The Biden administration has pledged to take action against those responsible for a recent cyberattack that compromised unclassified U.S. government email accounts. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan confirmed the breach occurred through a vulnerability in a Microsoft cloud system, granting unauthorized access to government emails.

Sullivan emphasized that the U.S. government identified and reported the intrusion to Microsoft, leading to its swift containment. He acknowledged that such malicious activities are not uncommon and are often attributed to foreign adversaries. The administration is currently investigating the incident to determine the appropriate response and hold the perpetrators accountable.

Microsoft disclosed last week that a Chinese hacking group known as Storm-0558 was behind the attack, targeting around 25 organizations, including government agencies. The tech company's investigation revealed that the hackers gained access to email accounts via Outlook Web Access, Exchange Online, and Outlook.com, starting in mid-May. Microsoft's statement highlighted the group's focus on espionage, data theft, and credential access, primarily aimed at Western European government bodies. They have been working with affected customers and providing notifications.

Earlier this year, Microsoft reported that Chinese state-sponsored hackers had been targeting critical U.S. infrastructure, potentially aiming to disrupt vital communications between the U.S. and Asia during future crises.