Pentagon Investigates Cyberattack on Freezers at U.S. Military Bases

The Pentagon is investigating a mysterious wave of commercial freezer failures that spoiled food at U.S. military bases in August as a potential cyberattack, according to four sources familiar with the matter. One official stated that U.S. Army investigators have been in contact with French counterparts regarding a similar cyberattack on commercial refrigeration units that disrupted supermarkets across France earlier this month.

While the exact stage of the Pentagon investigation remains unclear, officials confirmed that the Army Cyber Command is working closely with interagency and law enforcement partners. The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division noted that its cyber office is involved in the probe and is actively cooperating with French authorities to understand European cooling disruptions.

The August incidents affected at least six base commissaries across the United States. In instances such as at Fort Huachuca in Arizona, units did not simply shut down; rather, temperatures spiked overnight, ruining large quantities of stored food. Industry experts note that vulnerabilities often stem from outdated firmware on commercial controllers connected to the internet.

Cybersecurity specialists warn that targeting cold storage infrastructure poses severe risks to the food supply chain. Danfoss, a Danish manufacturer whose controllers were involved in previous incidents, noted that outdated devices remain vulnerable to remote exploitation, highlighting the growing cybersecurity challenges facing critical infrastructure worldwide.