A massive Indian bank data breach has exposed hundreds of thousands of sensitive financial documents, revealing critical customer information including account numbers and transaction details. Cybersecurity researchers discovered this alarming security lapse that affected customers across 38 different financial institutions.
Massive Scale of the Indian Bank Data Breach
Researchers at UpGuard identified 273,000 exposed PDF documents containing sensitive bank transfer information. Consequently, this Indian bank data breach represents one of the largest financial security incidents in recent memory. The documents contained completed transaction forms for India’s National Automated Clearing House system.
How the Security Lapse Occurred
The Indian bank data breach resulted from an unsecured Amazon S3 storage bucket that remained publicly accessible. Importantly, security experts found that thousands of new files were being added daily to the exposed server. Meanwhile, the data included:
- Account numbers and transaction figures
- Customer contact information
- Bank transfer forms for recurring payments
- Loan repayment and salary transaction details
Response and Containment Efforts
Following discovery, UpGuard immediately notified relevant authorities about the Indian bank data breach. However, the exposed data remained accessible for several weeks before being secured. Subsequently, fintech company Nupay acknowledged responsibility for the configuration error.
Ongoing Investigation and Implications
The Indian bank data breach highlights critical vulnerabilities in cloud storage security practices. Moreover, researchers dispute Nupay’s claims that most files contained test data. Therefore, this incident underscores the need for stronger data protection measures across India’s financial sector.
FAQs
What information was exposed in the Indian bank data breach?
The breach exposed account numbers, transaction figures, contact details, and bank transfer forms for recurring payments through India’s NACH system.
How many financial institutions were affected?
At least 38 different banks and financial institutions had customer data exposed in the security lapse.
Who discovered the data breach?
Cybersecurity firm UpGuard discovered the exposed data in late August during routine security monitoring.
Has the data been secured now?
Yes, the exposed Amazon S3 bucket has been secured following intervention by India’s computer emergency response team.
What should affected customers do?
Customers should monitor their bank statements closely and report any suspicious activity to their financial institution immediately.
How long was the data exposed?
The exact duration remains unclear, but researchers confirmed the data was publicly accessible for several weeks before being secured.
