All news with #active exploitation tag

Legacy Flaws in Network Edge Devices Threaten Orgs Today

🔒 Enterprises' network edge devices — firewalls, VPNs, routers, and email gateways — are increasingly being exploited due to longstanding 1990s‑era flaws such as buffer overflows, command and SQL injections. Researchers tracked dozens of zero‑day exploits in 2024 and continuing into 2025 that affected vendors including Fortinet, Palo Alto Networks, Cisco, Ivanti, and others. These appliances are attractive targets because they are remotely accessible, often lack endpoint protections and centralized logging, and hold privileged credentials, making them common initial access vectors for state‑affiliated actors and ransomware groups.

SharePoint Flaws Led to Breach at Kansas City Nuclear Plant

🔒 A foreign threat actor exploited unpatched Microsoft SharePoint vulnerabilities to infiltrate the Kansas City National Security Campus (KCNSC), which produces most non‑nuclear components for U.S. nuclear weapons. Honeywell FM&T, which manages the site for the NNSA, and the Department of Energy did not respond to requests for comment. Federal responders, including the NSA, were onsite in early August after Microsoft issued fixes on July 19. Attribution remains disputed between Chinese-linked groups and possible Russian actors; there is no public evidence that classified information was taken.

China Accuses NSA of Multi-Stage Attack on NTSC Systems

🕒 The Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS) has accused the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) of a "premeditated" multi-stage cyber intrusion targeting the National Time Service Center (NTSC), which manages Beijing Time. The MSS says the campaign began with SMS-based compromises of staff devices in March 2022 and escalated through credential reuse and a deployed "cyber warfare platform" between August 2023 and June 2024. According to the statement, the platform employed 42 specialized tools, forged digital certificates, and high-strength encryption while routing traffic through VPSes across the U.S., Europe, and Asia; Chinese agencies say they detected, neutralized the activity, and reinforced defenses.

North Korean Hackers Use EtherHiding to Steal Crypto

⚠️ Google Threat Intelligence Group has linked a North Korean threat actor to EtherHiding, a technique that embeds malicious JavaScript inside smart contracts so the blockchain functions as a resilient command-and-control server. Tracked as UNC5342, the actor used EtherHiding within an elaborate social-engineering campaign to deliver JADESNOW and a JavaScript variant of INVISIBLEFERRET, leading to multiple cryptocurrency heists. The campaign targets developers via fake recruiters and deceptive coding tests on Telegram and Discord.

Zero Disco: Fileless Rootkits Target Legacy Cisco Switches

⚠️Threat actors exploited a Cisco SNMP vulnerability (CVE-2025-20352) to achieve remote code execution on legacy IOS XE switches and install custom, largely fileless Linux rootkits that hook into the IOSd memory space, set universal passwords (including one containing 'Disco'), and hide processes and network activity. The rootkits spawn a UDP-based controller to toggle or zero logs, bypass access controls, and reset running-config timestamps to mask changes. Trend Micro also observed spoofed IP/MAC addresses and attempts to combine a retooled Telnet memory-access exploit to deepen persistence.

Hackers Deploy Rootkit via Cisco SNMP Zero-Day on Switches

⚠️Threat actors exploited a recently patched SNMP remote code execution flaw (CVE-2025-20352) in older Cisco IOS and IOS XE devices to deploy a persistent Linux rootkit. Trend Micro reports the campaign targeted unprotected 9400, 9300 and legacy 3750G switches and has been tracked as Operation Zero Disco, named for the universal password that contains 'disco'. The implant can disable logging, bypass AAA and VTY ACLs, hide running-configuration items and enable lateral movement; researchers recommend low-level firmware and ROM-region checks when compromise is suspected.

Ransomware Victim Responses and Human Impact Analysis

🔒 Ransomware attacks inflict both operational and deep personal harm, often devastating small businesses lacking cash reserves and cybersecurity expertise. Research underscores lasting trauma, exhaustion, and financial ruin that can outlast technical recovery. Organizations should pair an incident response plan with compassionate leadership and employee support. Cisco Talos also warns of evolving supply‑chain campaigns targeting developers and job seekers, reinforcing the need for layered defenses.

Cisco SNMP Rootkit Campaign Targets Network Devices

🔒 Trend Micro detailed a campaign exploiting CVE-2025-20352 that installed Linux rootkits on exposed Cisco switches and routers, enabling persistent unauthorized access. The attackers combined an SNMP remote code execution with a modified Telnet flaw (based on CVE-2017-3881) to read and write device memory and deploy fileless backdoors. Affected models include Cisco 9400, 9300 and legacy 3750G series. Device owners should apply Cisco patches, disable or harden SNMP and restrict management access.

CISA Warns: Critical Adobe AEM Flaw Actively Exploited

🚨 CISA has added a maximum-severity vulnerability in Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) Forms to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog after confirming active exploitation. Tracked as CVE-2025-54253, the flaw is an authentication bypass via Struts DevMode that can result in unauthenticated remote code execution on AEM JEE 6.5.23 and earlier. Adobe released fixes on August 9 after public proof-of-concept code appeared; CISA requires federal agencies to remediate by November 5 and urges all organizations to prioritize patching, apply vendor mitigations, or restrict Internet access to affected AEM Forms deployments.

DPRK Hackers Adopt EtherHiding to Conceal Malware Campaigns

🔒 Google Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) reports that a DPRK-aligned threat actor tracked as UNC5342 has employed EtherHiding since February to host and deliver malware via smart contracts on Ethereum and the BNB Smart Chain. Campaigns begin with fake technical interviews that trick developers into running a JavaScript downloader named JADESNOW, which fetches a JavaScript build of InvisibleFerret for in-memory espionage and credential theft. The method offers anonymity, takedown resistance, and low-cost, stealthy payload updates.

Attackers Use Cisco SNMP Flaw to Deploy Linux Rootkits

🛡️ Researchers disclosed a campaign, Operation Zero Disco, that exploited a recently patched SNMP stack overflow (CVE-2025-20352) in Cisco IOS and IOS XE devices to deploy Linux rootkits on older, unprotected switches. The attackers achieved remote code execution and persistence by installing hooks into IOSd memory and setting universal passwords that include the string "disco." Targets included legacy 3750G and 9300/9400 series devices lacking EDR protections.

CrowdStrike Falcon Blocks Git Vulnerability CVE-2025-48384

🔒 CrowdStrike has identified active exploitation of Git vulnerability CVE-2025-48384 and confirms that Falcon detections can block the observed attack chain. The vulnerability, which affects macOS and Linux, arises from inconsistent handling of carriage return characters in configuration and submodule path parsing and can enable arbitrary file writes during a recursive clone. Observed attacks combined social engineering with malicious repositories that place crafted .gitmodules entries and submodule hooks to execute post-checkout scripts. CrowdStrike urges organizations to patch Git, enable layered protections, deploy provided detection rules and hunting queries, and use Falcon Insight XDR prevention settings to reduce exposure.

CISA Adds Adobe AEM Critical RCE Flaw with CVSS 10.0

⚠ Adobe's Experience Manager (AEM) has a critical misconfiguration—CVE-2025-54253—scored 10.0 and added to CISA's KEV after evidence of active exploitation. The flaw exposes the /adminui/debug servlet, which evaluates OGNL expressions without authentication, enabling arbitrary code execution via a single crafted HTTP request. Adobe addressed the issue in 6.5.0-0108; affected organizations should apply updates immediately and FCEB agencies must remediate by November 5, 2025.

Whisper 2FA Drives Nearly One Million Phishing Attacks

🛡️ Whisper 2FA has emerged as a highly active phishing kit, responsible for almost one million attacks since July 2025, according to Barracuda. The platform leverages AJAX to create a live relay between victims and attackers, repeatedly capturing passwords and MFA codes until a valid token is obtained. Campaigns impersonate services like DocuSign, Adobe and Microsoft 365 and use urgent lures such as invoices or voicemail notices. Rapid evolution, dense obfuscation and anti-debugging measures make detection and analysis increasingly difficult.

Flax Typhoon Abused ArcGIS SOE to Maintain Long-Term Access

🔒 Researchers at ReliaQuest found China-linked APT Flax Typhoon modified an ArcGIS Server Object Extension (SOE) into a persistent web shell that executed base64-encoded commands via standard ArcGIS operations. The actor used a hardcoded key, staged tools in a hidden C:\Windows\System32\Bridge directory, and renamed a SoftEther VPN binary to bridge.exe to maintain covert connectivity. The malicious SOE was replicated into backups and golden images, allowing access to survive system recovery while attackers performed discovery, credential harvesting, lateral movement, and covert VPN-based persistence.

CISA Emergency Directive Targets Critical F5 Flaws

🛡️ CISA has issued Emergency Directive 26-01 requiring Federal Civilian Executive Branch agencies to install vendor-provided updates for at-risk F5 devices and software — including F5OS, BIG-IP TMOS, BIG-IQ, and BNK/CNF — by October 22, 2025. The action responds to disclosure that a nation-state actor maintained persistent access to F5 development environments and exfiltrated files containing embedded credentials and API keys. CISA will assess and support agency adherence and urges all entities using these products to apply mitigations immediately.

CISA Orders Federal Agencies to Patch F5 Devices Now

⚠ CISA issued Emergency Directive ED 26-01 directing Federal Civilian Executive Branch agencies to inventory and secure F5 BIG-IP hardware and software, assess public internet exposure of management interfaces, and apply vendor patches. Agencies must update specified F5 products by Oct. 22, 2025 (other devices by Oct. 31) and submit inventories to CISA by Oct. 29, 2025. The directive responds to a nation-state actor compromise that exfiltrated BIG-IP source code and vulnerability data.

Microsoft October Patch Tuesday addresses 172 bugs

🔒 Microsoft’s October Patch Tuesday delivers updates for 172 vulnerabilities, including six classed as zero-days. Three of those zero-days are being actively exploited, affecting the Windows Remote Access Connection Manager (CVE-2025-59230), an Agere modem kernel driver, and a secure-boot bypass in IGEL OS (CVE-2025-47827). Microsoft has removed the legacy Agere driver rather than patch it, citing risks in modifying unsupported code. This release also marks the final free Patch Tuesday for Windows 10; continued updates will require the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program.

Microsoft Patches 183 Flaws; Two Windows Zero-Days

🔒 Microsoft released updates addressing 183 vulnerabilities across its products, including three flaws now known to be exploited in the wild. Two Windows zero-days — CVE-2025-24990 (Agere modem driver, ltmdm64.sys) and CVE-2025-59230 (RasMan) — can grant local elevation of privilege; Microsoft plans to remove the legacy Agere driver rather than patch it. A third exploited issue bypasses Secure Boot in IGEL OS (CVE-2025-47827). With Windows 10 support ending unless enrolled in ESU, organizations should prioritize these fixes; CISA has added the three to its KEV catalog and set a federal remediation deadline.

Critical ICTBroadcast Cookie Injection Leads to RCE

🔒 Researchers warn of a critical unauthenticated command injection in ICTBroadcast (CVE-2025-2611, CVSS 9.3) that allows attackers to inject shell commands via the BROADCAST session cookie. Exploits observed since October 11 used a time-based probe followed by Base64-encoded payloads to establish reverse shells. Approximately 200 internet-facing instances running versions 7.4 and earlier appear exposed; vendor comment and patch status remain unclear.