Cybersecurity experts are raising alarms over a sharp rise in targeted attacks on Salesforce systems, warning that these breaches represent one of the most serious risks in enterprise security today. Salesforce has become a vital platform for organisations across the globe, storing millions of customer records, financial data, sales intelligence, and sensitive business information.
Recent investigations reveal that attackers are evolving their methods to bypass Salesforce’s defences. Threat groups are using reconnaissance, phishing, weak integrations, and credential theft to gain access. Once inside, they escalate privileges by exploiting misconfigured permissions, then maintain persistence through OAuth token abuse or hidden workflows. Sensitive data is later exfiltrated gradually using legitimate APIs to avoid detection.
Groups such as ShinyHunters, Scattered Spider, and Gehenna have been linked to major Salesforce-related breaches. In one incident, the Gehenna group compromised Coca Cola Europacific Partners, stealing 23 million records that included account information, product data, and customer service cases. Other high-profile victims include Google, Allianz Life, Adidas, Qantas, and leading luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Dior, Tiffany and Co, and Chanel.
The financial impact of these breaches is immense. Salesforce records can sell for $50 to $200 each on the dark web, while stolen intellectual property and sales strategies fetch even higher prices. Companies hit by such attacks risk regulatory penalties under GDPR and CCPA, expensive legal claims, mandatory customer notifications, reputational damage, and long-term competitive disadvantages.
Attack techniques seen in these breaches include phishing emails disguised as Salesforce alerts, exploitation of APIs, OAuth token abuse for long-term undetected access, SOQL injection in custom applications, vulnerabilities in third-party apps, workflow manipulation, and privilege escalation through misconfigured sharing rules. The combination of technical exploitation and social engineering has made detection especially difficult.
Security researchers stress the need for multi-factor authentication, strict vendor and app assessments, regular security audits, stronger monitoring of API usage, and ongoing training for employees handling customer and sales data. The rise in Salesforce breaches highlights the urgent need for organisations to strengthen defences around CRM systems, which have become high-value targets for both cybercriminal groups and state-backed hackers.
Also read: Viksit Workforce for a Viksit Bharat
Do Follow: The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News LinkedIn Account | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Facebook | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Youtube | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Twitter |The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Whatsapp Channel | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Instagram
About us:
The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News is a premier platform dedicated to delivering latest news, updates, and insights from the tech industry. With its strong foundation of intellectual property and thought leadership, the platform is well-positioned to stay ahead of the curve and lead conversations about how technology shapes our world. From its early days as CIO News to its rebranding as The Mainstream on November 28, 2024, it has been expanding its global reach, targeting key markets in the Middle East & Africa, ASEAN, the USA, and the UK. The Mainstream is a vision to put technology at the center of every conversation, inspiring professionals and organizations to embrace the future of tech.
