Blue’s NASCO Updates: 1.6 Million Records Exposed by MOVEit

NASCO provides various healthcare solutions to serve Blue Cross and Blue Shield members. They offer a comprehensive portfolio of services and use industry insights to project the needs of their 20 million clients. Thanks to third-party vendors specializing in unique services, NASCO can serve millions of individuals. Progress Software’s MOVEit tool was one of these specialized vendors. The tool allows for streamlined file management and was used globally as a multi-industry option. In May 2023, officials found MOVEit to have a zero-day vulnerability; consequently, 1.6 million people may have suffered significant exposures.

How Did the Attack Occur? 

The MOVEit zero-day vulnerability allowed cybercriminals to access the servers, networks, and storage of the organizations that used it. The breach event was one of the largest of last year, with global ramifications. Millions of people worldwide were victimized by the event as criminals took advantage of the vulnerabilities. In 2023, we saw entire databases hijacked, casinos and healthcare entities disrupted, and hundreds of educational institutions compromised by this breach. The vulnerability has since disappeared—but the consequences are still unfolding.

What Information Was Viewed or Stolen? 

According to the NASCO website notice about the incident, compromised data may include names, demographic information (including phone number, address, and gender), medical information (including diagnosis data, health insurance details, claim data, medical ID number, date of service, medical devices, provider names, and purchased products), dates of birth, and Social Security Numbers. These data elements are unique to each individual, so their exposure may put victims in further danger; the only response is to take preventative action.

How Did NASCO Admit to the Breach? 

The breach filing published on the Maine Attorney General’s website states the breach occurred around May 30th, 2023. Progress Software would notify the world about the MOVEit zero-day vulnerability a day later. However, it wouldn’t be until around July 12th, 2023, that NASCO would discover their systems were compromised. Officials launched investigations and began notifying victims around October 2nd, 2023; officials finished sending notices around January 8th, 2024, according to the Maine breach report.

What Will Become of the Stolen Information? 

Although the data stolen in this event is extensive, the data types may point to future misuse opportunities. Cybercriminals could use the data in many ways, from selling it to other criminals on the dark web to utilizing it in fraudulent plots. Additionally, those with a significant amount of medical data exposed have an increased risk of danger. Medical fraud occurs when someone steals and uses the data of another to garner medical services wrongly. The misuse may hurt the victim in many ways, from combining a stranger’s medical history with their own to being charged for services never rendered. Consequently, while all victims must act to protect themselves, those with medical exposures must take additional precautions. 

What Should Affected Parties Do in the Aftermath of the Breach? 

In typical data breaches, the exposures involve credentials that may allow criminals to access private accounts. However, this breach essentially involves the medical data of victims; thus, while updating their account passwords and securities is a good idea, it may not help to mitigate medical fraud. Instead, victims must scrutinize their EoBs and render services as often as possible. If there are details that do not match, they may be a victim of fraud. Alongside these reviews, individuals must also consider account monitoring services. They are one way that victims can have peace of mind without waiting for their providers to notice something went wrong.