All news with #zero day exploitation tag

🔒 A threat actor exploited a Samsung Android image-processing zero-day, CVE-2025-21042, to deliver a previously unknown spyware called LandFall using malicious DNG images sent over WhatsApp. Researchers link activity back to at least July 23, 2024, and say the campaign targeted select Galaxy models in the Middle East. Unit 42 found a loader and a SELinux policy manipulator in the DNG files that enabled privilege escalation, persistence, and data exfiltration. Users are advised to apply patches promptly, disable automatic media downloads, and enable platform protection features.

🔒 A now-patched out-of-bounds write in libimagecodec.quram.so (CVE-2025-21042, CVSS 8.8) was used as a zero-click vector to deliver commercial-grade Android spyware known as LANDFALL. The campaign appears to have used malicious DNG images sent via WhatsApp to extract and load a shared library that installs the spyware. Unit 42 links activity to targets in Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and Morocco and notes samples dating back to July 2024. The exploit also deployed a secondary module to modify SELinux policy for persistence and elevated privileges.

🔍 Unit 42 disclosed LANDFALL, a previously unknown commercial-grade Android spyware family that abused a Samsung DNG parsing zero-day (CVE-2025-21042) to run native payloads embedded in malformed DNG files. The campaign targeted Samsung Galaxy models and enabled microphone and call recording, location tracking, and exfiltration of photos, contacts and databases via native loaders and SELinux manipulation. Apply vendor firmware updates and contact Unit 42 for incident response.

⚠️ Cisco disclosed a new attack variant that targets devices running Cisco Secure Firewall ASA and FTD software that are vulnerable to CVE-2025-20333 and CVE-2025-20362. The exploit can cause unpatched devices to unexpectedly reload, creating denial-of-service conditions, and follows prior zero-day campaigns that delivered malware such as RayInitiator and LINE VIPER, per the U.K. NCSC. Cisco additionally released patches for critical Unified CCX flaws and a high-severity DoS bug in ISE, and urges customers to apply updates immediately.

⚠️ CISA warns that a critical remote command execution vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2025-48703, is being exploited in the wild against CentOS Web Panel (CWP). The flaw impacts all CWP versions before 0.9.8.1204 and allows unauthenticated attackers who know a valid username to inject shell commands via the file-manager changePerm t_total parameter. The vendor fixed the issue in 0.9.8.1205, and federal agencies have until Nov 25 under BOD 22-01 to remediate or stop using the product.

🔒 Sophos researchers discovered China-linked espionage group Bronze Butler exploiting a zero-day in Motex Lanscope Endpoint Manager (CVE-2025-61932) to deploy an updated Gokcpdoor backdoor. The flaw enabled unauthenticated remote code execution as SYSTEM on affected versions (<=9.4.7.2), and attackers used OAED Loader, DLL sideloading, and multiplexed C2 channels to evade detection. Motex released patches on October 20, 2025, and CISA added the vulnerability to its KEV list; organizations are advised to upgrade immediately since no mitigations exist.

⚠️ The Australian Signals Directorate warns of ongoing attacks against unpatched Cisco IOS XE devices being backdoored with the Lua-based BadCandy webshell. The exploited flaw, CVE-2023-20198, allows unauthenticated actors to create local admin accounts via the web UI and execute commands with root privileges. Cisco issued a patch in October 2023, but many internet-exposed devices remain vulnerable and have been repeatedly re-infected.

🔒 CISA confirmed that CVE-2024-1086, a high-severity use-after-free bug in the nf_tables component of the Linux kernel, is being exploited in ransomware campaigns. The flaw, introduced in 2014 and patched in January 2024, enables local attackers to escalate to root. A publicly released PoC targets kernels 5.14–6.6. CISA added the issue to its KEV list and recommended mitigations such as blocklisting nf_tables, restricting user namespaces, or loading the LKRG module.

🔒 A China-linked threat group is exploiting a high-severity Windows .LNK zero-day (CVE-2025-9491) to deploy the PlugX remote-access trojan against European diplomatic targets. The campaign begins with spearphishing that delivers malicious shortcut files themed around NATO and European Commission events. Researchers at Arctic Wolf Labs and StrikeReady attribute the activity to UNC6384 (Mustang Panda) and report the operation has expanded beyond Hungary and Belgium to other EU states. With no official patch available, defenders are urged to restrict .LNK usage and block identified C2 infrastructure.

🛡️ The former general manager of L3Harris cyber-division Trenchant, Australian national Peter Williams, pleaded guilty in a US district court to stealing and selling zero-day exploit components to a Russian cyber broker. Prosecutors allege he exfiltrated at least eight exploit components via encrypted channels in exchange for millions in cryptocurrency and follow-on support payments. Authorities say the code could be worth tens of millions and that the broker’s clients include the Russian government, creating a national security threat. Williams faces up to 20 years in prison and significant fines.

🔒 A critical Chrome zero-day (CVE-2025-2783) has been actively exploited in a targeted espionage operation Kaspersky calls "Operation ForumTroll," attributed to the threat actor Mem3nt0 mori. Attackers used highly personalized phishing invites and one-click, short-lived links to deliver a sandbox-escape exploit that enabled code execution in Chrome's browser process. Google moved quickly with fixes in Chrome 134.0.6998.177/.178, while related issues were later patched in Firefox as CVE-2025-2857.

⚠️ Kaspersky reports a patched Google Chrome zero-day (CVE-2025-2783) was exploited to deploy a newly documented spyware called LeetAgent linked to Italian firm Memento Labs. The operation used personalized, short‑lived phishing links to a Primakov Readings lure that triggered a sandbox escape in Chromium browsers and dropped a loader to launch the implant. Targets included media, universities, research centers, government and financial organizations in Russia and Belarus.

🔎 Kaspersky links a Chrome zero-day used in Operation ForumTroll to spyware tied to Memento Labs, a company formed from assets of the former Hacking Team. The campaign, revealed in March, used targeted phishing invites to the Primakov Readings and exploited a sandbox escape (CVE-2025-2783) to deploy a persistent loader. That loader decrypted and executed LeetAgent, a modular spyware, and in some cases introduced the Dante implant. Chrome and Firefox received patches soon after the discovery.

🛡️ Pwn2Own Ireland 2025 concluded in Cork with security researchers awarded $1,024,750 after demonstrating 73 zero-day vulnerabilities across eight product categories. Targets included printers, network-attached storage, messaging apps, smart home and surveillance devices, home networking gear, flagship phones (iPhone 16, Galaxy S25, Pixel 9) and wearables. The contest expanded the attack surface to include USB port exploitation on locked mobile handsets while retaining Bluetooth, Wi‑Fi and NFC vectors. Summoning Team topped the leaderboard with $187,500 and 22 Master of Pwn points.

🔐 A high-profile entry by a hacker known as ‘Eugene’ at Pwn2Own Ireland 2025 withdrew a claimed zero-click remote code execution exploit targeting WhatsApp, forfeiting the event’s $1 million top prize. Organizers Trend Micro ZDI say Team Z3 is sharing findings privately for coordinated disclosure to Meta, while WhatsApp reports no viable exploit was publicly demonstrated. The cancellation has fueled speculation about exploit readiness and underscores the role of responsible disclosure and rigorous triage before public demonstrations.

🔒 At Pwn2Own Ireland 2025, researchers from Mobile Hacking Lab and Summoning Team successfully exploited a Samsung Galaxy S25 using a five‑vulnerability chain to achieve code execution. The findings, credited to Ken Gannon and Dimitrios Valsamaras, were surrendered to Samsung under the event's coordinated disclosure rules. Hours later a second team, Interrupt Labs, used an improper input validation bug to seize camera and location access. Each team received $50,000; Samsung has 90 days to issue fixes.

🔓 Security researchers earned $792,750 on day two of Pwn2Own Ireland 2025, exploiting 56 unique zero-day vulnerabilities across smartphones, NAS devices, printers, cameras and smart-home gear. A five-bug chain used by Ken Gannon and Dimitrios Valsamaras successfully compromised the Samsung Galaxy S25, earning $50,000 and 5 Master of Pwn points. Several teams also exploited issues in QNAP and Synology NAS models, printers and IoT devices, and vendors now have 90 days to patch before public disclosure.

🔒 Symantec reports that China-linked threat actors exploited the ToolShell vulnerability in Microsoft SharePoint (CVE-2025-53770) weeks after Microsoft issued a July 2025 patch, compromising a Middle Eastern telecom and multiple government and corporate targets across regions. Attackers used loaders and backdoors such as KrustyLoader, ShadowPad and Zingdoor, and in several incidents employed DLL side-loading and privilege escalation via CVE-2021-36942. Symantec notes the operations aimed at credential theft, stealthy persistence, and likely espionage, with activity linked to groups including Linen Typhoon, Violet Typhoon, Storm-2603 and Salt Typhoon.

⚠️ Symantec reports that hackers linked to China exploited the ToolShell vulnerability (CVE-2025-53770) in on-premise Microsoft SharePoint servers to target government agencies, universities, telecommunications providers, and financial firms across four continents. The zero-day, disclosed on July 20, was used to plant webshells and enable remote code execution. Attackers deployed DLL side-loading to load a Go backdoor named Zingdoor, later chained to ShadowPad, KrustyLoader, and the Sliver framework, and performed credential dumping and PetitPotam abuse to escalate to domain compromise.

🔒On the first day of Pwn2Own Ireland 2025, security researchers exploited 34 unique zero-day vulnerabilities and collected $522,500 in cash awards. Team DDOS (Bongeun Koo and Evangelos Daravigkas) chained eight flaws to compromise a QNAP Qhora-322 router via its WAN interface and access a QNAP TS-453E, earning $100,000 and moving into second place on the Master of Pwn leaderboard. The Summoning Team led day one with $102,500 and 11.5 points after multiple successful root exploits. The Zero Day Initiative (ZDI) organized the event and coordinates 90-day responsible disclosure with affected vendors.