October 7, 2024 at 04:06PM
The Chinese state-sponsored APT, Salt Typhoon, reportedly breached major US broadband provider networks, gaining access to lawful intercept infrastructure used by law enforcement for wiretapping. The affected providers include AT&T, Verizon, and Lumen Technologies. Sources suggest the APT had access to internet traffic and targeted entities outside the US. This breach highlights the need for secure network design and robust incident response.
The meeting notes highlight the concerning breach by the Chinese state-sponsored advanced persistent threat (APT) known as Salt Typhoon. The APT gained access to major US broadband provider networks by targeting systems used by law enforcement agencies for court-authorized wiretapping. The affected providers include AT&T, Verizon Communications, and Lumen Technologies.
In addition to accessing wiretapping connections, Salt Typhoon also had access to general Internet traffic and targeted a few international entities. This security breach is considered potentially catastrophic and was intended for intelligence collection, according to sources.
The breach is particularly noteworthy as it encompasses the connections law enforcement agencies use to intercept communications for criminal investigations and national security purposes. The attackers’ access to this lawful intercept infrastructure suggests extensive reconnaissance and advanced capabilities to move laterally across sub-networks.
The incident underscores the importance of critical infrastructure organizations to secure their network structures with strict segregation strategies and continuously update and test the resilience of their operational networks and sensitive assets as part of a robust incident response plan.
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