Poland Thwarts Russian Cyberattack Targeting Water Supply Infrastructure

In a significant cybersecurity development, Poland has successfully defended against a sophisticated cyberattack targeting the water supply infrastructure of one of its major cities. Deputy Prime Minister and Digital Affairs Minister Janusz Cieszyński confirmed the incident on August 14, 2025, attributing the attack to Russian state-sponsored threat actors.

The attempted breach targeted supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems that manage water treatment and distribution processes. Cybersecurity analysts identified the attack vector as a combination of phishing emails targeting municipal employees and exploitation of unpatched vulnerabilities in industrial control system (ICS) components.

'This was not a random attack but a deliberate attempt to disrupt critical civilian infrastructure,' stated Cieszyński during a press briefing. 'Our early warning systems and rapid response protocols prevented what could have become a humanitarian crisis.'

Technical analysis reveals the attackers employed a modified version of the Industroyer2 malware, specifically adapted to target water management systems. The malware contained functionality to manipulate water pressure levels and chemical dosing systems, which could have led to either service disruptions or potential contamination risks.

The Polish CERT team worked in coordination with water utility cybersecurity personnel to isolate affected systems before any operational impact occurred. Detection was enabled by anomaly monitoring systems that flagged unusual network traffic patterns between control servers and pumping stations.

This incident occurs amidst heightened geopolitical tensions between NATO members and Russia, following similar attacks on Ukrainian critical infrastructure earlier this year. Cybersecurity experts warn that water systems represent particularly attractive targets due to their essential nature and often outdated security postures.

'Water treatment facilities typically prioritize reliability over security, making them vulnerable to nation-state attacks,' explained Dr. Emilia Kowalska, industrial cybersecurity researcher at Warsaw University of Technology. 'Many still use legacy systems with known vulnerabilities and lack proper network segmentation between IT and OT environments.'

The Polish government has announced new security measures including mandatory cybersecurity audits for all critical infrastructure operators and enhanced information sharing between public and private sector entities. The incident has prompted calls for accelerated implementation of the EU's revised Network and Information Security (NIS2) Directive across member states.

Key recommendations for water utilities include:

• Implementing strict access controls for ICS systems
• Deploying network traffic monitoring specifically designed for OT environments
• Conducting regular security assessments of industrial control systems
• Establishing incident response plans tailored to operational technology

As cyber-physical attacks become more prevalent, this case demonstrates both the growing threats to critical infrastructure and the importance of proactive defense measures. The successful mitigation also highlights how public-private cooperation and threat intelligence sharing can effectively counter sophisticated nation-state attacks.