US federal court files hacked, evidence points to Russian involvement

Russia is suspected of being behind a recent hack of the US federal court filing system, according to a New York Times report. Investigators have found evidence of Russian involvement in the breach, although the exact extent of their involvement is not yet clear. The hack compromised the system that manages US federal court documents, but it is not yet known what information was accessed or stolen.

July 2, 2025 — Investigators have uncovered evidence that Russia is at least partially responsible for a recent hack of the computer system that manages U.S. federal court documents, according to a New York Times report. The breach compromised the Case Management/Electronic Case Files (CM/ECF) and Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) systems, which are used by legal professionals and the public to access sensitive court data [2].

The New York Times report cited several people briefed on the breach, indicating that Russia's involvement is being investigated. However, the exact extent of Russia's role and the specific information accessed or stolen remain unclear. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation referred questions to the Justice Department, which has not yet responded to an email seeking comment [1].

This is not the first time the U.S. federal judiciary's electronic case filing system has been targeted. In 2021, the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts announced new security procedures to protect confidential or sealed records following an apparent compromise of the system [1]. Then-House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler stated that "three hostile foreign actors" had targeted the courts' document filing system, with a breach of "startling breadth and scope" [1].

The federal judiciary has faced challenges in modernizing its aging IT systems, with U.S. Circuit Judge Amy St. Eve noting that years of underinvestment have left the system vulnerable [1]. The recent hack underscores the ongoing security risks associated with these outdated systems.

References:
[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-federal-court-filing-system-breached-sweeping-hack-politico-reports-2025-08-07/
[2] https://www.tradingview.com/news/reuters.com,2025:newsml_FWN3U41A6:0-russia-is-suspected-to-be-behind-hack-of-us-federal-court-filing-system-new-york-times-reports/