Poland’s national nuclear research center was recently targeted in a cyberattack that may have been conducted by Iranian hackers.
The National Centre for Nuclear Research (NCBJ) is Poland’s largest research institute focused on nuclear science and technology. It operates the country’s only nuclear research reactor, MARIA, and conducts research in nuclear and particle physics, reactor technology, radiopharmaceuticals for medical applications, and industrial and environmental applications.
NCBJ also supports Poland’s civilian nuclear power program, but it does not conduct any military-related activities. Poland does not have a nuclear weapons program.
In a statement issued last week, the NCBJ said its IT infrastructure was recently targeted by hackers, but the attempt was thwarted and systems have not been compromised.
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“There was no disruption to any production, operational or research processes, and the MARIA reactor works safely and without interference, with full power,” reads a translation of a statement from Jakub Kupecki, the nuclear center’s director.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Affairs Krzysztof Gawkowski told news broadcaster TVN24+ that early indicators suggest Iran as the source of the hacking attempt. He cautioned, however, that the evidence might have been planted to mislead investigators and obscure the true origin.
The attack on Poland’s nuclear research center comes roughly two months after a threat actor targeted the country’s power grid.
The power grid attack, attributed to a Russian group, did not result in any electrical outages, but did lead to permanent damage to some industrial control systems (ICS).
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