Bangkok:Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, Professor Dr. Yodchanan Wongsawat, has directed the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation to urgently investigate and upgrade PHP systems to address cybersecurity vulnerabilities, particularly within universities, hospitals, and medical schools. The initiative aims to ensure the full protection of public data.

According to Thai News Agency, Professor Dr. Yodchanan disclosed on his personal Facebook page that OpenAI's research team recently identified a significant security vulnerability in PHP, the primary language for over 70% of websites globally. The vulnerability, which could potentially be exploited for hijacking, was discovered by OpenAI in time to allow its team two months to implement necessary updates and security measures.

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that while there is no immediate cause for alarm, it is crucial for Thai agencies, especially those handling vast amounts of important data, to swiftly secure their systems. The recommended approach includes a three-step process preparing for impact by reviewing all PHP-based systems, mitigating risk through immediate implementation of enhanced security measures, and fixing the issue by upgrading to the latest secure PHP version.

Professor Dr. Yoschanan assured the public that the Ministry is working diligently with relevant agencies to resolve the issue, protecting critical data from potential threats. He highlighted the coordination with other ministries to ensure a comprehensive response following the OpenAI alert.