OpenTable

We've been tracking a concerning trend of older breaches resurfacing in underground communities, often repackaged with new claims or offered alongside updated cracking tools. What caught our attention wasn't the age of the OpenTable breach itself, but the persistence of plaintext passwords within the data. While older breaches are often dismissed, the continued availability of unencrypted credentials poses an ongoing risk, especially given password reuse across different services. The data had been circulating quietly, but we noticed increased chatter around it on several dark web forums, prompting a deeper dive.

OpenTable's 2018 Breach: Over 10 Million Exposed with Plaintext Passwords

In August 2018, OpenTable, the well-known restaurant reservation platform, experienced a significant data breach. This breach, which has recently resurfaced in various online communities, exposed over 10 million user records, highlighting the critical importance of secure data storage practices. The re-emergence of this data now serves as a stark reminder of the long-tail risks associated with inadequate security measures and the potential for legacy breaches to continue impacting users years later.

The breach was initially discovered in August 2018, though details regarding the exact method of intrusion remain scarce. What made this breach particularly alarming was the storage of passwords in plaintext. The implications of storing passwords without encryption are severe, as it allows attackers to easily access user accounts and potentially use these credentials to compromise other online services where users may have reused the same password. The current increase in chatter suggests renewed efforts to crack or utilize these credentials, making timely action crucial for potentially affected users.

This breach matters to enterprises now for several reasons. First, it underscores the lasting impact of data breaches, even those that occurred years ago. Second, it highlights the ongoing threat posed by plaintext passwords, a practice that should be completely eradicated from modern systems. Finally, it serves as a reminder of the importance of proactive threat intelligence and monitoring of underground communities to identify and mitigate potential risks before they materialize. The incident also reflects a broader threat theme: the long-term impact of insecure data storage practices and the potential for old breaches to be weaponized in new attacks.

Key point: Total records exposed: 10,772,931

Key point: Types of data included: Email Address, Plaintext Password

Key point: Source structure: Database

Key point: Leak location(s): Various dark web forums and Telegram channels.

Key point: Date of first appearance: August 16, 2018

The OpenTable breach received coverage from several cybersecurity news outlets at the time. For instance, articles in BleepingComputer detailed the extent of the breach and the potential risks to users (no archived link available). Security experts emphasized the need for users to change their OpenTable passwords and enable two-factor authentication where available. Discussions on Reddit and other online forums also highlighted the potential for password reuse and the importance of using unique passwords for different online services. One Telegram post claimed the files were being actively used in credential stuffing attacks targeting various e-commerce platforms.

Email · Address · Plaintext · Password