Massive Data Exposure of Over 31 Million Documents Linked to Franchise Management Software ServiceBridge
A significant data breach involving over 31 million documents has been uncovered, raising serious concerns about the security practices of ServiceBridge, a franchise management software by GPS Insight. The unprotected database, which contained 31,524,107 files with a total size of 2.68 TB, was left exposed without any password protection, making it accessible to anyone with the correct web address.
The exposed documents, dating back to 2012, were in .PDF and .htm formats and were meticulously organized by year and month. These files belonged to a wide range of companies from various industries and included sensitive business records such as contracts, work orders, invoices, proposals, inspections, and completion agreements.
The discovery was made by a security researcher who, upon identifying the owner of the documents, immediately issued a responsible disclosure notice to ServiceBridge. Shortly after the notice was sent, public access to the database was restricted. However, no response was received from ServiceBridge, leaving crucial questions unanswered, such as how long the database had been exposed and whether any unauthorized parties accessed the data.
The ServiceBridge data breach is particularly concerning as it exposed not only business records but also potentially sensitive personal data. Such exposure can lead to various security and privacy risks, including identity theft, fraud, and corporate espionage.
It remains unclear whether the database was directly managed by ServiceBridge or outsourced to a third-party vendor. Furthermore, although some files displayed a GPS Insight logo, there were no fleet management documents found among the exposed data, suggesting that the breach might be limited to the franchise management side of the business.
Given the scale of the breach, an internal forensic audit by ServiceBridge or GPS Insight is essential to determine the extent of the exposure, any suspicious activity, and to establish a timeline. The lack of communication from ServiceBridge only adds to the uncertainty surrounding the breach.
As data breaches continue to pose a significant threat to businesses and individuals alike, this incident underscores the importance of robust cybersecurity measures, including secure database management practices. It also highlights the need for prompt and transparent communication following such incidents to mitigate potential damages and rebuild trust.
ServiceBridge and GPS Insight have yet to issue a public statement regarding the incident. In the meantime, affected companies are advised to monitor their accounts and communications for any signs of suspicious activity.