EXCLUSIVE: Hackers have breached tank readers at US gas stations; officials suspect Iran is responsible

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CNN Politics

Updated May 15, 2026, 2:41 PM ET
PUBLISHED May 15, 2026, 2:40 PM ET


US officials suspect Iranian hackers are behind a series of breaches of systems that monitor the amount of fuel in storage tanks serving gas stations in multiple states, according to multiple sources briefed on the activity. The hackers responsible have exploited automatic tank gauge (ATG) systems that were sitting online and unprotected by passwords, allowing them in some cases to tinker with display readings on the tanks but not the actual levels of fuel in them, the sources said.

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.

The sources briefed on the investigation said Iran’s history of targeting the gas tank systems is one reason the country is a top suspect. But, the sources cautioned, the US government may not be able to definitively determine who was responsible because of a lack of forensic evidence left by the hackers.

CNN has requested comment on the ATG hack from the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. The FBI declined to comment.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/15/politics/iran-hackers-tank-readers-gas-stations

[Walleye]

1. The hits just keep on coming

[CrispyQ]

2. Unprotected by passwords...WTF?

[Skittles]

4. you cannot make this shit up

seriously

[LuvLoogie]

3. It was Chinese trans Antifa Muslims

I bet.

[Buddyzbuddy]

5. Back to using sticks. If it's service station tanks.

We used to measure manually with a long stick first thing in the morning.

[littlemissmartypants]

6. That should be happening now as a backup plan.

[Codifer]

8. I remember

selling gas for 16 cents a gallon with triple green stamps and/or steak knives as a gift. Plus I checked oil, battery and water as well as tire pressure and washing every gawd damn window and the headlights too.

The customer never left their seat unless it was to pee.

[BumRushDaShow]

9. That reminded me of that guy in Waterworld who was stationed in the oil stores with a measuring stick

who eventually met his demise.

[jmowreader]

7. This sounds iike something Stephen Miller would do

Step 1: hack the computerized tank level measuring equipment to make it look like there's more fuel in the tank than there really is. It's best if you do it to several stations in the same city if you want this to work right.

Step 2: let the station run out of gasoline on a weekend when the jobbers aren't open. Long gas lines form.

Step 3: rehack the equipment so it reads correctly.

Step 4: wait a random period of time and do it again.

Step 5: after you do it six or seven times, stop doing it entirely.

Step 6: have Trump's more attractive minions go on television to tell America that Trump's Great Leadership has solved the fuel crisis, so vote Republican in November to help him get even more done!