Indonesia Bolsters tax System Security wiht Elite Hackers Amid Data Leak Concerns
Table of Contents
Indonesia is accelerating efforts to fortify the cybersecurity of its national tax system, known as Coretax, following reports of potential data vulnerabilities. Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa announced on Friday, October 24, 2025, that enhancements to the system are expected to be completed before the end of 2025, with a key component being the recruitment of Indonesian cybersecurity experts – including members of the global hacker community – to identify and address weaknesses.
Proactive Cybersecurity Measures
The Ministry of Finance’s response comes after concerns were raised regarding the security of taxpayer data. Rather than relying solely on conventional security protocols, the government has taken the unconventional step of engaging ethical hackers to proactively test the system’s defenses. According to Minister Sadewa, these individuals are “among the most respected in the global hacker community” and are providing invaluable insights.
“These experts are helping us identify weaknesses and improve the Coretax system’s performance,” Sadewa stated during a press conference. He further indicated that if this approach proves triumphant, other government ministries and agencies – including the Ministry of Communication and Digital, which has experienced its own security breaches – will be encouraged to adopt similar measures. The lessons learned will also be shared with the Indonesian banking sector.
Did you know? – Indonesia’s Coretax system aims to integrate all tax administration services into one digital platform, impacting millions of taxpayers nationwide.
Root Causes of Vulnerabilities
the ethical hackers have been tasked with rigorous testing of the Core Tax Administration System‘s resilience and the detection of flaws within its program code and application. Initial findings reportedly revealed several vulnerabilities and errors that should have been identified during the system’s growth phase.
A senior official explained that the core issues stemmed from inadequate quality control and quality assurance processes during the system’s creation. Concerns were raised about the initial tender process and collaboration with technology providers, suggesting a lack of thorough testing before the nationwide rollout. “The system should have been tested on a smaller scale before being rolled out nationwide, but apparently that wasn’t done,” the official noted.
A Technical Minister’s Viewpoint
Despite a background primarily in economics, Minister Sadewa emphasized his own engineering background and resulting technical understanding of system development. He stressed the importance of reinforcing the technical foundation of Coretax to ensure it becomes a reliable and efficient tool for taxpayers, rather than a source of frustration.
“Now we’re fixing everything within a month, even though the budget was initially planned for four years,” Sadewa said, highlighting the urgency of the situation and a commitment to rapid remediation.
Pro tip: – Engaging ethical hackers, also known as “white hat” hackers, is a growing trend in cybersecurity to proactively identify vulnerabilities before malicious actors exploit them.
Coretax: A Modernized Tax Platform
Launched on January 1, 2025, Coretax was developed by the Directorate General of Taxes with the goal of integrating all tax administration services across Indonesia into a single, modernized digital platform. The system aims to streamline tax processes and improve efficiency for both taxpayers and the government.
The current security overhaul underscores the critical importance of robust cybersecurity in maintaining t
Why: Concerns arose regarding the security of taxpayer data within Indonesia’s new Coretax system. The government responded by proactively seeking to identify and address vulnerabilities.
Who: The Indonesian Ministry of Finance, led by minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, initiated the security overhaul. Thay engaged both Indonesian cybersecurity experts and members of the global ethical hacker community. The Directorate General of Taxes developed Coretax.
What: The government hired ethical hackers to conduct rigorous testing of the Coretax system, revealing inadequate quality control and assurance during its development.Vulnerabilities were found in the program code and application.
How did it end? As of October 24, 2025
