WikiLeaks dumps thousands of documents it says come from the CIA's cyber unit

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WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in London.

PARIS (AP) - WikiLeaks has published thousands of documents that it says come from the CIA's Center for Cyber Intelligence, a dramatic release that appears to give an eye-opening look at the intimate details of the agency's cyberespionage effort.

The dump could not immediately be authenticated by The Associated Press and the CIA did not return repeated messages seeking comment, but WikiLeaks has a long track record of releasing top secret government documents.

One expert who examined the dump, Rendition Infosec founder Jake Williams, told Business Insider it appeared legitimate.

Williams said one of the reports included in the document dump has "several different styles of writing (suggesting multiple writers). Nobody but a nation state hacking organization would be having this sort of conversation."

He added that "the types of details [suggest] a well resourced development shop, not some kids in a garage. Overall, it has a legitimate feel to it."

If it does prove legitimate, the dump will represent yet another catastrophic breach for the U.S. intelligence community at the hands of WikiLeaks and its allies, which have repeatedly humbled Washington with the mass release of classified material.