centerpointenergy.com Data Breach
Status: Confirmed
Breach Intelligence Summary
Entity: centerpointenergy.com · Actor: Cl0p · Source: DataBreach.com / ObscureIQ intelligence
Attack: Ransomware via Phishing
Timeline: Breach (May, 2023) · Reported (Jan, 2025) · Leak (1/24/25)
Exposure: 3.0M+ records · Phone Number, Name, Home Address
Status: Confirmed · Risk: Moderate (Phishing / SIM swap)
Summary
In the closing days of May 2023 Houston-based utility giant CenterPoint Energy became an unwitting participant in the sprawling MOVEit supply-chain fiasco when the Cl0p ransomware gang exploited CVE-2023-34362 in the file-transfer servers run by CLEAResult the energy-efficiency contractor that handles rebate and demand-response programs for CenterPoint customers. During the roughly 48-hour window before Progress Software disclosed the flaw attackers copied a file set that ultimately proved to contain 3 024 752 customer records. The stolen database-published by the self-styled leak archivist “nam3l3ess” on a criminal forum in December 2024 and mirrored on DataBreach.com the following month-held full names and street addresses for every entry along with 2.3 million phone numbers. CenterPoint has said it has “no reason to believe” Social Security or payment-card numbers were involved yet breach analysts noted that the blend of name-address-phone triples is ideal for utility-bill phishing and account-takeover schemes particularly because customers often reuse those exact details for multifactor authentication. CenterPoint’s first public acknowledgement came only after journalists asked the company to comment on the forum dump more than eighteen months after the files were taken. A spokesperson stressed that the utility’s own network remained untouched and blamed the exposure on “a third-party vendor’s system ” but declined to specify how many customers would receive direct notice or remedial services. Security researchers were quick to point out that the vendor in question CLEAResult had never appeared on the official victim tallies Progress Software circulated in mid-2023 underscoring how far the ripple effects of a single zero-day can extend before companies even realise they are caught in the blast radius. For now CenterPoint faces no dedicated class action, yet lawyers tracking the consolidated MOVEit multidistrict litigation say the utility could still be added as discovery reveals new chains of custody for stolen files.
About centerpointenergy.com
centerpointenergy.com is the organization affected by this breach. User data may have been generated through account creation, service usage, or business operations.
If you have interacted with centerpointenergy.com in any capacity, your data may be included in this breach.
Threat Actor: Cl0p
This breach has been attributed to Cl0p. The group is known for data theft campaigns targeting organizations through various intrusion methods.
- Phishing
Breach Exploitation Status
Moderate
Status
Detected
Possible
Possible
Unknown
Unknown
3–5 years
Phone numbers and addresses change over time but remain valid long enough for sustained exploitation campaigns.
Data Points Exposed
Dark Web Verification
Status: Confirmed
- Dataset containing approximately 3.0M+ records has been identified in breach intelligence sources.
- The data is indexed and searchable across breach notification platforms.
Impact
This breach carries moderate risk due to the nature of exposed data fields and the scale of affected records.
- Targeted phishing referencing centerpointenergy.com accounts or services
- SIM-swap attempts where phone numbers are present
- Physical mail scams and address-based identity verification fraud
- Data broker enrichment and resale
Recommendations for Impacted Individuals
If you believe your information may be included:
Non-clients may request a breach impact review.
centerpointenergy.com account updates
Password reset requests
Verify directly through official channels.
Email compromise is often the first pivot point.
Frequently Asked Questions
In May, 2023, centerpointenergy.com experienced a data breach that resulted in the exposure of approximately 3.0M+ records containing personal information.
The exposed data includes Phone Number, Name, Home Address.
Approximately 3.0M+ records were affected based on current breach intelligence.
Yes. This breach is treated as confirmed based on data observed in breach intelligence platforms.
Data circulation has been detected across breach-sharing channels. Downstream exploitation risk exists based on the nature of the exposed fields.
Rotate passwords associated with centerpointenergy.com, enable multi-factor authentication on email and financial accounts, and monitor for suspicious activity.
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Corporate Accountability
Organizations that collect personal data have a duty to implement reasonable safeguards and to notify affected individuals when breaches occur.
Scope assessments may evolve as investigations continue. Users should not rely solely on early estimates when making risk decisions.
ObscureIQ Advisory
We combine proprietary dark web access with commercial and restricted breach intelligence to verify exposure and assess real-world risk.
- A public-facing individual
- A high-profile executive
- A customer of centerpointenergy.com
- Or simply concerned about credential reuse
We can confirm whether your information is circulating and evaluate downstream threat vectors.