The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued a high-priority cyber security advisory warning telecom operators and network administrators of critical vulnerabilities in Cisco’s IOS and IOS XE operating systems, as well as its Access Point software.
The advisory highlights 14 vulnerabilities, including 10 denial-of-service (DoS) bugs that can cause system crashes and heap overflow, posing a significant threat to Pakistan’s telecom networks.
If exploited, these vulnerabilities can lead to severe consequences, including disruption of critical network services. PTA has urged telecom operators and network administrators to take immediate action to mitigate these risks by applying security updates for Cisco IOS, IOS XE, and Access Point Software, and implementing monitoring mechanisms to detect unauthorized access attempts.
Additionally, PTA recommends reviewing and strengthening access controls to restrict access to critical network devices and services, minimizing the risk of unauthorized exploitation and ensuring the security of Pakistan’s telecom networks. The advisory emphasizes the importance of prompt action to protect against potential cyber threats.
