US authorities are investigating reports that a high school student hacked the personal email of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director, John Brennan.

The hacker is claimed to have obtained a copy of Brennan’s application for security clearance, including personal data.

The teenager told the New York Post newspaper he is an American high school student who was angry about US foreign policy.

His Twitter account had links to files which he said were Brennan’s contact list and other documents.

The CIA said in a statement: "We are aware of the reports that have surfaced on social media and have referred the matter to the appropriate authorities."

The alleged hacker is also claimed to have breached an email account of Homeland Security Secretary, Jeh Johnson.

A spokesman for the US Department of Homeland Security said: "We don’t discuss the Secretary’s security information. We have forwarded this matter to the appropriate authorities."