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Showing posts with label Vulnerabilities and Exploits. Show all posts
Vulnerabilities and Exploits
ASUS Routers Botnet GreyNoise Malicious Campaign Vulnerabilities and Exploits

Thousands of ASUS Routers Affected by Stealthy Persistent Backdoor

 

It seems like someone, possibly nation-state hackers, is building a botnet out of thousands of Asus routers that can withstand firmware patches and reboots. Researchers report that about 9,000 routers have been infiltrated, and the figure is still rising. 

GreyNoise, a security firm, warned on Tuesday that attackers utilise a combination of known and previously undisclosed vulnerabilities to attack routers, including a command injection vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-39780. The tradecraft involved implies "a well-resourced and highly capable adversary," maybe building an operable relay box. 

ORBs are a strategy used by advanced persistent threat groups, including intelligence agencies around the world, to conceal malicious behaviour by routing internet traffic through a network of compromised Internet of Things devices. One cybersecurity firm characterises them as the offspring of a VPN and a botnet.

GreyNoise discovered the effort on March 18 and named the technique employed to backdoor the routers "AyySSHush." The intrusion chain starts with brute-force login attempts and two authentication bypass methods with no corresponding CVEs. After gaining access, attackers use CVE-2023-39780 to activate a security mechanism included into Asus routers by TrendMicro. 

The functionality enables "Bandwidth SQLlite Logging," which lets perpetrators feed a string directly into a system() call. With that power, attackers can enable a secure shell and connect it to a TCP port, along with an attacker-controlled public key. That is the step that renders firmware updates ineffective against the hack. 

"Because this key was introduced using official ASUS features, the configuration change is retained across firmware upgrades. "If you've been exploited before, upgrading your firmware will NOT remove the SSH backdoor," Remacle warned. As of publication, Censys' search had identified 8,645 infected routers. 

ASUS addressed CVE-2023-39780 in recent firmware upgrades. However, machines compromised prior to patching may still contain the backdoor unless administrators verify SSH setups and remove the attacker's key from them. For potential compromises, GreyNoise recommends performing a full factory reset.
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Vulnerabilities and Exploits
China CISA IP Address Ransomware SAP Bug Vulnerabilities and Exploits

Ransomware Hackers Target SAP Servers Through Critical Flaw

 


A newly discovered security hole in SAP’s NetWeaver platform is now being misused by cybercriminals, including ransomware gangs. This flaw allows attackers to run harmful commands on vulnerable systems from a distance—without even needing to log in.

SAP issued urgent software updates on April 24 after learning about the flaw, found in NetWeaver’s Visual Composer tool. The weakness, labeled CVE-2025-31324, makes it possible for attackers to upload files containing malware. Once inside, they can take full control of the affected system.

ReliaQuest, a cybersecurity firm that tracked this issue, now says that two known ransomware groups, RansomEXX and BianLian have joined in. Although they haven’t yet successfully launched any ransomware in these cases, their involvement shows that multiple criminal groups are watching this flaw closely.

Investigators linked BianLian to at least one incident using an IP address tied to their past operations. In another case, RansomEXX attackers used a backdoor tool called PipeMagic and also took advantage of a previously known bug in Microsoft’s Windows system (CVE-2025-29824).

Even though their first effort didn’t succeed, the attackers made another attempt using a powerful hacking framework called Brute Ratel. They delivered it using a built-in Microsoft function called MSBuild, which helped them run the attack in a sneaky way.

More recently, security teams from Forescout and EclecticIQ connected this activity to hackers linked to China. These groups, tracked under various names, were also found to be exploiting the same SAP vulnerability. In fact, they managed to secretly install backdoors on at least 581 SAP systems, including some tied to national infrastructure in the US, UK, and Saudi Arabia. Their plans may also include targeting nearly 2,000 more systems soon.

Experts believe these hidden access points could help foreign state-sponsored hackers gather intelligence, interfere with operations, or even achieve military or economic goals. Since SAP systems are often connected to important internal networks, the damage could spread quickly within affected organizations.

SAP has also fixed another weakness (CVE-2025-42999), which had been silently misused since March. To stay safe, system administrators are advised to apply the patches immediately. If they can’t update right away, disabling the Visual Composer tool can help. They should also restrict access to certain features and monitor their systems closely for anything unusual.

The US government’s cyber agency CISA has officially listed this flaw as a known risk. Federal departments were told to patch their systems by May 20 to avoid falling victim.

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Vulnerability
AI Cybersecurity Data Encryption Hacking Passwords penetration redteam SharePoint Vulnerabilities and Exploits Vulnerability

Pen Test Partners Uncovers Major Vulnerability in Microsoft Copilot AI for SharePoint

 

Pen Test Partners, a renowned cybersecurity and penetration testing firm, recently exposed a critical vulnerability in Microsoft’s Copilot AI for SharePoint. Known for simulating real-world hacking scenarios, the company’s redteam specialists investigate how systems can be breached just like skilled threatactors would attempt in real-time. With attackers increasingly leveraging AI, ethical hackers are now adopting similar methods—and the outcomes are raising eyebrows.

In a recent test, the Pen Test Partners team explored how Microsoft Copilot AI integrated into SharePoint could be manipulated. They encountered a significant issue when a seemingly secure encrypted spreadsheet was exposed—simply by instructing Copilot to retrieve it. Despite SharePoint’s robust access controls preventing file access through conventional means, the AI assistant was able to bypass those protections.

“The agent then successfully printed the contents,” said Jack Barradell-Johns, a red team security consultant at Pen Test Partners, “including the passwords allowing us to access the encrypted spreadsheet.”

This alarming outcome underlines the dual-nature of AI in informationsecurity—it can enhance defenses, but also inadvertently open doors to attackers if not properly governed.

Barradell-Johns further detailed the engagement, explaining how the red team encountered a file labeled passwords.txt, placed near the encrypted spreadsheet. When traditional methods failed due to browser-based restrictions, the hackers used their red team expertise and simply asked the Copilot AI agent to fetch it.

“Notably,” Barradell-Johns added, “in this case, all methods of opening the file in the browser had been restricted.”

Still, those download limitations were sidestepped. The AI agent output the full contents, including sensitive credentials, and allowed the team to easily copy the chat thread, revealing a potential weak point in AI-assisted collaborationtools.

This case serves as a powerful reminder: as AItools become more embedded in enterprise workflows, their securitytesting must evolve in step. It's not just about protecting the front door—it’s about teaching your digital assistant not to hold it open for strangers.

For those interested in the full technical breakdown, the complete Pen Test Partners report dives into the step-by-step methods used and broader securityimplications of Copilot’s current design.

Davey Winder reached out to Microsoft, and a spokesperson said:

“SharePoint information protection principles ensure that content is secured at the storage level through user-specific permissions and that access is audited. This means that if a user does not have permission to access specific content, they will not be able to view it through Copilot or any other agent. Additionally, any access to content through Copilot or an agent is logged and monitored for compliance and security.”

Further, Davey Winder then contacted Ken Munro, founder of Pen Test Partners, who issued the following statement addressing the points made in the one provided by Microsoft.

“Microsoft are technically correct about user permissions, but that’s not what we are exploiting here. They are also correct about logging, but again it comes down to configuration. In many cases, organisations aren’t typically logging the activities that we’re taking advantage of here. Having more granular user permissions would mitigate this, but in many organisations data on SharePoint isn’t as well managed as it could be. That’s exactly what we’re exploiting. These agents are enabled per user, based on licenses, and organisations we have spoken to do not always understand the implications of adding those licenses to their users.”
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Zero-day Flaw
Microsoft Play ransomware Storm-2460 Vulnerabilities and Exploits Zero-day Flaw

Windows CLFS Zero-Day Flaw Exploited in Play Ransomware Attacks

 

In zero-day attacks, the Play ransomware gang exploited a critical Windows Common Log File System flaw to gain SYSTEM access and install malware on infected PCs. The vulnerability, known as CVE-2025-29824, was identified by Microsoft as being exploited in a small number of attacks and addressed during last month's patch.

"The targets include organizations in the information technology (IT) and real estate sectors of the United States, the financial sector in Venezuela, a Spanish software company, and the retail sector in Saudi Arabia," Microsoft noted in April. 

Microsoft attributed these assaults to the RansomEXX ransomware outfit, claiming that the perpetrators installed the PipeMagic backdoor malware, which was employed to deliver the CVE-2025-29824 exploit, ransomware payloads, and ransom letters after encrypting files. 

Since then, Symantec's Threat Hunter Team has discovered evidence linking them to the Play ransomware-as-a-service operation, claiming that the hackers used a CVE-2025-29824 zero-day privilege escalation exploit after breaching a US organization's network. 

"Although no ransomware payload was deployed in the intrusion, the attackers deployed the Grixba infostealer, which is a custom tool associated with Balloonfly, the attackers behind the Play ransomware operation," Symantec added. "Balloonfly is a cybercrime group that has been active since at least June 2022 and uses the Play ransomware (also known as PlayCrypt) in attacks.” 

The Grixba custom network-scanning and information-stealing program was discovered two years ago, and Play ransomware operators often use it to list users and computers in compromised networks. The Play cybercrime gang first appeared in June 2022, and it is also renowned for double-extortion attacks, in which its affiliates coerce victims into paying ransoms to prevent their stolen data from being exposed online. 

As of October 2023, the Play ransomware gang has compromised the networks of around 300 organisations globally, according to a joint alert released by the FBI, CISA, and the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) in December 2023. 

The cloud computing company Rackspace, the massive auto retailer Arnold Clark, the City of Oakland in California, Dallas County, the Belgian city of Antwerp, and, more recently, the American semiconductor supplier Microchip Technology and doughnut chain Krispy Kreme are among the notable victims of the Play ransomware.
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zero-day
Microsoft PipeMagic Ransomware Actor Vulnerabilities and Exploits zero-day

Microsoft: CLFS Zero-Day Flaw Exploited in Ransomware Attacks

 

Ransomware attackers abused a zero-day flaw in a widely used Windows logging system for managing transactional information to launch attacks against organisations in the US real estate sector, Microsoft revealed Tuesday. 

In a blog post, the tech giant stated that the perpetrators employed a previously unknown flaw discovered in Windows' Common Log File System - a popular target for malicious actors seeking privilege escalation - to attack "a small number of targets," including American real estate firms, a Spanish software company, Venezuela's financial sector, and Saudi Arabia's retail sector. 

The flaw, identified as CVE-2025-29824, has a CVSS score of 7.8 and has been added to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's "Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalogue". 

Microsoft stated that Storm-2460, a ransomware threat actor, used the issue to spread PipeMagic malware. In March, the firm addressed a different bug in the Windows Win32 Kernel Subsystem that allowed hackers to escalate privileges to the system level, an exploit that researchers later linked to targeted assaults targeting Asian and Saudi organisations using a PipeMagic backdoor.

The tech behemoth said it "highly recommends organizations apply all available security updates for elevation of privilege flaws to add a layer of defense against ransomware attacks if threat actors are able to gain an initial foothold.”

Microsoft noted that it has not yet determined how Storm-2460 got access to compromised devices, although it did note that the organisation downloaded malware from a legitimate third-party website it had previously infiltrated using the Windows certutil application.

Following the deployment of PipeMagic, the attackers used a technique that prevented them from writing data to disc and enabled them to launch the log system exploit directly in memory. In a security update posted on Tuesday, the company stated that users of Windows 11, version 24H2, "are not affected by the observed exploitation, even if the vulnerability was present.”
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WinRAR
Mark of the Web Security flaw Symlink Vulnerabilities and Exploits WinRAR

WinRAR Bug Circumvents Windows Mark of Web Security Notifications.

 

A security flaw in the WinRAR file archiver solution might be used to circumvent the Mark of the Web (MotW) security warning and execute arbitrary code on a Windows computer. The vulnerability is known as CVE-2025-31334 and impacts all WinRAR versions except the most recent release, 7.11. 

Mark of the Web is a security mechanism in Windows that uses a metadata value (an additional data stream called 'zone-identifier') to identify potentially dangerous files downloaded from the internet. When you launch an executable with the MotW tag, Windows informs you that it was obtained from the internet and can be risky, and you can choose whether to continue or terminate it.

Symlink to executable

The CVE-2025-31334 flaw allows an attacker to circumvent the MotW security warning when opening a symbolic link (symlink) to an executable file in any WinRAR version prior to 7.11. Using a specially designed symbolic link, an attacker can execute arbitrary code. It should be noted that on Windows, symlinks can only be generated with administrator privileges. 

The security flaw received a medium severity score of 6.8 and was fixed in the latest version of WinRAR, according to the applications change log: “If symlink pointing at an executable was started from WinRAR shell, the executable Mark of the Web data was ignored” - WinRaR. 

Shimamine Taihei of Mitsui Bussan Secure Directions reported the vulnerability to the Information Technology Promotion Agency (IPA) in Japan. The responsible disclosure was organised by Japan's Computer Security Incident Response Team with the developer of WinRAR.

Starting with version 7.10, WinRAR allows you to remove information from the MotW alternative data stream (such as location and IP address) that could be deemed a privacy issue. Cybercriminals, including state-sponsored ones, have previously used MotW bypasses to transmit malware without triggering the security warning. 

Recently, Russian attackers exploited a vulnerability in the 7-Zip archiver that did not propagate the MotW when double archiving (archiving one file within another) to launch the Smokeloader malware dropper.
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Windows
Cyberattacks CyberCrime Cyberhackers Cybersecurity CyberThreat Hacking WhatsApp MIME Spoofing Vulnerabilities and Exploits Windows

WhatsApp for Windows Exposed to Security Risk Through Spoofing Vulnerability

 


Whatsapp for Windows has been recently revealed to have a critical security vulnerability known as CVE-2025-30401. This vulnerability has raised serious concerns within the cybersecurity community since it has been identified. The high severity of this vulnerability affects desktop versions of the application released before 2.2450.6, which could lead to an exploitation attack. An issue resulting from inconsistencies in the handling of file metadata enables threat actors to manipulate these inconsistencies in order to circumvent security checks. 

By exploiting this vulnerability, malicious actors can execute arbitrary code on targeted systems without user awareness, resulting in the possibility of unauthorized access to sensitive information or data compromise. Several security experts have emphasized that in order to mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability, you must update your WhatsApp version to the latest version. Organizations and users of WhatsApp for Windows are strongly advised to apply the necessary patches immediately so that they are protected from threats. 

In accordance with the official security advisory, there is a critical inconsistency in how WhatsApp's desktop application deals with file attachments. There is a fundamental difference between the way the application determines how to display attachments using its MIME type versus the way the operating system interprets the file extension to determine how it should be opened or executed as a result. This difference in interpretation has created a serious security vulnerability. An attacker can create a malicious file that appears benign but is actually dangerous.

For instance, the attacker might use an MIME type that is typically used for images, along with an executable file extension such as exe, to craft a malicious file. Although the application would visually present it as safe, as per its MIME type, the operating system would handle it based on what its actual extension is. As a result of such a mismatch, users may be misled into opening a file that appears harmless but in reality is executable and thus allowing the execution of arbitrary code unintentionally by the user. As a result of such an attack vector, the likelihood of successful social engineering attacks and system compromises increases significantly. 

There has been a significant amount of research conducted on the issue, and the findings indicate that if a deliberate discrepancy was made between the MIME type and the extension of the file, it could have led the recipient unintentionally to execute arbitrary code by manually accessing the attachment within WhatsApp's desktop application, instead of just viewing its contents. This behavior represented a considerable threat, particularly in scenarios involving the user initiating the interaction. 

Fortunately, an independent security researcher who discovered this vulnerability and disclosed it to Meta through the company's Bug Bounty Program has been credited with responsibly disclosing it to the company, but the company does not appear to have confirmed whether the vulnerability has been actively exploited in the real world. It is important to note that such a security issue has not occurred on the platform in the past. 

In July 2024, WhatsApp was able to resolve a related security issue, which allowed Python and PHP attachments to be run automatically by Windows systems with the corresponding interpreters installed—without prompting the user. In the same vein, an incident similar to that of the platform highlighted the risks associated with the handling and execution of files incorrectly. In the end, these cases emphasize the importance of rigorous input validation and consistent file interpretation across all applications and operating systems, regardless of the type of application.

Due to its vast user base and widespread adoption, WhatsApp remains a highly valuable target for cyber threat actors, whether they are motivated by financial gain or geopolitical interests. The platform has become a recurring target of malicious campaigns because of its deep integration into users' personal and professional lives, coupled with the trust it commands. There have been several incidents in which attackers have exploited security vulnerabilities within WhatsApp to gain access to users' data, exfiltrate sensitive data, and install sophisticated malware as a result. 

A zero-day vulnerability that affects WhatsApp is particularly lucrative in underground markets, sometimes commanding a price of over one million dollars. Not only does the WhatsApp user base have a large footprint, but attackers can also gain an advantage by unknowingly accessing private conversations, media files, and even device-level abilities to gain a strategic advantage. Graphite, a form of spyware developed by Paragon, had been exploited by active hackers in March 2025 as a zero-click, zero-day vulnerability which WhatsApp remedied in March 2025. 

Using this exploit, the targeted individuals could be monitored remotely, without the victim having to interact with the attacker - an example of an advanced persistent threat campaign. An investigation by a research group based at the University of Toronto uncovered this surveillance campaign, which targeted journalists and members of civil society. The Citizen Lab was conducting the investigation, which was the source of the information. 

Following their report, WhatsApp swiftly acted to neutralize the campaign. Meta confirmed that the vulnerability had been silently patched in December 2024 without a client-side update being required. Despite being resolved without a formal CVE identifier being assigned, the issue is still of great importance to the global community. In order to protect platforms of such importance from exploitation, proactive vulnerability management, continuous security auditing, and cross-sector cooperation must be adopted. 

In the wake of the successful implementation of server-side mitigations, WhatsApp sent out security notifications on January 31 to roughly 90 Android users across over two dozen countries that had been affected by the vulnerability. Journalists and human rights activists in Italy were among the individuals alerted. They were identified as the targets of an elaborate surveillance operation using Paragon Graphite spyware, which utilized the zero-click exploit of a computer system. 

An Israeli cybersecurity firm known as NSO Group has been accused of violating American anti-hacking statutes by distributing its Pegasus spyware utilizing WhatsApp zero-day vulnerabilities in December of 2016, following a pattern of highly targeted cyber intrusions utilizing advanced surveillance tools. This incident follows a broader pattern of highly targeted cyber intrusions. Several evidences were provided to the court which indicated that at least 1,400 mobile devices had been compromised as a result of these covert attacks.

According to court documents, NSO Group carried out zero-click surveillance operations by deploying multiple zero-day exploits to compromise WhatsApp's systems. As part of the spyware delivery process, malicious messages were sent that did not require the recipient to interact with them at all, exploiting vulnerabilities within the messaging platform. Aside from that, the documents also allege that NSO developers reverse engineered WhatsApp's source code to create custom tools that could deliver these payloads, conduct that was deemed to have been illegal under state and federal cybersecurity laws. 

Those cases emphasize the increasing sophistication of commercial surveillance vendors as well as the necessity for robust legal and technical defenses to protect digital communication platforms, as well as the individuals who rely upon them, from abuse. As a result of these incidents, user must remain vigilant, maintain timely security updates, and strengthen the security measures within widely used communication platforms to reduce the risk of cyber-attacks. 

There has been an increasing prevalence of threat actors using sophisticated techniques to exploit even small inconsistencies, which is why it is essential to maintain a proactive and collaborative approach to cybersecurity. To maintain a secure digital environment, platform providers and end users both need to be aware of and responsible for their role as well.
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Zero-Day Vulnerabilities
(RCE) Cybersecurity Threats Remote Code Execution Telegram security Vulnerabilities and Exploits Zero-Day Vulnerabilities

Operation Zero Offers Up to $4M for Telegram Exploits

 

Operation Zero, a firm specializing in acquiring and selling zero-day vulnerabilities exclusively to Russian government entities and local companies, has announced a significant bounty for exploits targeting Telegram. The company is willing to pay up to $4 million for a full-chain exploit that could compromise the popular messaging app.

The exploit broker has set tiered rewards for different vulnerabilities:
  • Up to $500,000 for a one-click remote code execution (RCE) exploit.
  • Up to $1.5 million for a zero-click RCE exploit.
  • Up to $4 million for a full-chain exploit, potentially allowing hackers to gain full access to a target’s device.
Operation Zero’s focus on Telegram is strategic, given its widespread use in Russia and Ukraine. The company's offer provides insight into the Russian zero-day market, which remains largely secretive.

Exploit brokers often publicize bounties for vulnerabilities when they detect high demand. This suggests that the Russian government may have specifically requested Telegram exploits, prompting Operation Zero to advertise these high-value offers.

Zero-day vulnerabilities are particularly valuable because they remain unknown to software makers, making them highly effective for cyber operations. Among them, zero-click RCE exploits are the most sought after, as they require no user interaction—unlike phishing-based attacks—making them stealthier and more powerful.

A source familiar with the exploit market suggested that Operation Zero’s prices might be on the lower side, as the company could intend to resell these vulnerabilities multiple times at a higher margin.

“I don’t think they’ll actually pay full [price]. There will be some bar the exploit doesn’t clear, and they’ll only do a partial payment,” said the source.

Another industry expert noted that pricing depends on factors like exclusivity and whether Operation Zero intends to redevelop the exploits internally or act solely as a broker.

The Ukrainian government recently banned the use of Telegram for government and military personnel due to concerns over potential exploitation by Russian state-backed hackers. Security researchers have long warned that Telegram is less secure than alternatives like Signal and WhatsApp, primarily because it does not use end-to-end encryption by default.

“The vast majority of one-on-one Telegram conversations — and literally every single group chat — are probably visible on Telegram’s servers,” said cryptography expert Matthew Green.

Despite this, Telegram spokesperson Remi Vaughn stated: “Telegram has never been vulnerable to a zero-click exploit,” while also emphasizing the company’s bug bounty program.

The zero-day market has become increasingly competitive, driving up prices. In 2023, a WhatsApp zero-day was reportedly valued at $8 million. Operation Zero has previously offered $20 million for exploits capable of fully compromising iOS and Android devices but currently caps those payouts at $2.5 million.

With cyber threats escalating, the demand for zero-days—especially for widely used platforms like Telegram—remains at an all-time high.
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