Security News > 2021 > February > US Court system demands massive changes to court documents after SolarWinds hack
Senators are now demanding more information about the attacker's infiltration of the US court system, which has already been forced to make changes in how documents are filed as a result of the attack.
"Highly sensitive documents should be stored in a secure paper filing system or a secure standalone computer system that is not connected to any network, particularly the internet. The AO will provide courts with model language for a standing or general order as well as advice and guidance on how to establish and securely maintain a standalone computer system if a court chooses that option."
Duff added that sealed court orders and any other sealed documents generated by the court should not be uploaded into CM/ECF or the Public Access to Court Electronic Records system or into any other system connected to a network or the internet, "But must instead be transmitted to parties by a secure means specified by the court."
Senators Richard Blumnenthal, Dianne Feinstein, Patrick Leahy, Dick Durbin, Sheldon Whitehouse, Amy Klobuchar, Chris Coons, Mazie Hirono, and Cory Booker all signed on to a letter to the chief information officer at the Department of Justice and associate director of the administrative office of the U.S. Courts on Jan. 20 demanding a hearing on the changes and the potential access of court documents by the hackers.
Court employees told the news outlet that while criminal, civil and bankruptcy filings were most likely accessed by the hackers, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court system was not.
"The move to paper documents for highly sensitive documents in the court system could prove to be the tip of the spear for a broader move of implementing more traditional controls for this type of information."