Russia Suspected in Hack That Hit U.S. Courts and Exposed Sealed Cases

A Russia‑linked cyberattack likely exposed sealed U.S. court filings and forced sensitive cases offline as investigators race to lock down PACER/CM‑ECF. August 13, 2025

A cyberattack suspected to involve Russian‑linked actors has struck the U.S. federal court system — likely exposing sealed filings, disrupting electronic submissions, and pushing judges to handle sensitive matters offline.

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What happened

The breach targeted the judiciary’s electronic filing tools — PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) and CM/ECF (Case Management/Electronic Case Files) — and went undetected for months. Investigators say the intrusion likely exposed sealed and other sensitive documents across multiple courts, including national‑security and criminal cases.

How it was detected

According to multiple reports, the compromise surfaced during a security review earlier this year but may have begun as far back as mid‑2024. Attackers exploited long‑standing software vulnerabilities and, once inside, quietly copied filings without tripping alarms.

Russia’s suspected role

U.S. officials say Russian‑linked cyber actors were at least partially responsible; whether the operation was state‑directed remains under investigation. Moscow has not publicly responded.

Court fallout

Judges and clerks were told to file sensitive and national‑security documents offline.
Several courts paused electronic submissions for sealed matters.
The Administrative Office moved to tighten authentication and limit exposure while forensics continue.

Why it matters

The breach strikes at the integrity of the U.S. judicial system. Access to sealed records could expose witnesses or informants, reveal investigative methods, or aid espionage and disinformation efforts. Trust in court confidentiality is also on the line.

The bigger picture

This is the second major U.S.–Russia‑linked cyber incident in five years to hit critical government functions, following 2020’s SolarWinds. With geopolitics already tense over Ukraine and sanctions, the judiciary’s response will shape security, diplomacy, and even upcoming trials.

Bottom line: The courts are racing to close a hole in the system while adversaries test how much they’ve already learned from America’s sealed files.