Brinztech Alert: Database of Hertz Rental Car UAE on Sale

Dark Web News Analysis

Cybersecurity intelligence from February 19, 2026, has identified a high-priority listing on a prominent hacker forum targeting Hertz Rental Car UAE, a key brand under the Al-Futtaim Automotive Group. A threat actor is currently soliciting buyers via Telegram for a comprehensive database exfiltrated from the hertz.ae domain.

The exfiltrated data is exceptionally dense with documentation required for vehicle rentals in the Gulf region. The threat actor claims the dataset includes:

• Government Identifiers: Full driver’s license details and nationality information.
• Personally Identifiable Information (PII): Full names, exact dates of birth, gender, and physical residential addresses.
• Contact Metadata: Verified email addresses and mobile phone numbers for UAE-based customers.
• Security Credentials: User passwords, which are reported to be stored in a hashed format, though the specific algorithm used has not been disclosed.

Key Cybersecurity Insights

The breach of a major car rental provider in the UAE represents a “Tier 1” threat with specific regional and operational risks:

• High-Stakes Identity Cloning: In the UAE, a driver’s license is a primary form of identification. Armed with license numbers, dates of birth, and nationalities, attackers can perform Identity Cloning to open fraudulent accounts or bypass “Know Your Customer” (KYC) checks on regional financial and car-sharing platforms.
• Credential Stuffing Synergy: Even if the passwords are hashed, weak hashing algorithms can be cracked via brute-force. Attackers will use the results for Credential Stuffing, targeting other Al-Futtaim brands or local UAE banks where users frequently reuse the same credentials.
• Targeted “Travel & Traffic” Phishing: Scammers can use the specific rental context to launch hyper-convincing Smishing (SMS phishing) campaigns. They may impersonate the RTA (Roads and Transport Authority) or Hertz support, citing real license details to trick victims into paying fake fines or “insurance top-ups.”
• Regional Strategic Targeting: The specific focus on the UAE market suggests that threat actors are intentionally harvesting PII from high-GDP regions where the resale value of financial and identity data is significantly higher on the underground market.

Mitigation Strategies

To protect your digital identity and secure your mobility profile following this exposure, the following strategies are urgently recommended:

• Immediate Force-Reset of Credentials: Hertz UAE must enforce a mandatory password reset for all customers. If you have used your hertz.ae password for your primary email, corporate VPN, or UAE banking, rotate those credentials across all platforms using a unique, complex passphrase.
• Enforce App-Based MFA: Move beyond SMS-based 2FA, which is vulnerable to SIM-swapping. Transition all Al-Futtaim-linked accounts to Authenticator Apps or Hardware Security Keys to ensure that cracked passwords alone cannot grant access.
• Monitor for Identity Fraud via E-Services: UAE residents should monitor their ICP (Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security) and RTA accounts for any unauthorized changes or linked services. Be wary of any unsolicited “Account Linked” notifications.
• Enhanced Fraud Detection for Fleet Operators: Hertz and Al-Futtaim must implement AI-driven monitoring to detect anomalous login patterns, especially those originating from outside the UAE or via known VPN/Tor exit nodes, which may indicate the use of exfiltrated credentials.

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