Comcast Details

    Organization Logo

    Comcast

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania186000 employees • Telecommunications

    Industry

    Telecommunications

    Security Incidents

    1

    Comcast Corporation, founded in 1963, is a multinational telecommunications conglomerate based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is one of the largest providers of cable TV and Internet services in the United States, operating under the Xfinity brand for its cable communications services. Beyond its core telecommunications operations, Comcast also owns and operates NBCUniversal, a significant player in the media and entertainment industry, which includes news, entertainment, and sports broadcasting networks, motion picture companies, and theme parks.

    Security Incidents

    Comcast Breach of Dec 2023
    Severity Score
    Significant to High

    Type

    Zero-Day Exploit

    Summary

    In mid-October 2023, Comcast's Xfinity service suffered a massive data breach affecting nearly 36 million accounts due to an unpatched vulnerability in Citrix software. Hackers accessed sensitive information including usernames, partially obscured social security numbers, birth dates, and contact details. Despite discovering the vulnerability earlier, Xfinity only patched it after the data was compromised, leading to widespread concern and legal action.

    Severity

    The Comcast Xfinity data breach was highly severe, impacting nearly 36 million customers by exposing sensitive personal information such as birth dates and partial social security numbers. The breach was caused by a delayed response to a known security flaw, which allowed hackers easy access to the data. This has raised serious concerns about the company's security practices and led to multiple lawsuits, underlining the extensive potential for customer harm.

    Impact

    The Comcast Xfinity data breach in October 2023 significantly impacted nearly 36 million customers, exposing their personal and sensitive information. Affected data included usernames, contact details, birth dates, and the last four digits of social security numbers, raising the risk of identity theft and fraud for those involved. The breach has led to legal challenges and widespread criticism of Comcast's security measures, underscoring the serious consequences for both the company and its customers.