Europcar, one of the leading car rental companies in Europe, has confirmed a data breach involving its internal development environment, shining a spotlight on growing concerns around the security of corporate code repositories.
The breach surfaced when a hacker, using the alias “Europcar,” posted on a dark web forum. The attacker claimed they had accessed the Europcar company’s GitLab repository which leads to data breach. They also stated they had stolen over 9,000 SQL files and 269 environment (.ENV) files. These files often contain sensitive credentials such as API keys, database passwords, and system configurations.
Company Response: Partial Breach Confirmed
Europcar confirmed the incident in a statement to cybersecurity publication BleepingComputer, clarifying that the breach affected only a limited part of its system. The company denied the hacker’s claim of full system compromise.
According to Europcar’s initial investigation, the breach may have exposed customer names and email addresses from affiliated brands like Goldcar and Ubeeqo, dating back to 2017–2020. The company assured that attackers did not access any payment or financial information.
The company is currently working with cybersecurity experts to determine the full impact and has started notifying potentially affected users.
Breach Linked to Possible Extortion Attempt
Sources familiar with the matter suggest the breach may be part of an extortion attempt. It’s not yet clear whether Europcar received a ransom demand or if any payment was made. Investigators believe phishing or malware that stole employee credentials may have caused the breach. Both methods are common entry points in attacks targeting development tools like GitLab.
GitLab: A High-Value Target
GitLab is a popular platform used globally by developers to collaborate on software projects. Because of its deep integration with company infrastructure, it has become a prime target for cybercriminals. Once inside, attackers can access sensitive code, internal tools, and even deploy backdoors into applications.
Security experts warn that without strict access controls, encrypted secrets management, and regular auditing, GitLab repositories can become gateways for large-scale compromises.
Broader Implications
This breach underscores the increasing danger posed by weak points in the software supply chain. A breach in development tools exposes company data and can create security flaws in apps and services used by customers.
Cybersecurity experts warn this incident is a wake-up call for all companies to strengthen software development security.
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