Investigators are looking into the identities of those who sent classified information about the Central Intelligence Agency's alleged hacking methods to WikiLeaks.
The officials have questioned contractors who might have worked for the CIA and been upset over recently losing their jobs, people familiar with the investigation told The Wall Street Journal.
The probe is "rapidly unfolding," one person familiar with the investigation said.
Some software developers who worked with the CIA's Engineering Development Group are the focus of the probe. A small number of the developers would have had access to a server that appears to be where the WikiLeaks dump of more than 8,000 pages of documents originated, the Journal reported.
"There were definitely disgruntled people internally" among contractors who had been working for the CIA in overseas operations until their jobs were eliminated, a source familiar with the probe said.
The CIA has not confirmed whether the leaks are authentic. If true, it would be third release of intelligence in the past four years from hired contractors that the intelligence community depends on for help with hacking tools and espionage.
During the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump said on the campaign trail: "I love WikiLeaks" after the hacking group published emails taken from his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman.
However, White House press secretary Sean Spicer has spoken out against the leaks, saying: "This is the kind of disclosure that undermines our country, our security, and our well-being."
The hacks revealed ways that the CIA can cover up its electronic fingerprints and misdirect, which could cast doubt on the claims about Russia's involvement in the presidential election, according to an analysis by Salon.
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