Adrian Johnson
TLDR:
- Telecom vulnerabilities such as SMS toll fraud and 2FA hijacking are a growing concern for CISOs.
- Attackers exploit trust-based architecture in global telecommunications networks to carry out fraudulent activities.
How Telecom Vulnerabilities Can Be a Threat to Cybersecurity Posture
Messaging channels have become targets for attackers, leading to issues like SMS toll fraud and 2FA hijacking that impact businesses significantly. These attacks exploit the trust-based architecture of global telecommunications networks, particularly the Signaling System 7 (SS7) protocol, which lacks adequate security measures. These vulnerabilities pose a threat to businesses’ cybersecurity posture and can result in financial losses and customer data compromise.
Businesses can take proactive measures to defend against these attacks by moving away from SMS and voice channels, monitoring messaging channel bills, and implementing bot defense measures. Long-term solutions involve collaborations with network operators and government bodies to upgrade infrastructure and adopt stricter fraud controls. Governments like the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) have started enforcing policies to penalize network operators for security breaches, but more coordinated efforts are needed to address these vulnerabilities.
Overall, businesses need to be vigilant and proactive in protecting their communication channels from telecom-based attacks to safeguard their revenue and customer data.
