A groundbreaking discovery in cybersecurity research has revealed the emergence of ‘MalTerminal’, potentially the earliest known example of Large Language Model (LLM)-enabled malware that leverages OpenAI’s GPT-4 API to dynamically generate ransomware code and reverse shells at runtime. This discovery represents a significant evolution in malware sophistication, presenting unprecedented challenges for traditional detection methods. SentinelLABS researchers […]
A security researcher has released a new tool that can temporarily disable endpoint detection and response (EDR) systems and antivirus software without requiring vulnerable drivers, marking a significant evolution in attack techniques targeting security solutions. Advanced Evasion Through Windows Components The tool, dubbed EDR-Freeze and developed by researcher TwoSevenOneT, exploits Windows Error Reporting functionality to suspend security […]
Lockheed Martin aims to fly a stealthy, autonomous, multipurpose drone by 2027, the company announced Sunday.
Dubbed Vectis, the “category five” drone is intended for surveillance, air-to-air combat and airstrike missions, said OJ Sanchez, vice president and general manager of Lockheed’s secretive Skunk Works research arm.
“We're in progress now on the Vectis prototype,” Sanchez told reporters ahead of the Air & Space Force Association’s defense conference near Washington, D.C. “Parts are ordered, the team is in work, and we intend to fly in the next two years.”
Sanchez said that Vectis is not being designed to win any specific contract, but suggested that it might compete against General Atomics and Anduril in the Air Force’s collaborative combat aircraft, or CCA, program.
“Should the U.S. Air Force find that they need a highly survivable platform with the flexibility that Vectis enables for increment two, I think it'll be a great candidate,” Sanchez said. “We respect their process as they go through and see what's needed.”
Sanchez said Vectis will be smaller than an F-16 and larger than its Common Multi-Mission Truck missile, a proposed family of vehicles, at least one of which appears to be about eight feet long. He did not disclose what type of engine would be in the drone nor its anticipated price tag.
He said Vectis would connect with fifth-generation and next-generation aircraft: Lockheed’s F-22 and F-35, but also other aircraft.
“This isn't about connecting Lockheed Martin systems with Lockheed Martin systems,” Sanchez said. “We can connect the Vectis system with any other platform or anybody or anything in the battle space.”
Sanchez said the Vectis drone will require a runway for operations, but is being designed to work well in the Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment scheme of quick and lean bases. He said maintenance will be simplified by “simplicity of design” and “durable, reliable materials.”
The drone’s range is “compatible with Indo-Pacific, European and Central Command theaters,” a Lockheed press release said.
The Air Force asked for $111 million for the CCA program in its 2026 budget documents; the reconciliation bill adds $678 million over five years.
This week in cybersecurity, researchers exposed hidden alliances between ransomware groups, the rise of AI-powered phishing platforms, and large-scale vulnerabilities affecting telecom and enterprise systems.
Major data breaches at financial services and luxury brands highlighted insider threats and supply chain risks, while arrests of Scattered Spider hackers signaled rare law enforcement wins.
From botnets hijacking VPS servers to disinformation networks expanding globally, the threat landscape shows how cybercrime, espionage, and propaganda increasingly intersect, demanding stronger defenses and smarter detection strategies.
Stay updated with the latest critical vulnerabilities, exploits, and supply chain threats impacting software, infrastructure, and end-users.
Vulnerabilities
Jenkins Security Updates Patch Multiple Flaws
Jenkins has released urgent patches for four vulnerabilities affecting its weekly releases up to 2.527 and LTS up to 2.516.2. The most severe, CVE-2025-5115, is an HTTP/2 denial-of-service issue in the bundled Jetty component, rated high severity. Additional flaws include permission-check omissions and a log message injection bug.
Administrators are strongly advised to upgrade to weekly 2.528 or LTS 2.516.3 or disable HTTP/2 where immediate upgrades aren’t feasible. Read More
Pixie Dust Wi-Fi Attack Targets WPS
The Pixie Dust attack re-emerges as a significant threat to Wi-Fi security, exploiting weak randomization in the WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) protocol. Attackers can recover router WPS PINs offline, bypass WPA2 safeguards, and obtain the network’s pre-shared key without brute forcing.
Researchers emphasize disabling WPS or updating firmware as the only reliable defense. Organizations should audit wireless infrastructure immediately. Read More
Greenshot Vulnerability Exposes Sensitive Data
Researchers discovered a flaw in Greenshot, the popular screenshot tool, that could expose sensitive information. The vulnerability stems from unsafe file handling and could allow attackers to access or leak captured screenshots. A patch has been released, and users are urged to upgrade promptly. Read More
Multiple vulnerabilities have been identified in Chaos Mesh, the chaos engineering tool for Kubernetes testing. Flaws could allow attackers to escalate privileges, inject malicious configurations, or disrupt cluster stability. Organizations using Chaos Mesh must apply the latest security updates.
Kubernetes C Client Vulnerability Exposes Clusters
The Kubernetes C Client library vulnerability exposes clusters to potential privilege escalation and unauthorized API access. Attackers could exploit misconfigurations or API flaws to gain deeper control over workloads. Upgrading to patched versions and tightening API access controls is advised. Read More
Linux Kernel KSMBD Subsystem Vulnerability
A critical flaw in the KSMBD subsystem of the Linux kernel allows attackers to execute code remotely in certain configurations. This vulnerability poses a high risk for file-sharing services relying on SMB. Admins should apply kernel patches as soon as possible. Read More
Shai Halud Supply Chain Attack Uncovered
A new software supply-chain attack named Shai Halud has been observed abusing CI/CD pipelines and developer tools. Malicious dependencies were injected into trusted builds, potentially impacting downstream software users. Organizations are urged to implement strict code-signing and package validation practices. Read More
0-Click Linux Kernel KSMBD RCE Exploit
Researchers have demonstrated a 0-click RCE exploit in the Linux kernel’s KSMBD subsystem, allowing remote code execution without user interaction. This development raises the severity of ongoing kernel threats, highlighting the urgency of patching affected systems immediately. Read More
Spring Framework and Microsoft 900+ XSS Vulnerabilities
Two major updates reveal widespread exposure:
Spring Framework patches multiple flaws, including input validation weaknesses that could lead to system compromise.
Microsoft confirms over 900 XSS vulnerabilities across its ecosystem, stressing the scale of insecure coding practices.
Both cases underscore the growing challenge of secure software development at scale. Read More
Theats
Hidden Connections Between Ransomware Groups
Recent research shows that ransomware operations like Conti, LockBit, and Evil Corp are no longer isolated competitors but participants in a flexible underground marketplace. After the Conti takedown, affiliates regrouped under new banners, leading to overlaps in infrastructure and code reuse. Analysts identified shared SSL certificates, passive DNS footprints, and identical encryption routines across Black Basta and QakBot, showing how code and infrastructure circulate freely. This evolution means defenders must focus less on brand names and more on shared TTPs and hidden infrastructure patterns. Read More
AI-Powered Phishing Platforms on the Rise
Phishing has entered a new era with the adoption of AI-driven platforms capable of generating convincing lures at scale. Attackers increasingly automate email writing, domain registration, and credential phishing kits, making campaigns harder to detect. These platforms drastically lower the barrier for novice cybercriminals while amplifying the reach of veteran actors. Security teams are now challenged to identify behavioral anomalies rather than relying on syntactic cues. Read More
Russian Groups Gamaredon and Turla Join Forces
Two of Russia’s most notorious cyber-espionage groups, Gamaredon and Turla, have shown signs of collaboration. While Gamaredon specializes in initial compromise across Ukrainian targets, Turla is known for stealthy persistence and espionage capabilities. By combining tools and infrastructure, these groups present a growing strategic risk for governmental and defense organizations. Read More
Hackers Exploiting Ivanti Endpoint Manager Mobile
Threat actors are abusing multiple vulnerabilities in Ivanti Endpoint Manager Mobile (EPMM), targeting enterprise networks with remote exploitation. These flaws allow attackers to gain initial footholds into corporate infrastructure, often chaining with other exploits for lateral movement. Nation-state groups and ransomware affiliates have already begun weaponizing these vulnerabilities in the wild. Read More
Weaponized ScreenConnect App
In another software abuse trend, attackers are turning legitimate tools like ConnectWise’s ScreenConnect app into weapons. By deploying trojanized installers, hackers establish remote access footholds disguised as IT management activity. This “living-off-the-land” technique allows evasion of traditional defenses and grants persistent control of victim networks. Read More
Belsen Malware Campaign Linked
Researchers uncovered connections between a new malware strain dubbed Belsen and previously active intrusion sets. Analysis indicates shared C2 infrastructure and loader techniques overlapping with known financially motivated threat groups. This discovery highlights the trend of rebranded payloads leveraging old foundations for renewed attacks. Read More
SystemBC Botnet Hits 1,500 VPS Servers
The notorious SystemBC botnet continues to expand its footprint, recently compromising over 1,500 VPS servers. Known for serving as a proxy for ransomware affiliates, SystemBC enhances anonymity by tunneling malicious traffic. The surge shows ongoing demand for infrastructure capable of concealing command-and-control operations behind layers of obfuscation. Read More
New Malware Loader “CountLoader”
A fresh loader called CountLoader has surfaced in underground markets, featuring modular design and advanced evasion tactics. Its ability to deliver diverse payloads—ranging from banking trojans to ransomware—makes it a high-value tool for cybercriminal groups. Analysts note that its dynamic configuration updates make blocking efforts difficult. Read More
Phishing Attack Targets Facebook Users
Social media users face renewed phishing threats as adversaries launch campaigns to steal Facebook login credentials. The attacks employ deceptive login pages and multi-step phishing kits designed to evade detection. Given the centrality of social media accounts for identity theft, the scale of these attacks poses a broad consumer security challenge. Read More
Russian Disinformation Network Expands
Beyond malware, Russia-linked CopyCop has expanded its fake news infrastructure by adding 200 new websites. The campaign seeks to amplify disinformation globally, blurring the lines between targeted psychological operations and cyber-enabled propaganda. Coordinated amplification on these sites makes detection and takedown a persistent challenge for defenders. Read More
Data Breaches
FinWise Insider Breach Exposes 689K Records
American First Finance confirmed a major insider incident after a terminated employee exploited residual access to its production database. The breach compromised nearly 700,000 sensitive records, including Social Security numbers and financial data, which were exfiltrated using direct SQL queries and SSH tunnels. Investigators found the attacker took advantage of an archived service account with lingering privileges, bypassing standard RBAC and MFA safeguards. The company has since moved toward just-in-time access and user behavior analytics, alongside offering affected customers 24 months of identity protection. Read More
Tiffany & Co. Confirms Data Breach
Luxury jeweler Tiffany & Co. disclosed a data breach that exposed sensitive employee and customer information following unauthorized access to internal systems. Although the company did not release specifics on the volume, the breach has raised concerns over the protection of VIP clientele data. The incident adds to a growing list of attacks aimed at brands handling high-net-worth individuals. Read More
Gucci, Balenciaga, and Alexander McQueen Leak Linked to BMW Breach
A massive breach has reportedly tied together data leaks affecting iconic fashion houses Gucci, Balenciaga, and Alexander McQueen, allegedly connected to a wider compromise involving BMW’s systems. The intrusion exposed internal documents, customer records, and operational data, raising alarms about cross-industry supply chain vulnerabilities. The fashion and automotive sectors, both attractive to cybercriminals, now appear increasingly linked through shared risk factors. Read More
UK Arrests Two Scattered Spider Hackers
British law enforcement arrested two alleged members of the Scattered Spider group, which has been tied to high-profile intrusions, including MGM Resorts. The arrests mark a significant disruption to the group’s operations, known for SIM swap attacks, phishing campaigns, and corporate intrusions. While arrests disrupt some activity, experts note that the group’s wide affiliate network means residual risk is expected to continue. Read More
Great Firewall of China Data Leak
An unprecedented leak exposed sensitive datasets tied to China’s Great Firewall infrastructure, revealing operational insights into surveillance operations and censorship controls. The compromised data, reportedly accessible on cybercriminal forums, included internal schema, employee records, and technical configurations. This incident underscores the rising risks posed when state or nation-level security tools themselves become the targets of hackers. Read More
Threat actors with ties to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (aka DPRK or North Korea) have been observed leveraging ClickFix-style lures to deliver a known malware called BeaverTail and InvisibleFerret.
“The threat actor used ClickFix lures to target marketing and trader roles in cryptocurrency and retail sector organizations rather than targeting software development roles,” GitLab
A new proof-of-concept tool named EDR-Freeze has been developed, capable of placing Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) and antivirus solutions into a suspended “coma” state.
According to Zero Salarium, the technique leverages a built-in Windows function, offering a stealthier alternative to the increasingly popular Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver (BYOVD) attacks used by threat actors to disable security software.
Unlike BYOVD methods, which require introducing a vulnerable driver onto a target system, EDR-Freeze exploits legitimate components of the Windows operating system.
This approach avoids the need to install third-party drivers, reducing the risk of system instability and detection. The entire process is executed from user-mode code, making it a subtle and effective way to temporarily neutralize security monitoring.
The MiniDumpWriteDump Exploit
The core of the EDR-Freeze technique lies in the manipulation of the MiniDumpWriteDump function. This function, part of the Windows DbgHelp library, is designed to create a minidump, a snapshot of a process’s memory for debugging purposes.
To ensure a consistent and uncorrupted snapshot, the function suspends all threads within the target process while the dump is created.
Ordinarily, this suspension is brief. However, the developer of EDR-Freeze devised a method to prolong this suspended state indefinitely.
EDR-Freeze Tool
The primary challenges were twofold: extending the very short execution time of the MiniDumpWriteDump function and bypassing the Protected Process Light (PPL) security feature that shields EDR and antivirus processes from tampering.
To overcome PPL protection, the technique utilizes WerFaultSecure.exe, a component of the Windows Error Reporting (WER) service. WerFaultSecure.exe can run with WinTCB level protection, one of the highest privilege levels, allowing it to interact with protected processes.
By crafting the correct parameters, WerFaultSecure.exe can be instructed to initiate the MiniDumpWriteDump function on any target process, including protected EDR and antivirus agents.
The final piece of the puzzle is a race-condition attack that turns a momentary suspension into a prolonged freeze. The attack unfolds in a rapid, precise sequence:
WerFaultSecure.exe is launched with parameters directing it to create a memory dump of the target EDR or antivirus process.
The EDR-Freeze tool continuously monitors the target process.
The moment the target process enters a suspended state (as MiniDumpWriteDump begins its work), the EDR-Freeze tool immediately suspends the WerFaultSecure.exe process itself.
Because WerFaultSecure.exe is now suspended, it can never complete the memory dump operation and, crucially, can never resume the threads of the target EDR process.
The result is that the security software is left in a permanent state of suspension, effectively blinded, until the WerFaultSecure.exe process is terminated, Zero Salarium said.
EDR-Freeze Tool Killing Process
The developer has released the EDR-Freeze tool to demonstrate this technique. It takes two simple parameters: the Process ID (PID) of the target to be frozen and the duration of the suspension in milliseconds.
This allows an attacker to disable security tools, perform malicious actions, and then allow the security software to resume normal operations as if nothing had happened.
A test on Windows 11 24H2 successfully suspended the MsMpEng.exe process of Windows Defender.
EDR-Freeze Tool Kills EDR and Antivirus
For defenders, detecting this technique involves monitoring for unusual executions of WerFaultSecure.exe.
If the program is observed targeting the PIDs of sensitive processes like lsass.exe or EDR agents, it should be treated as a high-priority security alert requiring immediate investigation.
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Cybersecurity researchers have uncovered a sophisticated Russian botnet operation that leveraged DNS misconfigurations and compromised MikroTik routers to deliver malware through massive spam campaigns. The discovery reveals how threat actors exploited simple DNS errors to bypass email security protections and distribute malicious payloads on a global scale. The investigation began in November 2024 when researchers […]
A major cyberattack on a popular aviation software provider has caused significant disruptions at key European airports, including London’s Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin, resulting in hundreds of flight delays and cancellations on Saturday.
The attack disabled electronic check-in and baggage drop systems, forcing airport staff to revert to manual processing and leaving thousands of passengers stranded in long queues.
The disruption stemmed from a “cyber-related disruption” that targeted Collins Aerospace, a subsidiary of RTX (formerly Raytheon Technologies), reports BBC.
The company’s Muse software, which allows multiple airlines to share common check-in desks, boarding gates, and baggage systems, was rendered inoperable.
In response, airports were forced to disconnect from the affected systems and handle passenger processing manually, resulting in significant operational slowdowns.
Brussels Airport reported the attack occurred on Friday night, leading to a “large impact on the flight schedule” with numerous delays and cancellations. Berlin’s Brandenburg Airport also confirmed longer waiting times, while Dublin and Cork airports in Ireland experienced a “minor impact,” with some airlines resorting to manual check-ins.
The technical failure translated into chaos for travelers. At Heathrow’s Terminal 4, passengers reported waiting in queues for over two hours as airline staff manually tagged luggage and processed check-ins over the phone.
One passenger, Lucy Spencer, told the BBC that mobile boarding passes failed to work at the gate, forcing travelers back to the check-in counters where hundreds were already queuing.
RTX confirmed the cyberattack on its Collins Aerospace software at “select airports” and stated the impact was limited to “electronic customer check-in and baggage drop”.
The company highlighted that the disruption could be mitigated with manual check-in procedures and that its teams were “actively working to resolve the issue and restore full functionality”.
In the meantime, affected airports like Heathrow deployed extra staff to assist passengers and advised travelers to check their flight status with their respective airlines before heading to the airport.
According to flight tracking service FlightAware, hundreds of flights were delayed across the affected airports throughout Saturday, with Brussels Airport alone confirming 10 cancellations and 17 flights delayed by more than an hour.
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AI-powered malware, known as ‘MalTerminal’, uses OpenAI’s GPT-4 model to dynamically generate malicious code, including ransomware and reverse shells, marking a significant shift in how threats are developed and deployed.
This discovery follows the recent analysis of PromptLock, another AI-driven malware, indicating a clear trend toward adversaries weaponizing large language models (LLMs).
This discovery was part of the “LLM-Enabled Malware In the Wild” research presented by SentinelLABS at the LABScon 2025 security conference.
The findings highlight how adversaries are beginning to integrate LLMs directly into their malicious payloads, creating challenges for traditional security detection methods.
PromptLock: An Academic Proof-of-Concept
In August 2025, security firm ESET discovered PromptLock, which was initially declared the first-known AI-powered ransomware. It was later revealed to be a proof-of-concept created by researchers at New York University to demonstrate the potential dangers of such threats.
Unlike MalTerminal, which relies on a cloud-based API, PromptLock is written in Golang and uses the Ollama API to run an LLM locally on the victim’s machine.
Based on predefined prompts, PromptLock generates malicious Lua scripts in real-time, making it compatible across Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Promptlock
The malware is designed to identify the type of infected system, such as a personal computer, server, or industrial controller, and then autonomously decide whether to exfiltrate or encrypt data using the SPECK 128-bit encryption algorithm.
MalTerminal Uncovered
While PromptLock was a research project, SentinelLABS researchers found LLM-enabled malware in the wild. Instead of searching for known malicious code, they focused on artifacts unique to LLM integration.
The team wrote YARA rules to scan for hardcoded API keys and common prompt structures embedded within binaries. This API key hunting methodology successfully identified a cluster of suspicious Python scripts and a compiled Windows executable named MalTerminal.exe.
Analysis revealed the malware uses a deprecated OpenAI API endpoint, suggesting it was created before November 2023 and making it the earliest known sample of its kind.
MalTerminal functions as a malware generator. Upon execution, the tool prompts its operator to choose between creating ‘Ransomware’ or a ‘Reverse Shell’. It then sends a request to the GPT-4 API to generate the corresponding malicious Python code at runtime.
This approach means the malicious logic is never stored within the initial binary, allowing it to bypass static analysis and signature-based detection tools.
The research also uncovered related scripts, including early versions (TestMal2.py) and even a defensive tool named ‘FalconShield’, which appears to be an experimental malware scanner created by the same author.
The emergence of malware like MalTerminal and PromptLock signifies a new challenge for cybersecurity defenders. The ability to generate unique malicious code for each execution makes detection and analysis significantly more difficult.
However, this new class of malware also has inherent weaknesses. Its dependency on external APIs, local models, and hardcoded prompts creates a new attack surface for defenders.
If an API key is revoked or a model is blocked, the malware is rendered inoperable. While LLM-enabled malware is still considered experimental, these examples serve as a critical warning that threat actors are actively innovating, forcing defenders to adapt their strategies to focus on detecting malicious API usage and anomalous prompt activity.
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The cybersecurity landscape in 2025 has been marked by an unprecedented surge in zero-day vulnerabilities actively exploited by threat actors.
According to recent data, more than 23,600 vulnerabilities were published in the first half of 2025 alone, representing a 16% increase over 2024.
This alarming trend has seen sophisticated threat actors, including nation-state groups and ransomware operators, weaponizing unknown vulnerabilities faster than ever before.
Nearly 30% of Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEVs) were weaponized within 24 hours of disclosure, with some high-profile edge devices experiencing zero-day exploitation before patches were even available.
Zero-Day Vulnerabilities Exploited by Vendor/Platform in 2025
The scope and sophistication of these attacks have evolved dramatically, targeting everything from widely-used web browsers to critical enterprise infrastructure.
This comprehensive analysis examines the most significant zero-day vulnerabilities that have been actively exploited throughout 2025, providing cybersecurity professionals with detailed technical insights, impact assessments, and mitigation strategies.
The most recent addition to Chrome’s vulnerability roster, CVE-2025-10585, was discovered on September 16, 2025, and patched within 24 hours.
This type confusion vulnerability in Chrome’s V8 JavaScript and WebAssembly engine represents the sixth Chrome zero-day exploited in 2025.
Google’s Threat Analysis Group (TAG) confirmed active exploitation, suggesting sophisticated threat actors, likely nation-state groups, were leveraging this flaw in targeted campaigns.
Technical Details:
Vulnerability Type: Type confusion in V8 engine
Attack Vector: Malicious websites with crafted JavaScript
Affected Versions: Chrome prior to 140.0.7339.185/.186
CVE-2025-6558: ANGLE GPU Exploitation
Earlier in July 2025, CVE-2025-6558 emerged as another critical Chrome zero-day, exploiting the ANGLE (Almost Native Graphics Layer Engine) and GPU components.
This vulnerability enabled attackers to escape Chrome’s sandbox through specially crafted graphics calls, leading to out-of-bounds memory access and potential arbitrary code execution.
Technical Impact:
CVSS Score: Not disclosed
Exploitation Method: Malicious HTML pages with crafted graphics calls
Throughout 2025, Chrome has been targeted by multiple zero-day exploits, including CVE-2025-2783, CVE-2025-4664, CVE-2025-5419, CVE-2025-6554, and CVE-2025-6558.
This sustained assault on Chrome underscores the browser’s critical role as an attack vector and the sophistication of modern threat actors targeting web-based technologies.
Citrix NetScaler: Critical Infrastructure Under Attack
On August 26, 2025, Citrix disclosed CVE-2025-7775, a critical memory overflow vulnerability in NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway that had been actively exploited as a zero-day.
With a CVSS score of 9.2, this vulnerability represents one of the most severe threats to enterprise network infrastructure in 2025.
Vulnerability Analysis:
CVSS Score: 9.2 (Critical)
Attack Complexity: High (requires sophisticated exploitation techniques)
The attack chain operates by first exploiting CVE-2025-53771 to bypass authentication through header spoofing, then leveraging CVE-2025-53770 for code execution through malicious deserialization.
This sophisticated approach allows attackers to extract cryptographic machine keys, enabling long-term persistence even after the initial vulnerability is patched.
Attribution and Impact:
Unit 42 research identified overlapping activity with the Storm-2603 cluster, with exploitation attempts observed as early as July 17, 2025.
The campaign has evolved rapidly, with threat actors adjusting tactics to evade detection and shifting from .NET modules to web shell payloads.
SAP NetWeaver: Enterprise ERP Under Fire
CVE-2025-31324: The Perfect CVSS 10.0 Vulnerability
CVE-2025-31324 achieved the rare distinction of a perfect CVSS score of 10.0, representing maximum severity across all metrics.
This vulnerability in SAP NetWeaver Visual Composer allows unauthenticated attackers to upload arbitrary files, leading to immediate system compromise.
The vulnerability was first exploited as a zero-day nearly three weeks before public disclosure, with evidence linking exploitation to both sophisticated APT groups and the Qilin ransomware operation.
OP Innovate’s incident response revealed communication with known Cobalt Strike infrastructure, suggesting the vulnerability’s use in broader ransomware campaigns.
Secondary Exploitation Wave:
Following public disclosure, CVE-2025-31324 experienced secondary exploitation waves by opportunistic attackers leveraging previously established web shells.
This pattern demonstrates how zero-day vulnerabilities continue to pose threats even after initial remediation efforts.
CVE-2025-42999: The Root Cause Fix
On May 13, 2025, SAP released Security Note 3604119 addressing CVE-2025-42999 (CVSS 9.1), which corrected the underlying root cause of CVE-2025-31324.
This follow-up vulnerability emerged from forensic analysis conducted by Onapsis Research Labs, highlighting the complex nature of enterprise software vulnerabilities.
Android Ecosystem: Mobile Platform Targets
CVE-2025-38352 And CVE-2025-48543: Targeted Mobile Exploitation
Google’s September 2025 Android Security Bulletin addressed two actively exploited zero-day vulnerabilities affecting the Android ecosystem.
Both vulnerabilities enable local privilege escalation and have been confirmed under “limited, targeted exploitation,” suggesting spyware campaigns against high-value individuals.
The targeting pattern and discovery by Google’s Threat Analysis Group strongly suggest these vulnerabilities were weaponized in mercenary spyware operations against specific high-risk users.
Samsung-Specific Android Vulnerability
CVE-2025-21043 represents a critical Android vulnerability specific to Samsung devices, discovered in the libimagecodec.quram.so library developed by Quramsoft.
This out-of-bounds write vulnerability enables remote code execution through malicious image processing.
Samsung Vulnerability Profile:
CVSS Score: 8.8 (High)
Component: libimagecodec.quram.so
Discovery Date: August 13, 2025 (privately disclosed)
Affected Versions: Android 13, 14, 15, 16
Attribution: Reported by Meta and WhatsApp security teams
Apple issued emergency security updates in August 2025 for CVE-2025-43300, the seventh zero-day vulnerability patched by Apple in 2025.
This out-of-bounds write vulnerability in Apple’s ImageIO framework has been confirmed as exploited in “extremely sophisticated attacks against specific targeted individuals.”
Scope: iOS, iPadOS, macOS across multiple versions
The vulnerability demonstrates the evolution of attack techniques targeting Apple’s ecosystem, with simple image viewing potentially compromising entire device security.
Apple’s acknowledgment of sophisticated targeted attacks suggests nation-state involvement in the exploitation campaigns.
Apple’s 2025 Zero-Day Timeline:
Throughout 2025, Apple has patched seven zero-day vulnerabilities: CVE-2025-24085, CVE-2025-24200, CVE-2025-24201, CVE-2025-31200, CVE-2025-31201, CVE-2025-43200, and CVE-2025-43300.
This escalation indicates increasing attacker focus on Apple platforms and sophisticated threat research capabilities.
Microsoft Windows: Enterprise OS Under Siege
The May 2025 Zero-Day Cluster
Microsoft’s May 2025 Patch Tuesday addressed five actively exploited zero-day vulnerabilities, representing one of the most significant monthly zero-day disclosures in recent memory.
These vulnerabilities span multiple Windows components and enable various attack outcomes from privilege escalation to remote code execution.
CVE-2025-30400 – Desktop Window Manager Elevation of Privilege (CVSS 7.8)
CVE-2025-32701 – Common Log File System Driver EoP (CVSS 7.8)
CVE-2025-32706 – Windows CLFS Driver EoP (CVSS 7.8)
CVE-2025-32709 – Windows Ancillary Function Driver EoP (CVSS 7.8)
CVE-2025-53779: Kerberos Authentication Bypass
Microsoft’s August 2025 Patch Tuesday included CVE-2025-53779, a publicly disclosed zero-day affecting Windows Kerberos authentication.
This privilege escalation vulnerability, discovered by Akamai researcher Yuval Gordon, stems from relative path traversal and enables Active Directory domain compromise.
Kerberos Vulnerability Details:
CVSS Score: 7.2
Component: Windows Kerberos
Technique Name: BadSuccessor
Impact: Active Directory domain compromise through dMSA object abuse
CVE-2025-29824: CLFS Exploitation Leading To Ransomware
Microsoft Threat Intelligence discovered post-compromise exploitation of CVE-2025-29824, a zero-day elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Windows Common Log File System (CLFS).
The Storm-2460 threat group actively deployed this vulnerability in conjunction with PipeMagic malware for ransomware deployment.
CLFS Zero-Day Campaign:
Threat Actor: Storm-2460
Malware Family: PipeMagic backdoor
Attack Outcome: RansomEXX ransomware deployment
Target Sectors: IT, real estate, financial, software, retail
Google’s Mandiant successfully disrupted an active ViewState deserialization attack targeting Sitecore products through CVE-2025-53690.
This zero-day vulnerability enabled remote code execution through improper handling of ViewState data, particularly affecting deployments using exposed sample keys from public documentation.
Reconnaissance: SHARPHOUND Active Directory enumeration
The sophisticated attack progression from initial compromise to privilege escalation demonstrates the threat actor’s deep understanding of the exploited vulnerability and target environment.
The zero-day vulnerability landscape of 2025 represents an inflection point in cybersecurity, characterized by unprecedented exploitation velocity, sophisticated attack chains, and broad target diversity.
From Chrome browsers to enterprise SAP systems, no technology stack has proven immune to determined adversaries.
The consistent pattern of exploitation across major vendors, Apple, Google, Microsoft, Citrix, and others underscores the systematic nature of modern zero-day campaigns.
Organizations must recognize that zero-day exploitation is no longer an exceptional event but a routine component of the threat landscape.
Success in this environment requires moving beyond traditional patch-and-pray approaches to comprehensive defense-in-depth strategies that assume compromise and focus on detection, containment, and rapid response.
The lessons from 2025’s zero-day campaigns are clear: attackers are moving faster, targeting more diverse platforms, and demonstrating increasingly sophisticated techniques.
Defenders must match this evolution with equally sophisticated defensive capabilities, industry collaboration, and a fundamental shift toward proactive security architectures designed to withstand unknown threats.
As we advance through 2025, the cybersecurity community must continue adapting to this new reality where zero-day exploitation is not just possible but probable, requiring constant vigilance and continuous improvement of defensive capabilities across all technology platforms and organizational boundaries.
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