U.S. Telecom Supplier Ribbon Hit in Year-Long Nation-State Hack

Ribbon Communications, a U.S. company whose technology supports major telecommunications operators, disclosed a serious security breach revealing that hackers linked to a nation-state gained access to its internal systems and remained concealed for nearly a year.

The breach first occurred in December 2024, but Ribbon only detected anomalous activity in October 2025. According to the company, threat actors associated with a foreign nation infiltrated its network and accessed customer files stored on laptops outside its main infrastructure. Ribbon has reported that three smaller clients were affected, and four older files were exposed, though there is no current evidence that sensitive government or critical customer data was compromised.

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Ribbon provides infrastructure and software that enable voice and data integration across platforms for major carriers and governments. Its clients include telecommunications giants, U.S. defense entities, and large institutions. The access gained by attackers underscores how infiltration of a single supplier can cascade risk across multiple networks.

Experts say the case aligns with a growing trend: state-sponsored hackers targeting infrastructure firms precisely because they serve as gateways into broader telecom and government systems. Security analysts described Ribbon as a “strategic target” given its connections to government and telecom organizations.

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Ribbon says it is working closely with external cybersecurity experts and relevant U.S. authorities to contain the breach and shore up defenses. The company has begun retrofitting its network with tougher security protocols and claim monitoring. As of now, no confirmation exists of further data being accessed beyond the exposed files.

Meanwhile, its investigation continues into how the attackers established long-term persistence and whether any additional systems were compromised.