Overview
On 30 May 2025, a threat actor claimed to have exploited a SQL injection vulnerability in the Civil Aviation Authority of Papua New Guinea (CAAPNG) system. Evidence shared on dark web forums suggested unauthorized access to aviation-related data, with the attacker openly seeking collaborators to further exploit the breach.
Though this event targets a non-EU national authority, it highlights why globally harmonised aviation cybersecurity standards, such as EASA Part-IS, are urgently needed.
What Happened?
Target: Civil Aviation Authority of Papua New Guinea (CAAPNG)
Method: Publicly accessible SQL injection vulnerability
Claim: Unauthorized access to internal databases
Escalation risk: Actor invited others to continue exploitation
Potential impacts: Data theft, system tampering, operational disruption
This breach exposes critical weaknesses in basic web security hygiene and threat response readiness. It was not an isolated incident but a coordinated and ongoing threat, increasing the global aviation community’s collective risk.
Relevance to Part-IS Compliance
For aviation stakeholders operating under EASA Part-IS, or aligning voluntarily, this incident reflects multiple compliance domains:
- IS.I.OR.220 – Detection, Response, and Recovery
Incident response must be rapid, documented, and safety-oriented. - IS.I.OR.215 – Internal Reporting
All employees must be trained to escalate suspicious activity, even if unverified. - IS.I.OR.230 – External Reporting
Affected EU entities must notify competent authorities within 72 hours of detecting a reportable event. - IS.I.OR.225 – Information Sharing
Coordination with third parties (airports, vendors, partners) must be proactive.
This breach reinforces the principle that cybersecurity is not an IT silo — it is central to aviation safety.
Recommended Actions
Investigate and Contain (Day 0–2):
- Conduct a vulnerability assessment to identify and close injection flaws
- Log and preserve access records for forensic review
- Prevent continued exploitation through immediate patching or takedown
Internal Communication (Day 0–2):
- Alert IT, compliance, and aviation operations teams
- Remind staff how to report anomalies (unexpected logins, suspicious outreach.
Public Communications (If Needed):
- Prepare a short public notice or media line
- Advise affected users on actions (e.g. password resets, phishing vigilance)
Post-Incident Reinforcement (Day 7–90):
- Apply input sanitisation and other secure coding practices
- Enable MFA for all administrative interfaces
- Conduct targeted awareness training for staff and contractors
- Review ISMS policies for risk detection and coordinated response
Why This Matters
Aviation systems don’t operate in isolation. Even a vulnerability in a single national authority’s web infrastructure can have broader consequences – from data exposure to potential operational disruption.
Incidents like this show what can happen when security basics are overlooked and threat actors act publicly and collaboratively.
They highlight the importance of:
- Closing common vulnerabilities before they’re exploited
- Detecting and reporting issues early to limit damage
- Having consistent cybersecurity practices across the aviation ecosystem
Global standards like EASA Part-IS help reduce fragmentation and strengthen resilience across borders.
