U.S. government says several agencies hacked as part of broader cyberattack

Several U.S. agencies have been hacked as part of a broader cyberattack that has hit dozens of companies and organizations in recent weeks through a previously unknown vulnerability in popular file sharing software.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the country’s top civilian cybersecurity watchdog, said Thursday that it is still investigating the scope of the hacks, said Eric Goldstein, its executive assistant director.

“CISA is providing support to several federal agencies that have experienced intrusions,” he said. “We are working urgently to understand impacts and ensure timely remediation.”

The hackers exploited a vulnerability in a program called MOVEIt, a popular tool for transferring files quickly.