In early 2025, British Airways experienced a sophisticated cyber attack compromising the personal and financial data of approximately 185,000 customers. This incident marked the third significant breach for the airline since 2018, raising serious concerns about aviation cybersecurity in the UK and beyond.
The Attack Timeline: How the Breach Unfolded
Initial Compromise (15 March 2025)
The attack began with a sophisticated phishing campaign targeting British Airways' third-party suppliers. Attackers gained initial access through a vulnerable web application in the airline's baggage handling system, which had not been properly patched against a known vulnerability (CVE-2024-35128).
Lateral Movement & Data Access (16-22 March 2025)
Over the next week, the threat actors moved laterally through British Airways' network, eventually accessing customer databases containing:
- Payment card information (numbers, expiration dates, CVV codes)
- Passenger name records (PNRs) and booking details
- Frequent flyer account credentials
- Passport information and contact details
Exfiltration & Detection (23-25 March 2025)
The attackers exfiltrated data over encrypted channels disguised as normal API traffic. British Airways' security team detected anomalous database queries on 25 March during a routine audit, triggering their incident response protocol.
Technical Analysis of the Attack Vectors
Supply Chain Vulnerability
The primary attack vector exploited a vulnerable JavaScript library in British Airways' baggage tracking system, provided by a third-party vendor. This library had not been updated to address a known remote code execution vulnerability.
Credential Theft & Privilege Escalation
Attackers used harvested employee credentials to access internal systems, then exploited misconfigureged service accounts to escalate privileges to domain administrator level.
"This attack demonstrates that even with significant security investments, organisations remain vulnerable through their supply chain. Third-party risk management must be a board-level priority."
— Sarah Jenkins, Head of Threat Intelligence, ProtekCyber
Impact Assessment & Response
Customer Impact
The breach affected approximately 185,000 customers, primarily those who had made bookings between February and March 2025. Compromised data included:
Data Compromised in the Breach
- Payment card information
- Passenger names and contact details
- Flight booking references
- Executive Club account details
Business Impact
British Airways faced significant operational disruption, regulatory scrutiny from the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), and potential fines under GDPR. The airline's share price dropped 4.2% following the breach disclosure.
Response Measures
British Airways immediately engaged cybersecurity consultants, notified affected customers, and offered complimentary credit monitoring services. The airline also temporarily took affected systems offline to contain the breach.
Key Lessons for UK Organisations
Critical Security Recommendations
Enhanced Third-Party Risk Management
Implement rigorous security assessments for all suppliers with network access, including regular vulnerability scanning and compliance audits.
Privileged Access Management
Enforce strict principle of least privilege and implement multi-factor authentication for all administrative accounts.
Advanced Threat Detection
Deploy behaviour-based analytics to detect anomalous database queries and unusual data access patterns.
Protecting Your Organisation
Based on our analysis of the British Airways attack, we recommend the following protective measures:
Technical Controls
- Network Segmentation: Isolate critical systems like payment processing from general corporate networks
- Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR): Implement advanced threat hunting capabilities across all endpoints
- Database Activity Monitoring: Deploy solutions that track and alert on unusual database queries
- Patch Management: Establish rigorous processes for timely vulnerability remediation
Organisational Measures
- Third-Party Risk Assessments: Conduct regular security evaluations of all suppliers with system access
- Security Awareness Training: Implement ongoing phishing simulation and security education programs
- Incident Response Planning: Develop and regularly test comprehensive incident response plans
- Cyber Insurance: Ensure appropriate coverage for data breach response and regulatory fines
Conclusion: Navigating the Evolving Threat Landscape
The British Airways breach demonstrates that sophisticated attackers will increasingly target supply chain vulnerabilities to bypass organisational defenses. UK businesses must adopt a defense-in-depth approach that includes:
- Comprehensive third-party risk management programs
- Advanced threat detection capabilities
- Rigorous access control and privilege management
- Regular security testing and incident response exercises
By learning from incidents like the British Airways attack and implementing robust security measures, organisations can better protect customer data and maintain trust in an increasingly digital economy.
