Massive hack of US gas stations exposes vulnerability hiding in plain sight: report

Iranian hackers are believed to have compromised U.S. gas tank readers, according to CNN.

"The hackers responsible have exploited automatic tank gauge (ATG) systems that were sitting online and unprotected by passwords," said the report. This doesn't let them modify fuel levels, but in certain cases let them "tinker with display readings on the tanks."

"The cyber intrusions are not known to have caused physical damage or harm, but the breaches have raised safety concerns because gaining access to an ATG could, in theory, allow a hacker to make a gas leak go undetected, according to private experts and US officials," said the report. There is no definitive proof Iranian hackers were responsible, but investigators believe they are responsible because of Iran's "history of targeting the gas tank systems."

Yossi Karadi, an Israeli cybersecurity official, told CNN, "from a defensive perspective, in recent months, we are seeing some degradation in parts of the hostile cyber activity. The bottom line is that Iranian actors are under pressure and are trying to strike wherever they find an opening in cyberspace."

All of this comes as the U.S. war with Iran continues with sporadic ceasefires but no obvious end in sight and no plan to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which has caused gas prices across the United States to spike, including in states that generally enjoy cheap gas prices like Texas.

Trump has publicly said a temporary spike in gas prices is worth it to thwart Iran's nuclear ambitions; however, behind the scenes, White House officials are panicking, and Trump has proposed a gas tax holiday to try to offer some small level of relief.