New research identifies over 237 cyber operations targeting space infrastructure between 2023 and 2025.
Analysts warn that satellites and communication networks face growing cyber threats.
The Center for Security Studies (CSS) at ETH Zürich collected social media posts, news articles, and cybercrime forum data.
Researchers tracked attacks on the Israeli space sector and multiple international agencies.
June 2025 saw the most dramatic spike, when Israel and Iran experienced 72 cyber operations in a single month.
Report author Clémence Poirier says this represents nearly one-third of all incidents in the study period.
The study notes that cyberattacks on space now follow a pattern similar to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
All identified threat actors except one belong to pro-Palestinian groups.
Researchers observe that Hamas lacks satellites or space systems, while pro-Israeli groups might have acted covertly.
Patterns and Targets of Digital Assaults
Ten cyberattacks occurred in October after Hamas’s incursion on October 7, 2023.
Attackers targeted the Israel Space Agency (ISA) and Israeli defence company Rafael.
The report says the rapid escalation surprised global hacktivists, delaying their coordination and target selection.
Hacktivists struck 77 space-related organisations or companies during the Gaza conflict.
Rafael, Elbit Systems, and the ISA suffered the most attacks, while international agencies like NASA were also affected.
Researchers note attackers focused on aerospace and defence firms for their military production, not space operations.
Over 70 percent of attacks used denial-of-service (DDoS) techniques, overwhelming networks and causing system failures.
DDoS attacks require minimal technical skill, execute quickly, and can distract from complex operations.
Other attacks included data leaks, intrusions, and breaches.
Some leaks coincided with key conflict events, though researchers cannot always verify timing or authenticity.
The study concludes open-source tracking likely captures only a portion of total cyber activity.
Emerging Trends in Space Warfare
Israel and Iran exchanged cyberattacks for 12 days in June 2025, causing 72 operations.
Pro-Palestinian and pro-Iranian groups targeted Israel simultaneously.
The report explains that conflicts influenced each other politically, militarily, and rhetorically.
Hacktivists replicated strategies from prior conflicts in Gaza, using successful techniques again.
A 2023 DDoS attack by the Cyber Army of Palestine on ISA mimicked code from Ukraine’s IT Army.
Most incidents caused limited operational damage, but patterns indicate the future of space-based cyber conflict.
The report highlights that cyber operations against space are becoming consistent elements in modern warfare.
Researchers emphasize the need for space-focused cybersecurity strategies to protect satellites and infrastructure from future attacks.
