In a security update that signals serious risk for telecom environments, Hewlett Packard Enterprise has issued a warning about a critical vulnerability in its Telco Service Activator platform that could allow remote attackers to bypass access restrictions.
The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2025-12543, has been assigned a CVSS base score of 9.6 and is classified as Critical. It affects all versions of Telco Service Activator released before version 10.5.0.
The issue stems from improper input validation that allows attackers to manipulate how the server processes HTTP requests. This weakness could result in unauthorized access, exposure of sensitive information, or partial compromise of affected systems.
According to the HPE Product Security Response Team, the flaw originates in the Undertow HTTP server core. The server does not properly validate the Host header in incoming HTTP requests, creating an opening for malicious activity.
CVE-2025-12543 impacts Telco Service Activator deployments used by telecommunications providers to automate service provisioning across complex network infrastructures. Because the platform plays a central role in managing service workflows, successful exploitation could lead to major operational disruption and security risks for network operators.
HPE described the issue as a remote access restriction bypass vulnerability. This means an unauthenticated attacker could send specially crafted HTTP requests to bypass existing access controls on the server. The attack does not require prior authorization or elevated privileges, increasing the risk in publicly exposed environments.
The attack vector is rated as Network with Low attack complexity and No privileges required, while user interaction is required. This indicates that exploitation may depend on a victim interacting with a crafted resource. The vulnerability also carries high confidentiality and integrity impact ratings, highlighting the potential for serious data exposure or modification.
To address the issue, HPE has released Telco Service Activator version 10.5.0, which includes a fix for CVE-2025-12543. Customers running earlier versions are strongly advised to upgrade immediately.
HPE also recommended that organizations apply third-party security updates according to their standard patch management practices. Administrators are advised to assess network exposure, limit access to management interfaces, and deploy the latest update from the official support portal without delay.
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