Incident
incident:cia_covert_communications_compromise
Also: communications failure, covert comms compromise
Compromise of covert CIA communication websites that exposed intelligence sources, agents, handlers, and operations in Iran, China, and elsewhere.
Compromise of covert CIA communication websites that exposed intelligence sources, agents, handlers, and operations in Iran, China, and elsewhere.
“Iranian intelligence were in the communication channels too”
“Our sources told us dozens of people died because of this around the world.”
| Direction | Predicate | Other entity | Origin | EP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| outgoing | INVOLVES | CIA | Explicit | 75 |
| outgoing | INVOLVES | Covert communications websites | Explicit | 75 |
| outgoing | INVOLVES | John Reidy | Explicit | 75 |
| outgoing | INVOLVES | Iran | Explicit | 75 |
| outgoing | INVOLVES | China | Explicit | 75 |
| outgoing | INVOLVES | Russia | Attributed | 75 |
| incoming | ASSOCIATED_WITH | Jerry Chun Shing Lee | Uncertain | 75 |
| incoming | ASSOCIATED_WITH | Mike Rogers | Uncertain | 75 |
CIA covert communications compromise INVOLVES CIA
The incident concerned flaws and compromise in a covert communications system used by the CIA.
Explicit Confidence 98% · Jack Rhysider EP 75 Details
“John Reidy was pointing out a few serious flaws in the communications channel that the CIA was using”
CIA covert communications compromise INVOLVES Covert communications websites
The incident involved the covert communications websites and their security flaws.
Explicit Confidence 94% · Jenna McLaughlin EP 75 Details
“Reidy had identified these flaws.”
CIA covert communications compromise INVOLVES John Reidy
John Reidy disclosed and warned about flaws in the covert communications channel.
Explicit Confidence 98% · Jenna McLaughlin EP 75 Details
“A whistleblower from back in 2009 by the name of Reidy”
CIA covert communications compromise INVOLVES Iran
The communications compromise enabled Iranian officials to uncover CIA sources and operations connected to Iran.
Explicit Confidence 99% · Jenna McLaughlin EP 75 Details
“Iranian officials used that information to uncover a vast network of sources within their country and abroad.”
CIA covert communications compromise INVOLVES China
Information from the compromised communications was passed to Chinese officials, who used it against US intelligence sources in China.
Explicit Confidence 98% · Jenna McLaughlin EP 75 Details
“once the information was passed on to Chinese officials, that was one of the key reasons that such a large group of sources in China were killed.”
CIA covert communications compromise INVOLVES Russia
The episode reports that Iran passed information from the compromise to Russia as well as China.
Attributed Confidence 90% · Jenna McLaughlin EP 75 Details
“not only to Russia but also to Chinese officials.”
Jerry Chun Shing Lee ASSOCIATED_WITH CIA covert communications compromise
The New York Times suspected Jerry Lee might have helped identify CIA informants, but the reporters believed the technical problem was more significant; his role remains uncertain.
Uncertain Confidence 82% · Jack Rhysider EP 75 Details
“He might have helped the Chinese identify some of these informants.”
Mike Rogers ASSOCIATED_WITH CIA covert communications compromise
Mike Rogers publicly discussed a communications failure that could have referred to this incident, but Jack said the clip did not confirm the connection.
Uncertain Confidence 72% · Jack Rhysider EP 75 Details
“He could be talking about the story, but his comments don’t really confirm any of the details.”