breach that affected approximately 230,000 individuals. The breach, detected between August 23 and August 27, allowed unauthorized access to systems containing sensitive data of students, applicants, alumni, donors, employees, contractors, and research study participants, as well as patients from the University Health Service and School of Dentistry.

Exposed data included personal, financial, and medical information. The university responded quickly by disconnecting the affected systems from the internet to contain the breach and mitigate further damage. Affected individuals were promptly notified, and the university offered complimentary credit monitoring services to help protect those whose information might have been compromised.

In June 2023, the New Haven Public School District experienced a significant cyberattack, with hackers stealing approximately $6 million by impersonating the district’s Chief Operating Officer’s email. The stolen funds were primarily meant for the district’s school bus contractor, First Student. Hackers executed fraudulent electronic transfers, taking advantage of the district’s financial protocols. Fortunately, the city, in collaboration with the FBI, managed to recover about $3.6 million of the lost funds. This breach prompted a critical reassessment of the district’s cybersecurity strategies, leading to enhanced measures and training aimed at preventing future incidents.

In February 2023, Minneapolis Public Schools experienced a severe data breach affecting over 105,000 individuals. The breach was orchestrated by the Medusa ransomware gang, which launched an attack demanding a $1 million ransom. This incident exposed sensitive personal information, including details of students and educators. Subsequently, this data was leaked online, including on the dark web, posing significant risks of identity theft and other frauds. The leaked files contained critical security information such as campus surveillance locations and security protocols. In response, the district has engaged cybersecurity experts to mitigate the damage and is offering credit monitoring to impacted individuals. 

As educational institutions continue to navigate the complex landscape of cybersecurity, it’s clear that the stakes are high. The data breaches discussed illustrate not only the vulnerability of schools and universities to various types of cyber attacks but also the severe consequences of such incidents. From phishing and ransomware to DDoS attacks and insider threats, the challenges are manifold. Institutions must prioritize the security of their networks and data and implement comprehensive training and awareness programs to safeguard against the evolving threat landscape. This proactive approach is essential to protect the privacy and safety of students, educators, and staff, ensuring the continuity of educational operations in the digital age.