Cyber Briefing - 2024.02.07
👉 What's trending in cybersecurity today?
Android Update, Malicious Excel Document, Python Info-stealer, Bogus Facebook Job Ads, Ov3r_Stealer Malware, JetBrains TeamCity Flaw, Unauthorized Access, Administrative Takeover, Microsoft Azure HDInsight, Privilege Escalation, ReDoS, Apache Services, Verizon , Insider Data Breach, Chinese Hackers, Fortinet Flaw, Dutch Military Network, Philippines, Pakistan Super League , Ticketing Website, France, Viamedis , The Linux Foundation Forms Alliance for Post-Quantum Cryptography, Google , Active Spyware Vendors, Zero-Days Exploits, Meta , AI Image Labeling, Misinformation, ZeroFox Cybersecurity, Haveli Investments , CISA, ICT Supply Chain Risk Management Task Force.
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Google released patches for 46 vulnerabilities in Android, including a critical bug allowing remote code execution without additional privileges. The update addresses a range of high-severity issues, covering various components such as System and Framework, ensuring enhanced security for users. Additionally, patches for Pixel devices were announced, fixing seven vulnerabilities, including five in Qualcomm's audio sub-component.
FortiGuard Labs discovered a malicious Excel document distributing a Python info-stealer in January 2024, linked to a Vietnamese-based group. Utilizing simple downloaders preceding the info-stealer, the attackers aim to enhance the attack's stealthiness, making detection more challenging. The exploitation of open platforms in various stages of the attack provides valuable insights into the hacker group's strategies and facilitates the identification of related repositories and malware campaigns.
Cybercriminals are using fake job postings on Facebook to distribute Ov3r_Stealer, a Windows-based malware aimed at stealing credentials and crypto wallets. The malware, capable of extracting various sensitive data like passwords, credit card information, and browser extensions, is deployed via a weaponized PDF file disguised as a OneDrive document. Trustwave SpiderLabs warns that the stolen information could potentially be sold to other threat actors or used to deploy additional payloads like ransomware.
JetBrains alerts customers to a critical security flaw in its TeamCity On-Premises software, tracked as CVE-2024-23917. This vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers with HTTP(S) access to bypass authentication checks and gain administrative control of susceptible instances. Users are urged to update to version 2023.11.3 or apply a security patch plugin to mitigate the risk of unauthorized access and potential takeover.
Three security vulnerabilities in Azure HDInsight's Apache Hadoop, Kafka, and Spark services have been uncovered, potentially enabling privilege escalation and regular expression denial-of-service (ReDoS) conditions. According to Orca security researcher Lidor Ben Shitrit, the flaws affect authenticated users of Azure HDInsight services like Apache Ambari and Apache Oozie. The vulnerabilities include CVE-2023-36419, CVE-2023-38156, and an Apache Oozie ReDoS vulnerability, with exploitation leading to various risks such as root-level file reading, privilege escalation, and denial-of-service attacks.
Verizon, a major U.S. telecommunications company, faces an insider data breach impacting nearly half of its workforce. The breach, discovered in December 2023, exposed sensitive employee information, including Social Security numbers and compensation details, affecting over 63,000 employees. Despite efforts to strengthen internal security measures, Verizon is offering affected individuals identity theft protection and credit monitoring services to mitigate risks.
Chinese state-backed hackers infiltrated a Dutch military network through Fortinet FortiGate devices, targeting a critical security flaw to deploy a persistent backdoor known as COATHANGER. Despite the breach occurring in 2023 and affecting a self-contained research system with fewer than 50 users, it didn't compromise the broader defense network, according to the Dutch Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD). This marks the Netherlands' first public attribution of a cyber espionage campaign to China, revealing the nation's growing concerns over state-sponsored threats.
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The Philippines has successfully thwarted thousands of "sophisticated" cyberattacks aimed at various government websites, including those of President Ferdinand Marcos and the Philippine Coast Guard. Undersecretary Jeffrey Ian Dy of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) disclosed this development during a congressional hearing, indicating that the attacks commenced last year. While investigations are ongoing to determine the exact origins of the attacks, Dy mentioned that the perpetrators utilized multiple internet protocol addresses from cnc.net, reportedly "located within China," raising suspicions of Chinese involvement.
A cyberattack on the Pakistan Super League (PSL) ticketing website has caused chaos for organizers and fans, disrupting preparations for the upcoming season nine. Despite reports of the issue being resolved, many users are still encountering difficulties accessing the website, leading to frustration among cricket enthusiasts. The incident underscores the vulnerability of online platforms to malicious attacks, posing challenges for major sporting events like the PSL.
French healthcare services firm Viamedis experiences a cyberattack, exposing policyholders' and healthcare professionals' data, with the company's website offline. Data compromised includes beneficiaries' personal information, but Viamedis clarifies no banking or contact details were stored. Investigations are ongoing, with Viamedis notifying impacted organizations and authorities in France, yet the full extent of the breach remains unclear.
The Linux Foundation spearheads the Post-Quantum Cryptography Alliance (PQCA) to propel post-quantum cryptography adoption, addressing looming security challenges from quantum computing. PQCA's collaborative effort, led by industry giants like AWS, Cisco, and IBM, aims to fortify data protection in the quantum age. With quantum computing threatening existing security measures, PQCA's focus on standardized algorithms and technical projects promises vital support for organizations navigating this transition.
Google stresses the urgency of addressing vulnerabilities exploited by commercial spyware vendors, with over 40 identified in their report. These vendors utilize zero-day exploits to surveil individuals covertly, even on devices with the latest security patches. Despite sanctions and warnings, the commercial spyware market thrives, indicating a pressing need for enhanced diplomacy and remediation efforts to mitigate the risks posed by these advanced surveillance tools. As governments and industry leaders convene to discuss joint action against the proliferation and misuse of commercial spyware, concerted efforts are required to safeguard privacy and security in the face of evolving cyber threats.
Facebook and Instagram users will soon encounter labels on AI-generated images, part of an industry-wide effort to distinguish between authentic and synthetic content. Meta's collaboration with industry partners aims to establish technical standards for identifying AI-generated visuals, a step toward addressing the proliferation of misleading content online. While this initiative signals a recognition of the problem, questions remain about its effectiveness and the potential for false assurances among users.
Cybersecurity firm ZeroFox, renowned for its "external cybersecurity solutions," enters a definitive agreement with Haveli Investments for an all-cash transaction valued at roughly $350 million. However, shareholder concerns loom as the offer of $1.14 per share falls significantly below ZeroFox's 52-week high, prompting legal scrutiny. Amidst uncertainties, the transaction remains pending, subject to shareholder approval and regulatory clearance, highlighting ongoing deliberations surrounding the future of ZeroFox.
CISA renews the ICT Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM) Task Force for two years, emphasizing collaborative efforts to mitigate global ICT supply chain risks. Led by CISA's National Risk Management Center and Sector Coordinating Councils, the Task Force focuses on devising actionable solutions for managing supply chain risks. Recent accomplishments include the development of tools like the SMB Resource Handbook and the Hardware Bill of Materials Framework, reflecting a commitment to enhancing supply chain resilience.
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