Washington State Cannabis Tracking System Hacked

Washington State Cannabis Tracking System Hacked

Washington state’s new cannabis-tracking system was hacked the weekend of Feb. 3, according to the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB). Among other information, the hacker stole route information associated with four days of marijuana deliveries.

  • By Jessica Davis
  • Feb 12, 2018

Washington state’s new cannabis-tracking system was hacked the weekend of Feb. 3, according to the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB). Among other information, the hacker stole route information associated with four days of marijuana deliveries.

Washington state requires the tracking of marijuana products from when it’s planted to when it’s sold to a pot user, allowing regulators to watch for suspicious movement of plants or products. The state’s traceability system, Leaf Data, was breached on Feb. 3.

“A computer vulnerability was exploited on Saturday, allowing unauthorized access to the traceability system,” according to WSLCB Deputy Director Peter Antolin. “There are indications an intruder downloaded a copy of the traceability database and took action that caused issues with inventory transfers for some users. We believe this was the root cause of the transfer/manifest issue experienced between Saturday and Monday.”

According to Antolin, the information downloaded did not contain personally identifiable information and, except for the manifest data, most data captured by the intruder was already public.

Manifest data includes detailed information on where cannabis products in the legal market are, where they’re from, and where they’re going, as well as transporter vehicle descriptions and license plate numbers. That data could potentially be used to intercept shipments or even rob drivers of cash and cannabis products.

Leaf Data developers MJ Freeway discovered problems associated with the hack on Feb. 3 and notified WSLCB on Monday. On Thursday, all marijuana licensees were notified and the WSLCB contacted the Washington State Office of CyberSecurity, which is investigating the hack.

According to WSLCB, it and MJ Freeway “continue to implement several strategies to prevent future vulnerabilities,” but because the investigation is ongoing, “details on security are not publicly available.”

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Survey: 54% of Organizations Cite Technical Debt as Top Hurdle to Identity System Modernization

    Modernizing identity systems is proving difficult for organizations due to two key challenges: decades of accumulated Identity and Access Management (IAM) technical debt and the complexity of managing access across multiple identity providers (IDPs). These findings come from the new Strata Identity-commissioned report, State of Multi-Cloud Identity: Insights and Trends for 2025. The report, based on survey data from the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), highlights trends and challenges in securing cloud environments. The CSA is the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment. Read Now

  • Study: Nearly Half of Companies Exclude Cybersecurity Teams When Developing, Onboarding and Implementing AI Solutions

    Only 35 percent of cybersecurity professionals or teams are involved in the development of policy governing the use of AI technology in their enterprise, and nearly half (45 percent) report no involvement in the development, onboarding, or implementation of AI solutions, according to the recently released 2024 State of Cybersecurity survey report from ISACA, a global professional association advancing trust in technology. Read Now

  • New Report Series Highlights E-Commerce Threats, Fraud Against Retailers

    Trustwave, a cybersecurity and managed security services provider, recently released a series of reports detailing the threats facing the retail sector, marking the second year of its ongoing research into these critical security issues. Read Now

  • Stay Secure in 2024: Updated Cybersecurity Tips for the Office and at Home

    Cyber criminals get more inventive every year. Cybersecurity threats continue to evolve and are a moving target for business owners in 2024. Companies large and small need to employ cybersecurity best practices throughout their organization. That includes security integrators, manufacturers, and end users. Read Now

Most   Popular

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area. 3

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities 3

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation. 3