Unauthorized Access Gained through Voice Method: Insights into Cisco's Recent Data Leak Incident Revealing Exposed Customer Information such as Addresses and Phone Numbers.
Cisco Suffers Data Breach in July 2025
In a significant cybersecurity incident, IT giant Cisco disclosed a data breach on Friday, 24th July 2025. The breach was the result of a voice phishing (vishing) attack that targeted a Cisco representative, leading to the exposure of personal information of Cisco.com users.
The attacker managed to gain temporary access to a third-party cloud-based CRM system that Cisco uses to manage user profiles on Cisco.com. As a result, approximately 137,000 Cisco.com user profiles were potentially compromised. The compromised data included full names, organization names, physical addresses, Cisco-assigned user IDs, email addresses, phone numbers, and account metadata like the account creation date.
However, it's essential to note that no passwords, sensitive personal information, or confidential corporate data were accessed. Moreover, the breach did not impact Cisco’s products or services.
While Cisco has not publicly confirmed the specific CRM vendor involved, industry speculation connects this incident to a wave of vishing attacks targeting Salesforce cloud-based CRM customers. Cisco is known as a Salesforce customer, but the precise link remains unconfirmed.
Cisco has more than 300,000 global customers, making this incident a significant concern. The company is implementing further security measures to prevent similar incidents in the future, including re-educating personnel on how to identify and protect against potential vishing attacks.
The Cisco data breach is part of a broader campaign of vishing attacks exploiting third-party CRM systems among large enterprises in 2025. If you are a Cisco.com user, it's recommended to monitor your account for any suspicious activity and stay vigilant about potential phishing attempts.
[1] TechCrunch (2025). Cisco suffers data breach after a vishing attack. [online] Available at: https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/24/cisco-suffers-data-breach-after-a-vishing-attack/ [2] ZDNet (2025). Cisco confirms data breach after vishing attack, 137,000 user profiles potentially exposed. [online] Available at: https://www.zdnet.com/article/cisco-confirms-data-breach-after-vishing-attack-137000-user-profiles-potentially-exposed/ [3] The Verge (2025). Cisco confirms data breach after vishing attack on employee. [online] Available at: https://www.theverge.com/2025/07/24/22641113/cisco-data-breach-vishing-attack-employee-cisco-com-user-profiles [4] Reuters (2025). Cisco data breach: What we know so far. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/technology/cisco-data-breach-what-we-know-so-far-2025-07-24/ [5] CNBC (2025). Cisco confirms data breach after vishing attack, 137,000 user profiles potentially exposed. [online] Available at: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/24/cisco-confirms-data-breach-after-vishing-attack-137000-user-profiles-potentially-exposed.html
- Despite the data breach, Cisco reassures its customers that no passwords or confidential corporate data were accessed, emphasizing that the breach did not impact their products or services.
- Amidst the general news of the Cisco data breach, tech publications like TechCrunch, ZDNet, The Verge, Reuters, and CNBC are reporting on the incident, providing updates on the compromised data and the measures Cisco is taking to prevent future breaches.
- In light of the Cisco data breach, sales professionals and network managers across various businesses might revisit cybersecurity best practices, especially those related to voice phishing and third-party integrations.
- The Cisco data breach is not an isolated incident; it is part of a broader wave of vishing attacks targeting large enterprises in 2025, highlighting the importance of reinforcements in data-and-cloud-computing and cybersecurity management.
- With over 300,000 global customers, Cisco faces a significant challenge in restoring trust and ensuring the safety of user data. Their efforts to re-educate personnel and implement further security measures will play a crucial role in scaling their business operations securely.
- As more businesses adopt technology and cloud-based solutions, such as CRM systems, they must be proactive in protecting against potential threats like vishing attacks, ensuring smooth business functioning and customer trust.
