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Iranian advanced persistent threat (APT) groups have significantly escalated their cyberattacks against critical U.S. infrastructure, with a notable 133% surge in activity observed during May and June 2025. The transportation and manufacturing sectors have been identified as the primary targets of these intensified operations. This trend aligns with ongoing geopolitical tensions, as well as recent warnings issued by U.S. authorities like CISA and the Department of Homeland Security, which highlighted U.S. entities as prime targets for Iranian cyber actors.
Nozomi Networks Labs reported a total of 28 distinct cyber incidents linked to Iranian APTs during May and June, a substantial increase from the 12 incidents recorded in the preceding two months. Among the most active groups identified are MuddyWater, which targeted at least five U.S. companies primarily in the transportation and manufacturing sectors, and APT33, responsible for attacks on at least three U.S. entities. Other groups such as OilRig, CyberAv3ngers, Fox Kitten, and Homeland Justice were also observed conducting attacks against U.S. companies in these critical industries. The resurfacing of the Iranian-backed Pay2Key ransomware, now operating as Pay2Key.I2P, further highlights the evolving threat landscape. This ransomware-as-a-service operation, linked to the Fox Kitten APT group, is reportedly offering an 80% profit share to affiliates targeting Iran's adversaries, including the U.S. and Israel. This financially motivated scheme has also demonstrated an ideological commitment, with claims of over 51 successful ransom payouts, netting substantial profits. The use of the Invisible Internet Project (I2P) for its infrastructure represents a notable shift in RaaS operations, potentially enhancing its evasiveness. Recommended read:
References :
Rescana@Rescana
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Amidst escalating regional conflicts, Iran has taken the drastic measure of shutting down internet access for its citizens, a move the government defends as a necessary precaution against Israeli cyberattacks. This disruption has severely impacted communication within the country, leaving Iranians abroad unable to connect with loved ones. One such individual, Amir Rashidi, expressed his anxiety, stating he hadn't heard from his family in two days and was relying on someone else for updates. The situation highlights the growing intersection of cyber warfare and real-world consequences for civilians.
The internet blackout is not the first instance of Iran limiting connectivity. In the past, similar restrictions were imposed during periods of political unrest, such as protests in 2019 and 2022. These shutdowns are implemented by pushing people towards domestic apps, which are often less secure, while also severely restricting access to vital information. Experts like Doug Madory from Kentik have documented significant drops in internet connectivity within Iran following recent Israeli airstrikes, with reductions of 54% initially, followed by further declines of 49% and, subsequently, a staggering 90%. In a defensive maneuver against cyber threats, Iran is throttling its National Internet Infrastructure. The country claims it is restricting internet connectivity to counter cyber attacks amid regional conflict. The stated aim is to impede cyber intrusions and the synchronization of adversarial operations. An example of the threats Iran faces is demonstrated by the Israeli-linked hackers who seized and burned $90 million from Iran's Nobitex exchange. Recommended read:
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@blog.redteam-pentesting.de
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A new Kerberos relay attack, identified as CVE-2025-33073, has been discovered that bypasses NTLM protections and allows attackers to escalate privileges to NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM. This reflective Kerberos relay attack involves coercing a host to authenticate, intercepting the Kerberos ticket, and relaying it back to the same host, effectively exploiting misconfigurations and the lack of enforced SMB signing. RedTeam Pentesting discovered the vulnerability in January 2025 and disclosed it to Microsoft in an extensive whitepaper.
Microsoft addressed this vulnerability as part of the June 2025 Patch Tuesday. Technical analyses of CVE-2025-33073 have been published by RedTeam Pentesting and Synacktiv. The vulnerability is rooted in how the SMB client negotiates Kerberos authentication. When the SMB client has negotiated Kerberos instead of NTLM, a session key is inserted into a global list, KerbSKeyList, without proper checks, allowing attackers to reuse a subkey under specific conditions to forge a privileged token. The attack begins with authentication coercion via SMB, tricking a victim machine into connecting to a malicious SMB server. The server forces the client into Kerberos authentication, generates a subkey, logs it into KerbSKeyList with privileged token data, and forges a valid AP-REQ ticket using the subkey. The SMB client accepts and validates the forged ticket, leading to the generation of a SYSTEM token and granting administrative privileges. A proof-of-concept exploit has been made available to demonstrate the vulnerability's potential. Recommended read:
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@research.checkpoint.com
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Microsoft's June 2025 Patch Tuesday has addressed a total of 66 vulnerabilities across its product range, with one zero-day vulnerability, CVE-2025-33053, being actively exploited in the wild. This critical flaw exists in the Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning (WebDAV) implementation, and its exploitation could lead to remote code execution. Microsoft has issued an urgent security update to mitigate this threat, even for outdated systems like Windows Server 2008 and components of the long-retired Internet Explorer. The urgency of this patch is underscored by the ongoing exploitation of the vulnerability by the Stealth Falcon APT group.
The actively exploited zero-day, CVE-2025-33053, poses a significant risk because attackers can achieve remote code execution at the local level simply by tricking a user into following a malicious link. This vulnerability has been exploited since March 2025 by Stealth Falcon, a hacking group known for targeted attacks in the Middle East. Researchers at Check Point discovered the flaw being used against a Turkish defense company, where malware was inserted to facilitate data exfiltration and the installation of a custom keylogger. The attack involves a .url file disguised as a PDF, which, when clicked, redirects to a WebDAV server controlled by the attacker, causing a legitimate Windows diagnostic tool to execute a malicious file. Alongside the actively exploited zero-day, Microsoft's June 2025 Patch Tuesday addresses a range of other vulnerabilities, including ten that are rated as "Critical". Another notable flaw, CVE-2025-33073, affects the Windows Server Message Block (SMB) client and could allow attackers to gain SYSTEM privileges. This vulnerability is considered less likely to be exploited but can be mitigated by enforcing server-side SMB signing via Group Policy. The updates also include fixes for vulnerabilities in Microsoft Office, .NET, Visual Studio, and other products, highlighting the breadth of the security update. Recommended read:
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@blogs.microsoft.com
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Microsoft has launched the European Security Program (ESP), a new initiative aimed at significantly strengthening cybersecurity across Europe. The program provides critical resources to governments within the European Union, the United Kingdom, EU accession countries, and members of the European Free Trade Association. Microsoft Vice Chair Brad Smith unveiled the ESP in Berlin, emphasizing the need for enhanced cyber protection amidst growing sophistication and scope of cyber threats.
The ESP is a three-pronged strategy that includes AI-enhanced threat intelligence, direct collaboration with Europol, and automated disruption of malicious infrastructure. This program aims to counter the rising tide of cyberattacks from nation-state actors, specifically those originating from Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. Microsoft is offering these AI-powered defense tools and threat intelligence resources free of charge, to the 27 EU nations. By offering these resources, Microsoft intends to bolster digital sovereignty and address the operational complexities faced by European governments in defending against cyber threats. The initiative underscores Microsoft's commitment to sharing threat intelligence, strengthening cybersecurity capacity, and expanding partnerships to effectively disrupt malicious cyber activities. The free cyber security support will help European governments combat state-sponsored hackers as attacks continue to intensify across the continent. Recommended read:
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@blog.checkpoint.com
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Microsoft has revealed that Lumma Stealer malware has infected over 394,000 Windows computers across the globe. This data-stealing malware has been actively employed by financially motivated threat actors targeting various industries. Microsoft Threat Intelligence has been tracking the growth and increasing sophistication of Lumma Stealer for over a year, highlighting its persistent threat in the cyber landscape. The malware is designed to harvest sensitive information from infected systems, posing a significant risk to users and organizations alike.
Microsoft, in collaboration with industry partners and international law enforcement, has taken action to disrupt the infrastructure supporting Lumma Stealer. However, the developers behind the malware are reportedly making significant efforts to restore servers and bring the operation back online, indicating the tenacity of the threat. Despite these efforts, security researchers note that the Lumma Stealer operation has suffered reputational damage, potentially making it harder to regain trust among cybercriminals. In related news, a new Rust-based information stealer called EDDIESTEALER is actively spreading through fake CAPTCHA campaigns, using the ClickFix social engineering tactic to trick users into running malicious PowerShell scripts. EDDIESTEALER targets crypto wallets, browser data, and credentials, demonstrating a continued trend of malware developers utilizing Rust for its enhanced stealth and stability. These developments underscore the importance of vigilance and robust cybersecurity practices to protect against evolving malware threats. Recommended read:
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@securityonline.info
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A new Rust-based infostealer, EDDIESTEALER, is being spread using the ClickFix social engineering technique, according to a report by Elastic Security Labs on May 30, 2025. This method leverages fake CAPTCHA prompts on compromised websites. Users are tricked into copying and pasting a PowerShell command into their Windows terminal, believing they are verifying they aren't a robot. This command then downloads and executes a malicious JavaScript file, gverify.js, which in turn retrieves the final EDDIESTEALER payload.
The EDDIESTEALER malware is designed to steal sensitive information from infected hosts. Written in Rust, it avoids static analysis through various obfuscation techniques, including XOR string encryption and stripping of function symbols. The malware dynamically retrieves a task list from the attacker's command-and-control (C2) server, enabling it to adapt its behavior over time. Elastic Security Labs has observed it targeting a range of cryptocurrency wallets, web browsers, password managers, FTP clients, and the Telegram messaging app. EDDIESTEALER also employs several evasion techniques, including a basic anti-sandbox check, a self-deletion mechanism, and a custom Windows API lookup method to avoid static analysis of its API interactions. The dynamic C2 tasking method allows attackers to update the list of targeted apps as needed, providing greater flexibility and adaptability. Security experts emphasize the continued popularity of the ClickFix social engineering method and the increasing use of the Rust programming language among malware developers in campaigns like this. Recommended read:
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info@thehackernews.com (The@The Hacker News
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A new Windows Remote Access Trojan (RAT) has been discovered that employs a novel technique to evade detection. The malware corrupts its own DOS and PE headers, making it significantly more difficult for security tools to analyze and reconstruct the malicious code. This method obstructs forensic analysis and allows the RAT to operate stealthily on compromised Windows machines for extended periods, in some cases, for weeks before being detected. The FortiGuard Incident Response Team conducted a detailed investigation into this malware.
The Fortinet team managed to obtain a memory dump of the live malware process (dllhost.exe process PID 8200) and a complete 33GB memory dump of the compromised system. By meticulously replicating the compromised environment, they were able to revive the dumped malware in a controlled setting. This allowed them to observe its operations and communication patterns. The researchers had to manually identify the malware's entry point, allocate memory, and resolve API addresses through debugging, address relocation, and parameter adjustments to emulate the malware's behaviour in a lab setting. Once operational, the malware was found to communicate with a command-and-control (C2) server at rushpaperscom over port 443, utilizing TLS encryption. Fortinet analysts identified the malware's use of Windows API functions like SealMessage() and DecryptMessage() to handle encrypted traffic, along with an additional layer of custom encryption. Analysis confirms that the malware is a RAT, allowing attackers to capture screenshots, manipulate system services, and establish connections with other clients. Recommended read:
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@www.microsoft.com
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Microsoft is taking a significant step towards future-proofing cybersecurity by integrating post-quantum cryptography (PQC) into Windows Insider builds. This move aims to protect data against the potential threat of quantum computers, which could render current encryption methods vulnerable. The integration of PQC is a critical step toward quantum-resilient cybersecurity, ensuring that Windows systems can withstand attacks from more advanced computing power in the future.
Microsoft announced the availability of PQC support in Windows Insider Canary builds (27852 and above). This release allows developers and organizations to begin experimenting with PQC in real-world environments, assessing integration challenges, performance trade-offs, and compatibility. This is being done in an attempt to jump-start what’s likely to be the most formidable and important technology transition in modern history. The urgency behind this transition stems from the "harvest now, decrypt later" threat, where malicious actors store encrypted communications today, with the intent to decrypt them once quantum computers become capable. These captured secrets, such as passwords, encryption keys, or medical data, could remain valuable to attackers for years to come. By adopting PQC algorithms, Microsoft aims to safeguard sensitive information against this future risk, emphasizing the importance of starting the transition now. Recommended read:
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@gbhackers.com
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cyberpress.org
, isc.sans.edu
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Cybersecurity researchers have recently uncovered a sophisticated malware campaign targeting Windows systems through the exploitation of AutoIT scripts. AutoIT, a scripting language initially designed for Windows automation, has become a popular tool in the malware ecosystem due to its simplicity and ability to interact with various Windows components. This particular campaign stands out for its use of a double layer of AutoIT code and intricate obfuscation techniques, allowing it to evade detection and maintain persistence on infected machines.
The attack begins with a compiled AutoIT executable file named "1. Project & Profit.exe" (SHA256: b5fbae9376db12a3fcbc99e83ccad97c87fb9e23370152d1452768a3676f5aeb). Upon execution, this file downloads an AutoIT interpreter, saving it as "C:\Users\Public\Guard.exe," along with another AutoIT script, stored as "Secure.au3," and a PowerShell script named "PublicProfile.ps1." The "PublicProfile.ps1" script is immediately generated and executed, facilitating further stages of the infection. Persistence is achieved by creating a .url shortcut in the Windows Startup directory, ensuring that a JavaScript file is triggered upon each user login. This JavaScript file then re-executes the AutoIT interpreter with a second-stage script, keeping the malicious processes active. The second layer of AutoIT code, referred to as script "G," employs heavy obfuscation to hinder analysis. All strings within this script are encoded using a custom function called "Wales," which transforms ASCII values into a readable format only after decoding. An example of this obfuscation is the encoded sequence "80]114]111]99]101]115]115]69]120]105]115]116]115]40]39]97]118]97]115]116]117]105]46]101]120]101]39]41," which, when decoded, reveals "ProcessExists('avastui.exe')." This suggests the malware checks for antivirus processes to potentially avoid detection or alter its behavior. The attack culminates in the execution of a malicious DLL named "Urshqbgpm.dll" by injecting it into a "jsc.exe" process. Recommended read:
References :
@borncity.com
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Microsoft has confirmed that the May 2025 security updates for Windows 10 and Windows 11 are triggering BitLocker recovery issues on some systems. Specifically, cumulative update KB5058379, released on May 13, 2025, for Windows 10 22H2, is causing the operating system to request the BitLocker recovery key upon boot. In some instances, affected systems are hanging, effectively locking users out of their devices. The problem appears to extend to Windows 11 as well, with reports indicating similar BitLocker recovery prompts after installing the update.
Microsoft has acknowledged the issue and posted a support article in the Windows Release Health dashboard of Windows Server 10 22H2. The company stated that after installing KB5058379, Windows 10 22H2 might repeatedly display the BitLocker recovery screen at startup. The issue is particularly prevalent on devices with Intel Trusted Execution Technology (TXT) enabled on Intel vPro processors of the 10th generation or later. Microsoft has identified that the update can cause lsass.exe to terminate unexpectedly, triggering an automatic repair and subsequently prompting for the BitLocker recovery key. The BitLocker recovery issue is causing widespread disruption, especially for businesses, with IT departments reporting numerous devices simultaneously stuck at the recovery prompt. While BitLocker typically only requests the recovery key after significant hardware or firmware changes, KB5058379 is triggering the prompt unexpectedly, even when no such changes have occurred. In addition to the BitLocker prompts, some users are reporting Blue Screens of Death (BSOD) during or immediately after the update process. While Microsoft works on a fix, IT professionals have found that disabling Intel Trusted Execution Technology (TXT) in the BIOS allows the update to complete without triggering the BitLocker prompt. Recommended read:
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@msrc.microsoft.com
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Microsoft has released its May 2025 Patch Tuesday updates, addressing a total of 71 or 72 vulnerabilities, depending on the source, across its software. This includes fixes for five actively exploited zero-day vulnerabilities and two publicly known vulnerabilities. The updates target flaws in various Windows components, including the Windows Common Log File System (CLFS), DWM Core Library, Scripting Engine, and Winsock.
Among the critical issues addressed are elevation of privilege (EoP) and remote code execution (RCE) vulnerabilities. Specifically, two zero-days in the CLFS (CVE-2025-32701 and CVE-2025-32706) allow attackers to gain SYSTEM privileges. Another zero-day (CVE-2025-30400) is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Windows Desktop Window Manager (DWM) Core Library, which can also lead to privilege escalation. A scripting engine memory corruption vulnerability (CVE-2025-30397) could allow for remote code execution if a user visits a malicious web page while using Internet Explorer mode in Edge. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has added all five exploited vulnerabilities to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, urging administrators to patch these flaws by June 3, 2025. Security experts emphasize the importance of prioritizing these updates to prevent potential privilege escalation, code execution, and other malicious activities. The identified vulnerabilities highlight the ongoing risk posed by CLFS exploitation and the need for continuous monitoring and patching efforts. Recommended read:
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@cyberscoop.com
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CISA has added five actively exploited vulnerabilities to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. This action follows Microsoft's May 2025 Patch Tuesday, which addressed a total of 72 vulnerabilities, including these five zero-day exploits. The vulnerabilities affect various Windows components, posing a significant risk to systems if left unpatched. The addition to the KEV catalog underscores the urgency for organizations to apply the relevant Microsoft patches.
The zero-day vulnerabilities include CVE-2025-30397, CVE-2025-30400, CVE-2025-32701, CVE-2025-32706, and CVE-2025-32709. CVE-2025-30397 is a memory corruption vulnerability in the Windows scripting engine, while CVE-2025-30400 affects the Microsoft DWM Core Library. CVE-2025-32701 and CVE-2025-32706 are defects in the Windows Common Log File System (CLFS) Driver, which are particularly concerning as they can lead to elevation of privilege to SYSTEM. CVE-2025-32709 resides in the Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock. Security experts recommend immediate patching, especially for the CLFS driver vulnerabilities. Mike Walters of Action1 warned that attackers could exploit the CLFS zero-days to gain full control of systems, allowing them to run arbitrary code, install malware, modify data, or disable security protections. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) encourages all organizations to review and apply the necessary updates to mitigate the risk of exploitation. Recommended read:
References :
@securityonline.info
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The Play ransomware gang has been actively exploiting a zero-day vulnerability in the Windows Common Log File System (CLFS), identified as CVE-2025-29824. This high-severity flaw allows attackers to gain SYSTEM privileges on compromised systems, enabling them to deploy malware and carry out other malicious activities. The vulnerability was patched by Microsoft in April 2025; however, it was actively exploited in targeted attacks across various sectors before the patch was released.
The Play ransomware gang's attack methodology is sophisticated, employing custom tools and techniques such as dual extortion. A key tool used is the Grixba infostealer, which scans networks and steals information. In addition to the Grixba infostealer, the group uses a payload injection technique where a malicious payload is injected into the winlogon.exe process. This allows them to inject the Sysinternals procdump.exe tool into various processes for malicious purposes. The Symantec Threat Hunter Team identified this zero-day vulnerability being actively exploited, including an attack targeting an unnamed organization in the United States. The attackers likely used a public-facing Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) as an entry point. During the execution of the exploit, batch files are created to escalate privileges, dump the SAM, SYSTEM, and SECURITY Registry hives, create a new user, and clean up traces of exploitation. The exploitation of CVE-2025-29824 highlights the trend of ransomware actors using zero-days to infiltrate targets, underscoring the importance of prompt patching and robust security measures. Recommended read:
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