Stellantis, one of the world’s largest automotive manufacturers, has officially announced a data breach that compromised customer contact information. The incident resulted from unauthorized access to a third-party platform used for North American customer services, highlighting the growing risks associated with third-party integrations in today’s digital landscape.

Details of the Breach

The company revealed that only contact details—such as names, email addresses, and phone numbers—were accessed by cybercriminals. Importantly, Stellantis assured stakeholders that sensitive financial or health information remains secure, as the compromised platform does not store such data. Following the discovery, Stellantis activated its incident response protocols, engaged cybersecurity experts, notified authorities, and began alerting affected customers. The company also issued warnings about potential phishing scams exploiting the breach, advising users to be cautious with suspicious communications.

Implications for a Global Automotive Giant

Founded in 2021 through the merger of PSA Group and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Stellantis operates across 130 countries with a portfolio of 14 major brands, including Jeep, Dodge, Peugeot, Maserati, and Vauxhall. Its vast manufacturing and service network makes it a prime target for cyberattacks, especially during a year marked by several high-profile breaches linked to cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) systems.

Link to the ShinyHunters Extortion Campaign

Analysts suggest that the breach is connected to the notorious hacking group ShinyHunters, known for thefts involving millions of records from Salesforce instances. Reports indicate that over 18 million records from Stellantis’ Salesforce platform may have been stolen, containing customer contact information. These incidents are part of a broader wave targeting Salesforce customers, including corporations like Google, Adidas, and luxury brands under LVMH such as Dior and Tiffany & Co.

Security Risks and Protective Measures

The widespread theft of Salesforce data, which includes over 1.5 billion records across hundreds of companies, underscores the vulnerability of cloud-based systems. Attackers often leverage OAuth tokens tied to third-party integrations to infiltrate Salesforce environments, enabling them to access metadata, credentials, and valuable tokens. The FBI recently issued alerts warning organizations to strengthen their defenses against such threats.

How to Protect Yourself

Even if only contact data is compromised, this information can be exploited for targeted scams like phishing or identity theft. To reduce your risk, consider using data removal services that help delete your information from data brokers and online platforms. Additionally, enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts adds a critical layer of security, making unauthorized access significantly more difficult.

Using reputable password managers to generate and store strong, unique passwords across all accounts is also essential. Regularly checking whether your email or credentials have been exposed in previous breaches can help you act swiftly if a compromise occurs. Tools like breach scanners are recommended to monitor your digital footprint effectively.

Industry Lessons and Future Outlook

This breach exemplifies how vulnerabilities in third-party systems can have far-reaching consequences, even for industry giants. As automotive companies increasingly rely on cloud services and SaaS platforms, the need for rigorous security measures extends beyond internal systems to include all service providers involved in customer data management.

Ethan Cole

I'm Ethan Cole, a tech journalist with a passion for uncovering the stories behind innovation. I write about emerging technologies, startups, and the digital trends shaping our future. Read me on x.com