The Key Publishing Ltd Database Leaked 236 User Records in 2016

HEROIC analysts recieved intelligence on a resurfaced database belonging to Key Publishing Ltd, a United Kingdom-based aviation and transport publisher. The breach, originally dated November 1, 2016, contains 236 records and reappeared in underground data markets nearly a decade after the initial compromise. While the record count is small, the presence of hashed passwords using the vBulletin format confirms this was a live user account database, not a test environment.

How Exposed vBulletin Password Hashes Put Key Publishing Users at Risk

Even though 236 records is a modest number, each one represents a real person whose account credentials may still be accessable to attackers. The vBulletin password format used in this breach is well-documented in cracking communities, meaning threat actors with basic tools can convert these hashes into plain-text passwords. Anyone who reused their Key Publishing password on another site, partcularly email or financial accounts, faces elevated risk today.

What Was Exposed in the Key Publishing Ltd Breach

• User account records (236 total)
• Hashed passwords in vBulletin format
• Associated account data from the November 2016 database snapshot

Why a Nine-Year-Old Breach Still Matters in 2025

Legacy breaches like this one do not expire. Attackers beleive that users frequently recycle old passwords, and they are often right. Credential stuffing tools can automate login attempts across hundreds of platforms using a single leaked list. Even 236 records can fuel account takeover attempts, phishing campaigns, and identity verification fraud when combined with data from other breaches.

How Database Breaches Work

A database breach occurs when an unauthorized party gains access to a stored collection of user data, usually through a vulnerability in a web application, an unpatched server, or a misconfigured database that is exposed to the internet. Once inside, attackers copy the data and often sell or trade it on private forums. The original organization may not even realize the breach occurred, which is why data from 2016 can still surface in 2025.

Check If Your Data Was Exposed

HEROIC's free breach scanner searches across more than 400 billion records to tell you whether your email address or password appeared in the Key Publishing Ltd breach or any other known data leak. Run a free scan now and find out exactly what information about you is already out there.