All news with #zero day exploitation tag

🔒 Microsoft has released the Windows 10 KB5078885 extended security update for Enterprise LTSC and ESU devices. Install via Settings → Windows Update to move systems to build 19045.7058 (or 19044.7058 for LTSC 2021); the update consolidates March 2026 Patch Tuesday fixes that address 79 vulnerabilities, including two actively exploited zero-days. It also fixes a shutdown/hibernation bug and advances a controlled rollout of new Secure Boot certificates to maintain boot-time validation.

🔒 Microsoft's March 2026 Patch Tuesday addresses 79 vulnerabilities, including two publicly disclosed zero-days and three Critical flaws. Notable fixes include two Office remote code execution bugs exploitable via the preview pane and an Excel information-disclosure issue that could enable data exfiltration via Copilot. Administrators should prioritize Office, Windows and Azure updates immediately.

🛡️ The window to respond to critical vulnerabilities is collapsing: disclosure-to-exploit can be as short as 24–48 hours today and is projected to shrink to minutes by 2028. Many organizations unknowingly expose unnecessary internet-facing services, turning unpatched systems into immediate attack opportunities. Intruder’s Head of Security recommends deliberate attack surface reduction through robust asset discovery, treating exposure as its own risk category, and continuous monitoring to prevent frantic, last-minute remediation.

⚠️ Google reports attackers increasingly exploit newly disclosed third‑party vulnerabilities to gain cloud access, with the exploitation window shrinking to days. Bug exploits, especially RCE flaws like React2Shell and XWiki, accounted for 44.5% of intrusions while credential-based breaches fell to 27%. Incidents include OIDC abuse via compromised packages, long-term espionage by state-linked groups, and insider-facilitated exfiltration, prompting calls for automated response.

🛡️ CISA has ordered federal agencies to patch three iOS vulnerabilities targeted by the Coruna exploit kit, which bundles multiple chains for at least 23 iOS flaws. Google researchers say Coruna provides PAC bypass, sandbox and PPL escapes, WebKit remote code execution and kernel elevation. Exploits are mitigated on recent iOS releases and can be blocked by private browsing or Lockdown Mode. CISA added the flaws to its KEV list and set a March 26 remediation deadline under BOD 22-01, urging organizations to prioritize fixes.

🛡️ Google Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) analysis found 90 zero-day vulnerabilities were actively exploited in 2025, and attackers are increasingly focusing on enterprise technology. Enterprise software and appliances accounted for 43 (48%) of tracked zero-days, with security and networking appliances most frequently targeted. End-user platforms still comprised 52% of exploits overall, led by Microsoft Windows, while mobile OS targeting rose and browser-based zero-days fell to a historic low. GTIG recommends segmentation, least-privilege architectures and continuous monitoring to detect and respond to threats.

⚠️ Google’s GTIG tracked 90 zero-day vulnerabilities in 2025, finding nearly half targeted enterprise technologies such as security appliances, VPNs, networking gear, and enterprise software. The report highlights that Chinese-linked actors increased their use of zero-days and that commercial surveillance vendors now outpaced state-backed groups. Defenders face shrinking response windows as exploit sharing, faster public-to-exploit timelines, and emerging AI accelerate attacks.

🔐 Google Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) reports 90 zero-day vulnerabilities were actively exploited in 2025, a 15% increase from 2024. Nearly half targeted enterprise products such as security appliances, networking gear, VPNs, and virtualization platforms. Memory-safety issues comprised 35% of exploited flaws, and commercial spyware vendors overtook state actors as the top zero-day consumers. Google recommends reducing attack surface, continuous monitoring, and rapid patching to detect and contain exploitation.

🛡️ Google Threat Intelligence Group's 2025 review found 90 zero-day vulnerabilities exploited in the wild, down from 2023 but above 2024. Enterprise technologies accounted for a record 48% of zero-days, driven by attacks on networking and security appliances, while browser exploitation fell to historic lows. GTIG highlights growing involvement of commercial surveillance vendors and expanded financially motivated use of zero-days. Defenders are urged to prioritize segmentation, inventory, and rapid mitigation.

⚠️ Ox Security has disclosed a zero-click remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability affecting FreeScout, tracked as CVE-2026-28289 (Mail2Shell), which bypasses an earlier fix (CVE-2026-27636). By sending a single crafted email to any address configured in FreeScout, an attacker can execute code on the server without authentication and without any user interaction. Ox warned thousands of instances may be exposed and urged immediate upgrades to v1.8.207 or later. Administrators are also advised to disable AllowOverrideAll in Apache on affected servers.

🕵️ In episode 457 of the Smashing Security podcast, Graham Cluley and guest Carl Miller unpack a startling insider-abuse case where a defence contractor's leak of zero-day exploits apparently led to an internal investigation run by the leaker, who then framed an innocent colleague. The episode cites reporting and US government actions — including a DOJ sentencing and Treasury sanctions — that trace a network selling stolen government cyber tools to a Russia-linked broker. It also examines emerging concerns that nation states may attempt to manipulate AI by poisoning training data and influencing large language models, with broad implications for trust and national security.

⚠️ A newly disclosed maximum-severity flaw, CVE-2026-28289, enables zero-click remote code execution against FreeScout by defeating filename validation. Researchers at OX Security found that inserting a zero-width space (U+200B) before a filename bypasses the prior patch, allowing an attacker to upload a .htaccess-style payload that is later processed as a dotfile. The uploaded file can be reached via the platform's /storage/attachment/ path and used to execute commands without authentication. FreeScout 1.8.207 fixes the bypass; admins should update immediately and consider disabling AllowOverrideAll in Apache.

📱 Google Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) identified a powerful exploit framework named Coruna (aka CryptoWaters) that bundles five full iOS exploit chains and 23 exploits targeting devices running iOS 13 through 17.2.1. The framework fingerprints devices, loads tailored WebKit remote code execution exploits and executes pointer authentication code (PAC) bypasses to achieve persistence. Observed in multiple campaigns since February 2025, the kit moved from commercial surveillance users to nation-state actors and later financially motivated operators; users should keep devices current and enable Lockdown Mode.

🔍 Google Threat Intelligence Group describes Coruna, a sophisticated iOS exploit kit containing five full exploit chains and 23 exploits that target iOS 13.0 through 17.2.1. The kit combines WebKit RCEs, PAC/PPL bypasses, and a root-capable loader called PlasmaLoader that exfiltrates financial data and cryptocurrency wallet information. GTIG observed deployments by both suspected state-backed and financially motivated actors and added affected domains to Safe Browsing. Users are urged to update iOS or enable Lockdown Mode if updates are not possible.

🔒 Google released March 2026 Android updates addressing 129 security flaws, including an actively exploited zero-day, CVE-2026-21385, in a Qualcomm display Graphics subcomponent. Qualcomm says the bug is an integer overflow/wraparound that local attackers can use to trigger memory corruption. Google also fixed 10 critical System/Framework/Kernel vulnerabilities and published two patch levels (2026-03-01 and 2026-03-05); Pixel devices receive fixes immediately while other vendors may take longer to roll them out.

⚡ The week's highlights show attackers exploiting critical infrastructure, cloud APIs, AI tooling, and consumer devices. Cisco SD‑WAN zero‑day (CVE‑2026‑20127) is being actively exploited to gain administrative access, while a string of high‑severity CVEs across vendors requires immediate attention. Misuse of trusted services — from Google Sheets and Gemini to autonomous AI agents — combined with exposed keys, is enabling stealthy, scalable access. Organizations should prioritize patching, tighten access to AI and cloud keys, and use continuous testing to validate defenses.

🔍 Akamai links the Russia-linked actor APT28 to exploitation of CVE-2026-21513, a high-severity (CVSS 8.8) MSHTML security feature bypass that Microsoft patched in its February 2026 update. The flaw in ieframe.dll mishandles hyperlink navigation and can be weaponized by malicious HTML or LNK files to invoke ShellExecuteExW and run resources outside the browser sandbox. Akamai identified a sample uploaded to VirusTotal on 30 January 2026 tied to infrastructure associated with APT28, while Microsoft and Google intelligence teams reported real-world exploitation.

🔒 Juniper PTX core routers running Junos OS Evolved contain a critical vulnerability that can allow an unauthenticated, network-based attacker to execute code as root. The flaw is in the On-Box Anomaly detection framework, which is enabled by default and should not be externally reachable. Juniper says it is unaware of any active exploitation and urges installation of 25.4R1-S1-EVO, while recommending ACLs or firewall filters and the alternative command request pfe anomalies disable as temporary mitigations.

⚠️ Government security agencies have urged immediate patching of a critical zero-day, CVE-2026-20127, impacting Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Controller and SD-WAN Manager. The authentication bypass can grant unauthenticated remote attackers administrative privileges, NETCONF access and the ability to alter SD-WAN configuration. Authorities including CISA and Five Eyes partners require urgent patching and threat hunting; Cisco released fixes on 25 February 2026.

🔒 A maximum-severity vulnerability in Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN, tracked as CVE-2026-20127 (CVSS 10.0), lets an unauthenticated remote attacker bypass authentication and obtain elevated administrative privileges by sending a crafted request. Cisco reports active exploitation across on-prem and Cisco-hosted deployments by a sophisticated actor identified as UAT-8616, with malicious activity dating to 2023. Customers should apply vendor fixes immediately, audit /var/log/auth.log for unexpected "Accepted publickey for vmanage-admin" entries, and follow CISA emergency guidance.