Brinztech Alert: The Alleged Database of Rock Bottom Rentals is Leaked

Dark Web News Analysis

The dark web news reports a significant data breach involving Rock Bottom Rentals, a specialized provider of communication equipment (walkie-talkies, internet connectivity) for the film and event industries. A threat actor known as “@epic” has leaked the company’s data on a hacker forum.

The compromised dataset is extensive, consisting of various CSV files (containing Assets, Invoices, Resources, Contacts, Jobs, Tickets, Orders, and Tracking data) and a multitude of unstructured documents in PDF, DOCX, and XLS formats. These documents reportedly include sensitive financial records, Terms and Conditions, and critically, W9 Forms, which often contain Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TINs) or Social Security Numbers (SSNs).

Key Cybersecurity Insights

Breaches of vendors serving the entertainment and production industry carry unique risks regarding physical security and intellectual property:

• Production Espionage: The leak includes “Jobs” and “Tracking” data. For high-profile film studios or secret TV productions, this data reveals the exact Location and Schedule of filming. Paparazzi, stalkers, or drone operators can use this to harass cast members or leak spoilers from closed sets.
• Business Email Compromise (BEC): The exposure of Invoices and W9 Forms is a recipe for sophisticated billing fraud. Attackers can use the legitimate letterhead and vendor details found in the leak to send fake “updated payment instructions” to the accounting departments of major film studios, diverting real payments to criminal bank accounts.
• Tax Identity Theft: The presence of W9 Forms is highly dangerous. These forms contain the Employer Identification Numbers (EIN) or Social Security Numbers of freelancers and contractors. This allows for tax fraud or the opening of fraudulent lines of credit in the business’s name.
• Asset Theft: The “Assets” and “Tracking” CSVs likely list valuable inventory (radios, hotspots). Criminals could use this to identify where expensive rental equipment is currently deployed or stored, facilitating targeted theft.

Mitigation Strategies

To protect productions and financial data, the following strategies are recommended:

• Client Notification: Rock Bottom Rentals must immediately notify their studio clients and production managers. If active “Job” locations were exposed, physical security on those sets may need to be increased.
• Invoice Verification: Clients of Rock Bottom Rentals should verbally verify any requests to change payment details, even if the request comes via an email that looks 100% authentic (as it may be based on the leaked invoice templates).
• Identity Monitoring: Individuals or sole proprietors who submitted W9 forms to the company should monitor their business credit reports and tax filings for unauthorized activity.
• Credential Reset: Force password resets for any portals used to manage rental orders or tracking to prevent attackers from modifying active rental contracts.

Secure Your Business with Brinztech — Global Cybersecurity Solutions

Brinztech protects organizations worldwide from evolving cyber threats. Whether you’re a startup or a global enterprise, our expert solutions keep your digital assets safe and your operations running smoothly.

Questions or Feedback?

For expert advice, use our ‘Ask an Analyst’ feature. Brinztech does not warrant the validity of external claims. For general inquiries or to report this post, please email us: contact@brinztech.com