CBS News released a statement today saying that one of their journalists, Sharyl Attkisson, was the target of unauthorized system access at the end of 2012. The statement was released via her Twitter account, and it seems to indicate that the unknown intruder had full access to her accounts and may have stolen some information from her files.

Attkisson is known for being a hard-hitting reporter in the political arena, and has butted heads with the Obama administration over issues such as Benghazi and the failed ATF gun-smuggling plan 'Operation Fast and Furious'.

I've rated this a Level Two Attack because so far only one incident has come to light, although that incident included multiple instances of the same compromise. Depending on what Attkisson was working on, though, the incident could potentially have bad consequences.

Here is the twitter announcement:

CBS Statement: A cyber security firm hired by CBS News has determined through forensic analysis that Sharyl Attkisson’s computer...

— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) June 14, 2013

...was accessed by an unauthorized, external, unknown party on multiple occasions in late 2012."

— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) June 14, 2013

CBS News statement: "Evidence suggests this party performed all access remotely using Attkisson’s accounts."

— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) June 14, 2013

CBS News statement: "While no malicious code was found, forensic analysis revealed an intruder had executed commands...

— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) June 14, 2013

...that appeared to involve search and exfiltration of data."

— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) June 14, 2013

CBS News statement: "This party also used sophisticated methods to remove all possible indications of unauthorized activity."

— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) June 14, 2013

"and alter system times to cause further confusion. CBS News is taking steps to identify the responsible party and their method of access."

— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) June 14, 2013

Related Links:

• Twitter: @SharylAttkisson
• Washington Post: CBS News confirms multiple breaches of Sharyl Attkisson’s computer
• Politico: The Sharyl Attkisson approach