French Supermarkets Hit by Mass Refrigerator Hack Causing Spoilage and Fires
Thousands of French supermarket refrigeration systems were compromised this week in a mass hack, leading to extensive food spoilage and, in some cases, fires.
A widespread cyberattack targeting refrigeration systems in approximately 700 French supermarkets caused sudden malfunctions this week, resulting in significant food spoilage and, in certain instances, fires. The attack compromised store-wide cooling systems, affecting major chains.
French authorities reported that internet-connected controllers, used for remote management of these systems, were the primary targets. Attackers activated defroster functions, raising internal temperatures to as high as 50° Celsius (122° Fahrenheit), leading to the loss of perishable goods and electrical fires within the compromised units.
Security analyses indicate that the controller models involved, manufactured by Danfoss and Copeland, contained critical vulnerabilities. These flaws allowed remote administrative access, exploiting weak security practices. For example, some Danfoss controllers previously used daily passwords generated by publicly accessible firmware, enabling attackers to predict credentials for unpatched devices.
The incident highlights persistent cybersecurity weaknesses in industrial control systems. Despite prior warnings and research detailing these vulnerabilities, many systems remain unprotected.