Alleged VPN Breach Targets Saudi Call Center Operations and Recruitment Services

A threat actor operating under the alias miyak0 has claimed responsibility for breaching the VPN infrastructure of a Saudi Arabian call center operations and recruitment services provider, according to a recent post on a prominent dark web forum.

The alleged breach, first reported by cybersecurity analyst MonThreat via social media, involves the sale of VPN credentials priced at $200, granting unauthorized access to the company’s internal networks.

This incident follows a series of high-profile cyberattacks in the region, including the October 2024 breach of an AI-powered call center that exposed 10 million customer interactions.

Technical Scope of the Alleged Breach

Miyak0’s forum post asserts that the compromised VPN credentials provide limited access to the targeted Saudi firm’s systems, which manage call center operations and recruitment services for enterprises across sectors like finance and telecommunications.

While the exact VPN protocol remains unconfirmed, cybersecurity experts speculate potential exploitation of vulnerabilities in widely used systems such as OpenVPN or WireGuard, consistent with Miyak0’s prior tactics.

In February 2025, the same threat actor was linked to a separate incident involving unauthorized VPN access to the U.S.

Department of Defense contractor and a financial institution, highlighting a pattern of targeting encrypted network gateways.

The Saudi call center industry, valued for its role in outsourcing customer service and recruitment, has become a frequent target due to its handling of sensitive data, including national ID documents and employment records.

A breach of VPN access could enable threat actors to intercept communications, exfiltrate personally identifiable information (PII), or deploy ransomware—risks exacerbated by the sector’s reliance on remote work infrastructure.

Operational and National Security Implications

The alleged breach raises concerns about third-party vendor risks within Saudi Arabia’s cybersecurity ecosystem.

Call center providers often manage data for government agencies and multinational corporations, making them lucrative targets for espionage or financially motivated cybercrime.

For instance, the October 2024 breach revealed how exposed PII could fuel AI-driven phishing campaigns, a threat that persists if VPN credentials fall into malicious hands.

Saudi Arabia’s National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) has previously mandated strict compliance frameworks for critical infrastructure providers, including multi-factor authentication (MFA) and zero-trust architectures.

However, Miyak0’s activities suggest gaps in enforcement, particularly among smaller vendors.

Cybersecurity firm Resecurity, which investigated the 2024 breach, emphasized that “attackers increasingly exploit misconfigured VPNs and outdated access controls to bypass perimeter defenses”.

Industry and Government Response

Following Miyak0’s latest claim, cybersecurity analysts urge organizations to audit VPN configurations, enforce MFA, and segment networks to limit lateral movement.

The Saudi NCA is expected to issue updated guidelines for remote access security, building on lessons from prior incidents.

Meanwhile, international collaboration remains critical; dark web marketplaces like Breached forums operate across jurisdictions, complicating law enforcement efforts.

This incident underscores the evolving challenges of securing hybrid work environments.

As threat actors monetize network access, proactive measures—such as continuous vulnerability patching and threat intelligence sharing—are essential to mitigate risks.

For now, the targeted firm has not publicly acknowledged the breach, leaving clients and employees vulnerable to potential secondary attacks.

Also Read:

Dark Web Marketplace Offers Access to South Korean Dating App

See more