TikTok said its security team is on top of the issue that allowed hackers to target several high-profile celebrity and brand accounts on its video platform, including those belonging to Paris Hilton, CNN and Sony. The maker of ByteDance-owned video app would not share information about the nature of attack or company mitigation technique but stated that it took measures to stop the attack as well as prevent it in the future.

According to reports from Semafor and Forbes earlier, the attack seemed malicious and was characterized by malware spread through the TikTok direct messages, an incident that may have compromised the owners of the affected accounts' access to their very own profiles on the platform. Nothing was immediately apparent about the goals of the hackers, as none of the reported accounts had started posting content yet. While a number of accounts were targeted by the hackers, they were not accessed before TikTok intervened.

Semafor reports that CNN's account was hacked last week, forcing the account to be put offline for several days. The news organization said it was working with TikTok on additional measures to ensure the account remained safe in the days ahead, particularly when the U.S. presidential elections take place.

When contacted for further details about the attack, and countermeasures taken, TikTok refused to comment, not wanting to "tipped off" possible malicious actors.

A representative for the company explained that the security team has knowledge of a potential exploit of several high-profile accounts. We are taking steps to help prevent this attack from continuing and to ensure it does not happen again in the future, adding: We are working directly with affected account owners to restore access, if needed.

These attacks come at a time when TikTok's hold in the U.S. is being put into question. Arguing from national security aspects, President Biden in April signed the bill that will force TikTok's Chinese parent company ByteDance to sell the app or be banned from operating in the U.S. If ByteDance does not sell, then it will become illegal for app stores to distribute TikTok when this law goes into effect.

TikTok has gone on to sue the U.S. government over the law, which will tie the case in courts for many months to come. Meanwhile, one of TikTok's earliest critics, Donald Trump - the first president to try to ban the app in the U.S has now taken to the app to campaign.