A recent dark web forum post has revealed claims of a cyberattack compromising an Indonesian online student admission system, with a threat actor alleging the theft of data belonging to 13,291 users.
The breach, reportedly executed through an SQL injection attack, underscores persistent vulnerabilities in Indonesia’s digital infrastructure, particularly within the education sector.
Details of the Alleged Breach
The leaked dataset, advertised on a dark web forum, purportedly includes sensitive information such as student names, contact details, identity numbers, and educational records.
While the exact platform affected remains unconfirmed, the breach mirrors recent incidents involving Indonesia’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, where 25GB of data—including personal identifiers and academic details—was stolen and sold in February 2025.
Cybersecurity firm FalconFeeds.io highlighted similarities to a 2024 incident where hackers exploited SQL injection flaws in university databases to access student records.
Authorities have yet to verify the legitimacy of the latest claims.
However, the Ministry of Education has faced scrutiny following multiple breaches since 2022, including a separate leak of 105 million citizens’ data linked to government systems.
The University of Indonesia previously denied a breach of its Center for Independent Learning in 2024, emphasizing the challenges in securing educational platforms.
SQL Injection: A Persistent Threat
SQL injection attacks—exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications to manipulate databases—remain a favored tool for hackers targeting Indonesian institutions.
Attackers inject malicious code into input fields, bypassing security measures to access or corrupt data.
In 2022, researchers demonstrated how SQL injection flaws in platforms like Moodle could enable attackers to execute unauthorized queries and even deploy cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks.
Indonesia’s education sector is particularly vulnerable due to outdated systems and insufficient security protocols.
A 2024 study found SQL injection attacks accounted for 7.1% of cyber incidents in Indonesian journal and multimedia sites, with attackers using tools like SQLMAP to extract data.
The method’s effectiveness is evident in high-profile breaches, including the 2020 Tokopedia hack that exposed 91 million user accounts.
Broader Implications for Indonesia
This incident adds to a growing list of cybersecurity failures, including ransomware attacks on Indonesia’s national data center in 2022 and the sale of 1.3 billion SIM card records in 2024.
Experts warn that repeated breaches erode public trust and could deter foreign investment.
While the government has pledged to strengthen digital defenses, enforcement of data protection laws remains inconsistent.
Cybersecurity advocates urge institutions to adopt measures like input validation, encryption, and regular penetration testing to mitigate risks.
For now, affected users are advised to monitor accounts for suspicious activity and update passwords proactively.
The alleged breach highlights the urgent need for systemic reforms to safeguard Indonesia’s increasingly digitized education sector against evolving cyber threats.
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