ABSTRACT. The integration of advanced digital technologies and automation systems into modern power grids, while enhancing efficiency and reliability, has significantly expanded the cyber-attack surface. This interconnectivity introduces critical vulnerabilities where malicious cyber intrusions can trigger cascading physical failures, leading to widespread blackouts. This literature review synthesizes current research on the impact, mechanisms, and mitigation of cyber-attack-induced cascading failures in power grids. The review examines how cyber-physical interdependencies create novel pathways for failures, analyzes modeling and simulation approaches for assessing risk, and evaluates the effectiveness of existing cybersecurity frameworks and defense mechanisms. Findings indicate a persistent gap between theoretical risk assessments and practical, data-driven models capable of quantifying the full impact of coordinated cyber-physical attacks, especially within the context of developing power grids. This review underscores the urgent need for integrated cyber-physical security frameworks, advanced co-simulation tools, and proactive resilience strategies to safeguard critical energy infrastructure against evolving cyber threats.