Greetings, Join Our Upcoming Webinar: Strengthen Your Security with Maturity Assessments! Don’t miss our upcoming webinar, where we’ll introduce our new Maturity Assessment service—an essential tool for evaluating your organisation’s security posture against critical NIST controls. Learn how to identify gaps and risks across people, processes, and technology, helping you build more resilient cybersecurity practices. Register Now and take the next step in enhancing your organisation’s security! Cyber threats continue to pose significant risks to businesses across all industries, and the healthcare sector is no exception. Genea, a nationwide IVF provider with 21 locations, recently fell victim to a cyber attack, leading to unauthorised data access and system disruptions. While the full extent of the breach is still unfolding, the attack has already caused a phone outage and disrupted the My Genea App, impacting both patients and staff. Many patients remain uninformed, with some yet to receive official communication about the breach. Others, frustrated and anxious, have spent days attempting to contact Genea with urgent clinical inquiries, further highlighting the severe operational and patient care implications of the attack. This incident serves as a stark reminder that no organisation is immune to cyber threats, and the ability to respond quickly and effectively is crucial to minimising damage. A well-structured Cyber Incident Response Plan (CIRP) is the backbone of any organisation’s cyber security strategy. No matter how strong an organisation’s security measures are, breaches can still occur. When they do, a well-written CIRP helps teams to respond swiftly, contain the damage, and recover operations with minimal disruption. Without a clear response strategy, businesses risk prolonged downtime, data loss, regulatory penalties, and reputational damage—all of which can have long-term consequences. At AUSCERT, we provide tailored incident response plans designed to meet your operational needs and regulatory requirements. A strong CIRP not only helps mitigate risks but also enhances resilience against future attacks. Don’t wait for a breach to expose gaps — be prepared. Enquire today about our bespoke Cyber Incident Response Plans and safeguard your organisation. AUSCERT members receive 15% off this essential service! Threat researchers spot ‘device code’ phishing attacks targeting Microsoft accounts Date: 2025-02-14 Author: CyberScoop Suspected Russian nation-state threat groups have duped multiple victims into granting potentially persistent access to networks via authentication requests and valid tokens. Microsoft threat researchers discovered a series of what they are calling “device code” phishing attacks that allowed a suspected Russia-aligned threat group to gain access to and steal data from critical infrastructure organizations, the company said in research released Thursday. New OpenSSH Flaws Enable Man-in-the-Middle and DoS Attacks — Patch Now Date: 2025-02-18 Author: The Hacker News [Please also see AUSCERT bulletins: https://portal.auscert.org.au/bulletins/ESB-2025.1166/ https://portal.auscert.org.au/bulletins/ESB-2025.1165/ https://portal.auscert.org.au/bulletins/ESB-2025.1142] Two security vulnerabilities have been discovered in the OpenSSH secure networking utility suite that, if successfully exploited, could result in an active machine-in-the-middle (MitM) and a denial-of-service (DoS) attack, respectively, under certain conditions. Palo Alto Networks tags new firewall bug as exploited in attacks Date: 2025-02-19 Author: Bleeping Computer [Please also see AUSCERT bulletin: https://portal.auscert.org.au/bulletins/ESB-2025.1026.3/] Palo Alto Networks warns that a file read vulnerability (CVE-2025-0111) is now being chained in attacks with two other flaws (CVE-2025-0108 with CVE-2024-9474) to breach PAN-OS firewalls in active attacks. The vendor first disclosed the authentication bypass vulnerability tracked as CVE-2025-0108 on February 12, 2025, releasing patches to fix the vulnerability. That same day, Assetnote researchers published a proof-of-concept exploit demonstrating how CVE-2025-0108 and CVE-2024-9474 could be chained together to gain root privileges on unpatched PAN-OS firewalls. Australia Imposes Sanctions On Medibank Private Cyberattack Date: 2025-02-14 Author: The Cyber Express The government of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has imposed additional cyber sanctions in response to a major 2022 cyberattack that hit Medibank Private. The breach, which compromised millions of customers’ sensitive medical data, marked a turning point in Australia’s approach to cyber security. The Medibank Private cyberattack not only targeted the personal information of Medibank’s customers but also saw portions of the stolen data published on the dark web. Ransomware-as-a-service actors drive four-times increase in ransomware attacks Date: 2025-02-17 Author: Cyber Daily Every year, Barracuda Networks releases a detailed cyber security report based on its managed extended detection and response business, and while the previous 12 months saw relatively consistent activity across the year, ransomware activity increased dramatically. The numbers that Barracuda can draw on for its analysis are impressive. The company tracked 11 trillion IT events in total and found that more than 1 million of them were potential risks requiring assessment. Microsoft Patches Actively Exploited CVE-2025-21355 RCE Vulnerability in Bing Date: 2025-02-20 Author: The Hacker News Microsoft has released security updates to address two Critical-rated flaws impacting Bing and Power Pages, including one that has come under active exploitation in the wild. The vulnerabilities are listed below – CVE-2025-21355 (CVSS score: 8.6) – Microsoft Bing Remote Code Execution Vulnerability CVE-2025-24989 (CVSS score: 8.2) – Microsoft Power Pages Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability "Missing Authentication for Critical Function in Microsoft Bing allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network," the tech giant said in an advisory for CVE-2025-21355. No customer action is required. ESB-2025.1214 – Linux kernel: CVSS (Max): 9.1* Several security issues were fixed in the Linux kernel. An attacker could possibly exploit these vulnerabilities to compromise the system. This major update corrects these flaws. ESB-2025.1171 – Atlassian Products: CVSS (Max): 9.8 The vulnerabilities reported in this Security Bulletin include 7 high-severity vulnerabilities and 5 critical-severity vulnerabilities which have been fixed. Atlassian recommends patching your instances to the latest version or one of the Fixed Versions as advised in this Security Bulletin. ESB-2025.1155 – IBM Security QRadar SIEM: CVSS (Max): 9.8 IBM QRadar SIEM includes vulnerable components (e.g. framework libraries) that could be identified and exploited with automated tools. These have been addressed in the update. ESB-2025.1144 – Docker: CVSS (Max): 9.9 Several security issues were fixed in Docker. Docker could unexpectedly forward DNS requests from internal networks in an unexpected manner. An attacker could possibly use this issue to exfiltrate data by encoding information in DNS queries to controlled nameservers. This issue was only addressed in Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. ESB-2025.1168 – Citrix NetScaler Console and NetScaler Agent: CVSS (Max): 8.8 A vulnerability has been discovered in NetScaler Console (formerly NetScaler ADM) and NetScaler Agent. Cloud Software Group strongly urges customers of NetScaler Console and NetScaler Agent to install the relevant updated versions as soon as possible. Stay safe, stay patched and have a good weekend! The AUSCERT team

Greetings, Happy Valentine's Day! While celebrating with loved ones, it's crucial to stay vigilant against malicious behaviour. Enjoy the love but remain cautious. Threat actors exploit this emotional time to their advantage. Be warned: new AI-enhanced romance scams are targeting Australian hearts and bank accounts. Researchers warn that romance scams pose a significant threat, costing nearly $35 million in 2023, with many cases going unreported. Scammers exploit dating apps and generative AI to create convincing messages. Currently the most prevalent and impactful romance scam is romance baiting, where scammers build fake relationships to gain trust and persuade victims to invest in fake cryptocurrency, stock platforms, or other scams. The Australian government is making significant strides in consumer protection. This week, Parliament passed the world's first Scams Prevention Framework Bill, enhancing protections by establishing consistent and enforceable obligations for businesses in key sectors where scammers operate. The framework empowers the ACCC to investigate potential breaches and take enforcement action against entities that fail to fulfill their obligations. If you're interested in gaining essential skills to navigate the legal and managerial dimensions of cyber security in your organisation, we recommend registering for our course led by General Manager Ivano Bongiovanni. The Overcoming Cyber Risks course covers legal implications and privacy laws, offering strategies to manage risk using enterprise risk frameworks, including crisis response and vendor oversight. Lastly, a positive reminder: AUSCERT2025 registrations are officially open! Take advantage of early bird discounts and secure your favourite tutorials before spaces run out! Massive brute force attack uses 2.8 million IPs to target VPN devices Date: 2025-02-08 Author: Bleeping Computer A large-scale brute force password attack using almost 2.8 million IP addresses is underway, attempting to guess the credentials for a wide range of networking devices, including those from Palo Alto Networks, Ivanti, and SonicWall. A brute force attack is when threat actors attempt to repeatedly log into an account or device using many usernames and passwords until the correct combination is found. Once they have access to the correct credentials, the threat actors can then use them to hijack a device or gain access to a network. CVE-2025-25064 (CVSS 9.8): Critical SQL Injection Bug in Zimbra Collaboration Date: 2025-02-09 Author: Security Online Zimbra Collaboration, a widely used open-source email and collaboration platform, has been found to contain two newly discovered security vulnerabilities that pose a serious risk to businesses relying on the software for email, calendaring, file sharing, and task management. These vulnerabilities, identified as CVE-2025-25064 and CVE-2025-25065, could allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data and internal network resources. SonicWall firewall exploit lets hackers hijack VPN sessions, patch now Date: 2025-02-11 Author: Bleeping Computer [AUSCERT contacted the impacted members (where possible) via email in January 2025] Security researchers at Bishop Fox have published complete exploitation details for the CVE-2024-53704 vulnerability that allows bypassing the authentication mechanism in certain versions of the SonicOS SSLVPN application. The vendor warned about the high exploitation possibility of the flaw in a bulletin on January 7, urging administrators to upgrade their SonicOS firewalls' firmware to address the problem. AnyDesk Exploit Alert: CVE-2024-12754 Enables Privilege Escalation—PoC Available Date: 2025-02-09 Author: Security Online Security researcher Naor Hodorov has recently published an analysis of a vulnerability discovered in AnyDesk, a popular remote administration software. This vulnerability, identified as CVE-2024-12754, could allow a low-privileged user to gain elevated access and potentially take complete control of a system. The vulnerability stems from an elevated arbitrary file read/copy operation performed by the AnyDesk service as NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM. Microsoft Uncovers Sandworm Subgroup's Global Cyber Attacks Spanning 15+ Countries Date: 2025-02-12 Author: The Hacker News A subgroup within the infamous Russian state-sponsored hacking group known as Sandworm has been attributed to a multi-year initial access operation dubbed BadPilot that stretched across the globe. "This subgroup has conducted globally diverse compromises of Internet-facing infrastructure to enable Seashell Blizzard to persist on high-value targets and support tailored network operations," the Microsoft Threat Intelligence team said in a new report shared with The Hacker News ahead of publication. Progress LoadMaster Security Update: Multiple Vulnerabilities Addressed Date: 2025-02-10 Author: Security Online Progress has issued a security advisory addressing multiple vulnerabilities affecting all current LoadMaster releases and the LoadMaster Multi-Tenant (MT) hypervisor. The vulnerabilities, identified as CVE-2024-56131, CVE-2024-56132, CVE-2024-56133, CVE-2024-56134, and CVE-2024-56135, could allow authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary system commands or download sensitive files. ASB-2025.0035 – Microsoft Office products: CVSS (Max): 9.8 CISA has issued an urgent warning about the exploitation of a critical Microsoft Outlook vulnerability (CVE-2024-21413). The flaw enables remote code execution through malicious email links, bypassing Office Protected View. Exploiting this vulnerability allows attackers to open emails in editing mode, posing serious risks to federal agencies. ESB-2025.0830 – Trimble Cityworks: CVSS (Max): 7.2 Trimble has issued an urgent cybersecurity alert concerning a critical vulnerability in its Cityworks asset and work management software. Identified as CVE-2025-0994 with a CVSS score of 7.2, this flaw is actively being exploited, presenting a serious threat to organisations utilising the platform. ESB-2025.1035 – Google Chrome: CVSS (Max): None Google's latest Chrome update addresses multiple vulnerabilities, including the critical CVE-2025-0995, a "Use-After-Free" issue in the V8 JavaScript engine. The update fixes the security flaw that could allow attackers to execute malicious code remotely on vulnerable systems. The Chrome Stable channel has been updated to versions 133.0.6943.98/.99 for Windows and Mac, and 133.0.6943.98 for Linux. ASB-2025.0043 – Microsoft Windows: CVSS (Max): 8.8 February 2025 Patch Tuesday addresses 56 vulnerabilities, including two zero-days, CVE-2025-21418 and CVE-2025-21391, under active exploitation. CVE-2025-21418, affecting the Windows Ancillary Function Driver, allows privilege escalation, while CVE-2025-21391 impacts Windows Storage, potentially leading to file deletion and service disruption. These flaws highlight ongoing risks, including possible exploitation by threat groups like Lazarus. ESB-2025.0876 – Apple iOS 18.3.1 and iPadOS 18.3.1: CVSS (Max): None Apple released emergency security updates for iOS and iPadOS to fix a vulnerability (CVE-2025-24200) that has been exploited in the wild. The issue, described as an authorisation flaw, could allow attackers to disable USB Restricted Mode on a locked device during a cyber-physical attack. This indicates that the attackers need physical access to the device to exploit the vulnerability. Stay safe, stay patched and have a good weekend! The AUSCERT team

Greetings, Member Tokens for the AUSCERT2025 conference are now available! This is your exclusive chance to register early and secure your spot at the conference. Be sure to sign up for our expert-led tutorials to deepen your cybersecurity knowledge. Public registrations open next week so take advantage of this early access while you can! This week, the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) issued an important reminder about securing edge devices—the gateways where data flows in and out of networks. Leaving these network perimeters unprotected is like leaving doors wide open, making it easier for malicious actors to access sensitive data, disrupt operations, and launch further attacks. While many of you have likely addressed this, it’s a timely reminder for those who haven’t. Common edge devices in enterprise networks include routers, firewalls, and VPN concentrators. The ASD provides best practices to ensure these devices don’t become security weak points. Amid ongoing speculation surrounding DeepSeek, the Australian government has officially banned the AI chatbot on government devices due to national security concerns. Acting on intelligence agency advice, the Home Affairs Department Secretary issued a directive on Tuesday prohibiting its use across all federal government systems and devices, citing it as an unacceptable security risk. Officials emphasised that the decision was based on security assessments rather than the program’s Chinese origin. PoC Exploit Released for macOS Kernel Vulnerability CVE-2025-24118 (CVSS 9.8) Date: 2025-02-02 Author: Security Online [AUSCERT has published security bulletins for these Apple updates] A newly discovered race condition in Apple’s macOS kernel (XNU) could allow attackers to escalate privileges, corrupt memory, and potentially achieve kernel-level code execution, according to security researcher Joseph Ravichandran (@0xjprx) of MIT CSAIL. Tracked as CVE-2025-24118 and assigned a CVSS score of 9.8 (Critical), this vulnerability was patched in macOS Sonoma 14.7.3, macOS Sequoia 15.3, and iPadOS 17.7.4. Russian Cybercrime Groups Exploiting 7-Zip Flaw to Bypass Windows MotW Protections Date: 2025-02-04 Author: The Hacker News A recently patched security vulnerability in the 7-Zip archiver tool was exploited in the wild to deliver the SmokeLoader malware. The flaw, CVE-2025-0411 (CVSS score: 7.0), allows remote attackers to circumvent mark-of-the-web (MotW) protections and execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user. It was addressed by 7-Zip in November 2024 with version 24.09. "The vulnerability was actively exploited by Russian cybercrime groups through spear-phishing campaigns, using homoglyph attacks to spoof document extensions and trick users and the Windows Operating System into executing malicious files," Trend Micro security researcher Peter Girnus said. CISA orders agencies to patch Linux kernel bug exploited in attacks Date: 2025-02-05 Author: Bleeping Computer CISA has ordered federal agencies to secure their systems within three weeks against a high-severity Linux kernel flaw actively exploited in attacks. Tracked as CVE-2024-53104, the security bug was first introduced in kernel version 2.6.26 and was patched by Google for Android users on Monday. "There are indications that CVE-2024-53104 may be under limited, targeted exploitation," the Android February 2025 Android security updates warn. Backdoor found in two healthcare patient monitors, linked to IP in China Date: 2025-01-30 Author: Bleeping Computer The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is warning that Contec CMS8000 devices, a widely used healthcare patient monitoring device, include a backdoor that quietly sends patient data to a remote IP address and downloads and executes files on the device. Contec is a China-based company that specializes in healthcare technology, offering a range of medical devices including patient monitoring systems, diagnostic equipment, and laboratory instruments. DeepSeek AI Database Exposed: Over 1 Million Log Lines, Secret Keys Leaked Date: 2025-01-30 Author: The Hacker News Buzzy Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) startup DeepSeek, which has had a meteoric rise in popularity in recent days, left one of its databases exposed on the internet, which could have allowed malicious actors to gain access to sensitive data. The ClickHouse database "allows full control over database operations, including the ability to access internal data," Wiz security researcher Gal Nagli said. The exposure also includes more than a million lines of log streams containing chat history, secret keys, backend details, and other highly sensitive information, such as API Secrets and operational metadata. Hackers spoof Microsoft ADFS login pages to steal credentials Date: 2025-02-05 Author: Bleeping Computer A help desk phishing campaign targets an organization's Microsoft Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS) using spoofed login pages to steal credentials and bypass multi-factor authentication (MFA) protections. The targets of this campaign, according to Abnormal Security that discovered it, are primarily education, healthcare, and government organizations, with the attack targeting at least 150 targets. ESB-2025.0755 – Google Chrome: CVSS (Max): None The Chrome team has released version 133 for Windows, Mac, and Linux, which includes important updates, particularly a set of twelve security fixes. While new features are part of the update, the main focus is on addressing vulnerabilities to ensure a safer browsing experience. The update is being rolled out gradually, with version 133.0.6943.53 for Linux and 133.0.6943.53/54 for Windows and Mac. ESB-2025.0732 – Mozilla Thunderbird: CVSS (Max): 9.8* Multiple vulnerabilities were found in Mozilla products, exposing systems to remote code execution, denial of service, spoofing, and data manipulation. Affected versions include Firefox 135, Firefox ESR 115.20, Thunderbird 135, and others. Users are advised to apply the latest updates to mitigate these security risks. ESB-2025.0709 – Android: CVSS (Max): 9.8* The Android Security Bulletin February 2025 provides information on security vulnerabilities impacting Android devices. The most critical issue is a high-severity vulnerability in the Framework component, which could allow local privilege escalation without requiring additional execution privileges. These issues are resolved by security patch levels of 2025-02-05 or higher. ESB-2025.0799 – Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE): CVSS (Max): 9.9 Cisco released patches for critical vulnerabilities in its Identity Services Engine (ISE), tracked as CVE-2025-20124 and CVE-2025-20125. The flaws, affecting ISE APIs, could allow authenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands, escalate privileges, or tamper with device configurations. Users are urged to update to ISE versions 3.1P10, 3.2P7, or 3.3P4 immediately, as no workarounds are available. Stay safe, stay patched and have a good weekend! The AUSCERT team

Greetings, This week, we released a new episode of our podcast, "Share Today, Save Tomorrow." In Episode 39 – AI, Evolving Threats & the End of Attribution?, Anthony sits down with Michael Hamm from CIRCL (the CERT of Luxembourg and core maintainers of MISP) to explore AI’s impact on cybersecurity, the shifting threat landscape, and whether attribution is becoming impossible. In the second half, Bek speaks with AUSCERT’s General Manager, Ivano Bongiovanni, about what’s ahead for 2025. The recent news of the surge in popularity of the AI application DeepSeek highlights how highly publicised products can create cyber security and privacy risks. 1.Phishing Lures & Malicious Software: The hype surrounding ‘the next big thing’ creates opportunities for threat actors to craft phishing lures and fake, malicious software (mobile apps, browser plugins, etc.) that mimic the original. 2.Unauthorised Adoption: Staff members may rapidly adopt new products and services without seeking advice from cyber security professionals and accidentally disclose confidential information. Without proper oversight, staff may unknowingly enter sensitive company data into AI-powered tools, unaware that the platform may store, process, or even share the information externally. 3.Data Privacy & Compliance Risks: AI applications often require access to large volumes of personal or proprietary data, raising significant privacy and compliance concerns. If organisations fail to verify how an AI tool stores and processes data, they risk violating compliance obligations. To embrace AI while minimising cyber security risks, organisations should: •Educate staff on the risks of AI adoption and ‘free’ software in general. •Implement security policies that provide practical guidance on AI usage within the organisation. •Monitor emerging threats, such as phishing campaigns targeting trending AI applications. •Conduct security assessments as part of third party risk management practices before integrating AI tools into business workflows. By staying proactive and security-conscious, organisations can harness AI’s potential without compromising cyber security or privacy. VMware Warns of High-Risk Blind SQL Injection Bug in Avi Load Balancer Date: 2025-01-28 Author: Security Week [Please also see AUSCERT bulletin: https://portal.auscert.org.au/bulletins/ESB-2025.0601/] Virtualization technology giant VMware on Tuesday issued an urgent alert for a blind SQL injection flaw in its Avi Load Balancer, warning that attackers would exploit the issue to gain broader database access. The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2025-22217, carries a CVSS severity score of 8.6/10. The company described the security defect as an unauthenticated blind SQL Injection vulnerability and urged enterprise admins to apply available patches urgently as there are no pre-patch workarounds. CVE-2025-0065: TeamViewer Patches Privilege Escalation Vulnerability in Windows Clients Date: 2025-01-29 Author: Security Online TeamViewer, a popular remote access and support software, has issued a critical security advisory addressing a vulnerability that could allow attackers to gain elevated privileges on Windows systems. The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2025-0065 and assigned a CVSS score of 7.8 (High), affects TeamViewer Clients for Windows prior to version 15.62. According to the advisory, the flaw stems from “Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in the TeamViewer_service.exe component.” New Zyxel Zero-Day Under Attack, No Patch Available Date: 2025-01-29 Author: Security Week Malware hunters at GreyNoise are reporting active exploitation of a newly discovered zero-day vulnerability in Zyxel CPE devices alongside warnings that there are no patches available from the vendor. GreyNoise, which monitors the internet for malicious activity, described the flaw as a critical command injection issue that opens the door for attackers to gain full system compromise. Content Credentials: Strengthening Multimedia Integrity in the Generative AI Era Date: 2025-01-30 Author: ACSC With the rise of advanced tools that enable the rapid creation, alteration, and distribution of images, videos, and other digital content, there are many ways to manipulate what people see and believe. The ability to manipulate media is not new, but the accessibility, speed, and quality of these modifications today, powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning tools, have reached unprecedented levels and may not be caught by traditional verification methods. GitHub Desktop Vulnerability Risks Credential Leaks via Malicious Remote URLs Date: 2025-01-27 Author: The Hacker News Multiple security vulnerabilities have been disclosed in GitHub Desktop as well as other Git-related projects that, if successfully exploited, could permit an attacker to gain unauthorized access to a user's Git credentials. "Git implements a protocol called Git Credential Protocol to retrieve credentials from the credential helper," GMO Flatt Security researcher Ry0taK, who discovered the flaws, said in an analysis published Sunday. "Because of improper handling of messages, many projects were vulnerable to credential leakage in various ways." ESB-2025.0595 – Rockwell Automation FactoryTalk: CVSS (Max): 9.8 Rockwell Automation released six security advisories addressing critical vulnerabilities. Notable issues include CVE-2025-24479, a local code execution vulnerability, and CVE-2025-24480, a remote code execution vulnerability. Both flaws pose significant security risks and require prompt action. ESB-2025.0576 – Google Chrome: EPSS (Max): None Google has released a patch for CVE-2025-0762, a medium-severity use-after-free memory issue in Chrome’s DevTools function. This vulnerability impacts users on Linux, Mac, and Windows, though Android appears unaffected for now. Users are urged to update to address the security risk. ESB-2025.0560 – Juniper Networks Juniper Secure Analytics: CVSS (Max): 9.8 Multiple critical vulnerabilities were discovered in Juniper Secure Analytics versions prior to 7.5.0 UP10 IF02, identified by various CVEs. Exploiting these flaws could lead to remote code execution, denial of service, data confidentiality breaches, and security policy bypass. Juniper has released security updates as of January 2025, to address these issues. ESB-2025.0549 – Apple iOS and Apple iPadOS: CVSS (Max): 7.8* iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3 address multiple security vulnerabilities across various components, including AirPlay, CoreMedia, and WebKit. These updates fix issues such as privilege escalation, denial-of-service, and unauthorised access, impacting devices like iPhone XS and later, and several iPad models. The update includes fixes for issues and is available via iTunes or Software Update. Stay safe, stay patched and have a good weekend! The AUSCERT team

Greetings, This week, Oracle released patches addressing a staggering 320 security vulnerabilities. Among the most critical issues are those affecting Oracle Communications Applications and Fusion Middleware, both with a CVSS score of 9.8. These vulnerabilities allow attackers to exploit systems over a network without requiring authentication. Make sure you stay on top of updates and patches to protect your systems. A final reminder the Call for Presentations for the AUSCERT2025 conference closes at midnight on 28 January! This is your last chance to submit a proposal. If you're a first-time speaker or would like support with your delivery or presentation, you can opt in to our Speaker Mentoring Program when submitting your proposal. This program provides personalised guidance to help refine your presentation, improve delivery, and build confidence. Our experienced mentors are here to assist you every step of the way. We're also excited to announce that the Tutorials Program for AUSCERT2025 is now live on our website! This year’s program features some returning favourites with new content, as well as fresh perspectives on exciting subjects. Topics include Incident Response Handling, Network Security, Red Teaming, Information Security Innovation, Awareness and Culture, Cyberpsychology, and Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC). Whether you’re looking to deepen your expertise or explore new areas, this year’s program has something for everyone. Head to our website to explore the full list of tutorials, detailed descriptions, and instructor profiles. Registrations will be opening soon, so don’t miss your chance to secure a spot in these highly sought-after sessions! Stay tuned for updates, and we look forward to seeing you at AUSCERT2025! CISA, FBI Update Software Security Recommendations Date: 2025-01-20 Author: Security Week The US cybersecurity agency CISA and the FBI have updated their guidance on risky software security bad practices to include the feedback received during a public comment period. Called Product Security Bad Practices, the guidance provides an overview of the security practices considered exceptionally risky, provides recommendations on addressing them, and urges makers of software for the critical infrastructure to prioritize security. Microsoft Configuration Manager Vulnerability Allows Remote Code Execution – PoC Released Date: 2025-01-20 Author: Cyber Security News [Please see AUSCERT bulletin: https://portal.auscert.org.au/bulletins/ASB-2024.0188.3/] A critical vulnerability, CVE-2024-43468, has been identified in Microsoft Configuration Manager (ConfigMgr), posing a severe security risk to organizations relying on this widely used systems management software. Rated with a CVSS score of 9.8, the vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to execute remote code on affected systems, potentially leading to complete system compromise. Threat Actors Chained Vulnerabilities in Ivanti Cloud Service Applications Date: 2025-01-22 Author: CISA [AUSCERT has shared IoCs via MISP] According to CISA and trusted third-party incident response data, threat actors chained the listed vulnerabilities to gain initial access, conduct remote code execution, obtain credentials, and implant webshells on victim networks. The actors’ primary exploit paths were two vulnerability chains. One exploit chain leveraged CVE-2024-8963 in conjunction with CVE-2024-8190 and CVE-2024-9380 and the other exploited CVE-2024-8963 and CVE-2024-9379. In one confirmed compromise, the actors moved laterally to two servers. Telegram captcha tricks you into running malicious PowerShell scripts Date: 2025-01-22 Author: Bleeping Computer Threat actors on X are exploiting the news around Ross Ulbricht to direct unsuspecting users to a Telegram channel that tricks them into run PowerShell code that infects them with malware. The attack, spotted by vx-underground, is a new variant of the "Click-Fix" tactic that has become very popular among threat actors to distribute malware over the past year. However, instead of being fixes for common errors, this variant pretends to be a captcha or verification system that users must run to join the channel. ESB-2025.0471 – ClamAV: CVSS (Max): 5.3 Cisco has released a patch for heap-based buffer overflow (CVE-2025-20128) affecting Cisco Secure Endpoint Connector. The buffer overflow flaw could disrupt ClamAV scanning on endpoints, and a proof-of-concept exploit is available but has not been observed in the wild. ESB-2025.0463 – Google Chrome: CVSS (Max): None Google has released a critical security update for Chrome, addressing three vulnerabilities, including two high severity issues in the V8 JavaScript engine. CVE-2025-0611 allows object corruption, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution, while CVE-2025-0612 involves out-of-bounds memory access that could crash the browser or enable code execution. Users are urged to update to version 132.0.6834.110/111 immediately. ESB-2025.0467 – Cisco Meeting Management: CVSS (Max): 9.9 Cisco has released updates to address a critical privilege escalation vulnerability (CVE-2025-20156) in its Meeting Management system's REST API. With a CVSS score of 9.9, the flaw could allow authenticated attackers to gain administrator privileges on affected instances. Exploiting the vulnerability involves sending API requests to a specific endpoint, potentially giving attackers control over managed edge nodes. ESB-2025.0470 – GitLab Community Edition (CE) and Enterprise Edition (EE): CVSS (Max): 8.7 GitLab has released security updates (versions 17.8.1, 17.7.3, and 17.6.4) to address multiple vulnerabilities, including a high-severity XSS flaw (CVE-2025-0314). The vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into GitLab instances via improper file rendering, potentially leading to session hijacking or control over affected systems. Users are urged to update to the latest versions to mitigate the risks. ASB-2025.0031 – Oracle Supply Chain: CVSS (Max): 9.9 Oracle’s January 2025 Critical Patch Update addressed several vulnerabilities across its products, including six new patches for Oracle Supply Chain. Notably, CVE-2025-21556 and CVE-2024-23807 are high-severity flaws, allowing unauthenticated attackers to exploit Oracle Agile PLM Framework and Oracle Agile Engineering Data Management remotely. Successful exploitation could result in unauthorised access to critical data or system takeovers. Stay safe, stay patched and have a good weekend! The AUSCERT team

Greetings, This week served as a valuable reminder, as we begin the new year, of the critical importance of maintaining vigilance in cyber security practices. Keeping systems patched and updated is essential because software updates often address newly discovered vulnerabilities that attackers could exploit. Failing to apply these updates can leave systems vulnerable to threats such as malware, ransomware, and unauthorised access. Each patch typically resolves security gaps, enhances functionality, and improves software stability. Therefore, regularly checking for updates and applying patches promptly is crucial for maintaining robust defences in the ever-evolving cyber security landscape. This week, Microsoft rolled out fixes for 160 security flaws across a range of Windows OS and applications, marking the highest number of CVEs addressed in a single month since 2017. This update included patches for three actively exploited zero-day vulnerabilities affecting Windows Hyper-V NT Kernel Integration VSP, remote code execution risks in Microsoft Digest Authentication, Remote Desktop Services, Windows OLE, Microsoft Excel, and Windows RMCAST. Additionally, the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) published an article on "Secure by Design" principles, highlighting common weaknesses in operational technology components. These weaknesses include weak authentication, known software vulnerabilities, limited logging, insecure default settings and passwords, and outdated protocols. Such flaws can be easily exploited by cyber threat actors to gain unauthorised access to systems. Over 660,000 Rsync servers exposed to code execution attacks Date: 2025-01-15 Author: Bleeping Computer Over 660,000 exposed Rsync servers are potentially vulnerable to six new vulnerabilities, including a critical-severity heap-buffer overflow flaw that allows remote code execution on servers. Rsync is an open-source file synchronization and data transferring tool valued for its ability to perform incremental transfers, reducing data transfer times and bandwidth usage. It supports local file systems transfers, remote transfers over secure protocols like SSH, and direct file syncing via its own daemon. Ivanti Patches Critical Vulnerabilities in Endpoint Manager Date: 2025-01-15 Author: Security Week Ivanti on Tuesday announced patches for multiple critical- and high-severity vulnerabilities in Avalanche, Application Control Engine, and Endpoint Manager (EPM). The most severe of the resolved flaws are four absolute path traversal issues in Ivanti EPM that could allow remote, unauthenticated attackers to leak sensitive information. Tracked as CVE-2024-10811, CVE-2024-13161, CVE-2024-13160, and CVE-2024-13159 (CVSS score of 9.8), the bugs impact EMP versions 2024 and 2022 SU6 that have the November 2024 security update installed. Zyxel Urges Patch Application for Privilege Escalation Vulnerability (CVE-2024-12398) Date: 2025-01-13 Author: Security Online Zyxel has issued an advisory for a newly identified security vulnerability, CVE-2024-12398, that affects multiple access points (AP) and security routers. With a CVSS score of 8.8, this vulnerability underscores the urgency for users to apply patches immediately to protect their systems from potential exploitation. The vulnerability is an improper privilege management flaw within the web management interface of certain Zyxel AP and router firmware versions. CVE-2025-22777 (CVSS 9.8): Critical Security Alert for GiveWP Plugin with 100,000 Active Installations Date: 2025-01-11 Author: Security Online [AUSCERT has identified the impacted members (where possible) and contacted them via email] A severe vulnerability has been identified in the GiveWP plugin, one of WordPress’s most widely used tools for online donations and fundraising. Tracked as CVE-2025-22777, the flaw has a CVSS score of 9.8, signaling its criticality. With over 100,000 active installations, the GiveWP plugin powers countless donation platforms worldwide. New macOS Exploit Revealed: PoC for CVE-2024-54498 Breaks Sandbox Security Date: 2025-01-12 Author: Security Online Recently, security researcher @wh1te4ever has revealed a proof of concept (PoC) exploit for CVE-2024-54498, a vulnerability that allows applications to escape the confines of the macOS Sandbox. The PoC, published on GitHub, demonstrates how malicious actors could leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to sensitive user data. The macOS Sandbox is a critical security feature that restricts applications from accessing or modifying files and resources outside their designated area. This safeguard protects users from malicious software that might attempt to steal personal information, corrupt system files, or install malware. Fortinet warns of auth bypass zero-day exploited to hijack firewalls Date: 2025-01-14 Author: Bleeping Computer [AUSCERT has identified the impacted members (where possible) and contacted them via email] [Please see AUSCERT bulletin: https://portal.auscert.org.au/bulletins/ESB-2025.0250/] Attackers are exploiting a new authentication bypass zero-day vulnerability in FortiOS and FortiProxy to hijack Fortinet firewalls and breach enterprise networks. This security flaw (tracked as CVE-2024-55591) impacts FortiOS 7.0.0 through 7.0.16, FortiProxy 7.0.0 through 7.0.19, and FortiProxy 7.2.0 through 7.2.12. Successful exploitation allows remote attackers to gain super-admin privileges by making malicious requests to the Node.js websocket module. ESB-2025.0199 – Google Chrome: CVSS (Max): None Google has issued an urgent warning about 13 security vulnerabilities in Chrome, affecting Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android. This follows a recent exploit discovered in the "Sign In With Google" feature, risking sensitive data theft. Users are advised to update Chrome immediately to address these critical issues. ESB-2025.0224 – Adobe Photoshop: CVSS (Max): 7.8 Adobe has released critical security fixes for over a dozen vulnerabilities across its products, including Photoshop for Windows and macOS. The updates address two high-severity arbitrary code execution flaws in Photoshop, which could be exploited by hackers. Users are urged to apply the updates immediately to mitigate the risks of remote code execution attacks. ASB-2025.0001 – Microsoft Windows: CVSS (Max): 9.8 Microsoft has warned of three exploited zero-day vulnerabilities in the Windows Hyper-V platform, affecting the NT Kernel Integration Virtualisation Service Provider. These flaws could allow attackers to escalate privileges and gain SYSTEM-level access. Microsoft has urged urgent attention but has not provided technical details or indicators of compromise. ESB-2025.0225 – Hitachi Energy FOXMAN-UN: CVSS (Max): 10 ICS-CERT has released an advisory regarding multiple critical vulnerabilities in Hitachi Energy's FOXMAN-UN products, including authentication bypass, argument injection, buffer overflow, improper user management, and more. These flaws could allow remote attackers to exploit the systems, potentially gaining unauthorised access and executing arbitrary code. ESB-2025.0244 – Zoom: CVSS (Max): 8.8 Zoom has issued six security bulletins addressing multiple vulnerabilities across its product ecosystem, impacting Linux, Windows, macOS, and Android. The most critical, CVE-2025-0147, is a high-severity type confusion vulnerability in the Zoom Workplace App for Linux, allowing privilege escalation via network. Users and administrators are urged to apply updates to mitigate potential risks such as data loss, privilege escalation, and DoS attacks. Stay safe, stay patched and have a good weekend! The AUSCERT team

Greetings, As we return to work, holiday scams continue to affect Australians. NAB’s fraud and cyber security experts have outlined emerging scams to watch for in 2025: AI-Driven Scams Criminals use deepfakes—AI-generated impersonations of people—to create realistic voicemails, videos, or social media posts. Be cautious of investment opportunities promoted by high-profile figures and always do your own research. Cryptocurrency Investment Scams Scammers lure victims into fake crypto-trading apps with promises of high returns. While small withdrawals may seem legitimate, larger ones will encounter hidden fees or lockouts. Always verify credentials and research the investment. Bucket List Scams Scammers target people dreaming of international travel or events, using social media to offer false opportunities. Research the seller's profile, activity, and reviews before proceeding. Remote Access Scams Targeting Businesses Scammers impersonate trusted organisations, like banks, convincing businesses to grant remote access to sensitive information. Never give remote access to unexpected callers or emails, and investigate suspicious requests. Phishing Scams Phishing remains common, with criminals impersonating banks, government agencies, or even friends. A new trend targets people with messages about expiring rewards points. Be sceptical of unsolicited contact—delete or hang up if in doubt. Stay safe and vigilant! SonicWall urges admins to patch exploitable SSLVPN bug immediately Date: 2025-01-08 Author: Bleeping Computer SonicWall is emailing customers urging them to upgrade their firewall's SonicOS firmware to patch an authentication bypass vulnerability in SSL VPN and SSH management that is "susceptible to actual exploitation." In an email sent to SonicWall customers and shared on Reddit, the firewall vendor says the patches are available as of yesterday, and all impacted customers should install them immediately to prevent exploitation. Exploit Code Published for Potentially Dangerous Windows LDAP Vulnerability Date: 2025-01-03 Author: Security Week SafeBreach has published proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit code targeting a recently resolved denial-of-service (DoS) vulnerability in Windows Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP). The issue, tracked as CVE-2024-49113 (CVSS score of 7.5), was patched on December 10 along with a critical remote code execution (RCE) flaw in LDAP (CVE-2024-49112, CVSS score of 9.8). Next.js Patches Denial-of-Service Vulnerability (CVE-2024-56332) in Server Actions Date: 2025-01-03 Author: Security Online The popular React framework, Next.js, has addressed a security vulnerability that could have allowed attackers to launch denial-of-service (DoS) attacks against applications using Server Actions. The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2024-56332, was responsibly disclosed by the PackDraw team. Next.js, known for its performance and developer-friendly features, is used by many high-traffic websites and applications. Server Actions, a relatively new feature, enable server-side data fetching and mutations, enhancing application performance and security. Ivanti Warns of New Zero-Day Attacks Hitting Connect Secure Product Date: 2025-01-08 Author: Security Week [AUSCERT identified the impacted members (where possible) and contacted them via email] Embattled IT software vendor Ivanti on Wednesday raised an alarm for a pair of remotely exploitable vulnerabilities in its enterprise-facing products and warned that one of the bugs has already been exploited in the wild. The high-severity vulnerabilities, tagged as CVE-2025-0282 and CVE-2025-0283, allow unauthenticated remote attackers to launch code execution and privilege escalation attacks. “We are aware of a limited number of customers’ Ivanti Connect Secure appliances being exploited by CVE-2025-0282 at the time of disclosure. Bad Tenable plugin updates take down Nessus agents worldwide Date: 2025-01-03 Author: Bleeping Computer Tenable says customers must manually upgrade their software to revive Nessus vulnerability scanner agents taken offline on December 31st due to buggy differential plugin updates. As the cybersecurity company acknowledged in an incident report issued after pausing plugin updates to prevent the issue from impacting even more systems, the agents went offline "for certain users on all sites." This ongoing incident affects systems updated to Nessus Agent versions 10.8.0 and 10.8.1 across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Tenable has since pulled the bad versions and released Nessus Agent version 10.8.2 to fix the issue causing agents to shut down. ESB-2025.0099 – GitLab Community Edition (CE) and Enterprise Edition (EE): CVSS (Max): 9.9* GitLab has released patch updates (versions 17.7.1, 17.6.3, 17.5.5) to fix security vulnerabilities in its import functionality and core features. The vulnerabilities (CVE-2024-5655, CVE-2024-6385, CVE-2024-6678, CVE-2024-8970) could allow system exploitation. The user contribution mapping functionality has been redesigned to resolve these issues. ESB-2025.0103 – Expedition Migration Tool: CVSS (Max): 7.8 Palo Alto Networks released a security advisory for vulnerabilities in its Expedition migration tool, which could expose sensitive data and allow unauthorised actions. The tool helps organisations transition to Palo Alto's next-gen firewall platform. Identified vulnerabilities could lead to unauthorised access to usernames, passwords, and device configurations. ESB-2025.0039 – Android: CVSS (Max): 9.8* Android's first security update of the year addresses several critical and high-severity vulnerabilities affecting many devices. The update highlights five critical remote code execution (RCE) flaws in Android's core system components, potentially allowing attackers to execute code without extra privileges. These vulnerabilities pose significant security risks to affected devices. ESB-2025.0057 – ABB ASPECT-Enterprise, NEXUS, and MATRIX series: CVSS (Max): 10 Multiple vulnerabilities in ABB ASPECT-Enterprise, NEXUS, and MATRIX series products have been reported, which could enable an attacker to disrupt operations or execute remote code. The vendor has identified the specific workarounds and mitigations users can apply to reduce risks. ESB-2025.0056 – Mozilla Foundation Products: CVSS (Max): None Multiple vulnerabilities were identified in Mozilla Products. A remote attacker could exploit some of these vulnerabilities to trigger elevation of privilege, security restriction bypass, denial of service condition, remote code execution and spoofing on the targeted system. ESB-2025.0048 – Google Chrome: CVSS (Max): None Google released a critical security update for Chrome to fix a high-severity "Type Confusion" vulnerability in its V8 JavaScript engine. The flaw, tracked as CVE-2025-0291, could allow attackers to execute malicious code and compromise user systems. The update is being rolled out for Windows, Mac, and Linux users. Stay safe, stay patched and have a good weekend! The AUSCERT team

Greetings, As we step into 2025, we are presented with both challenges and opportunities. Now is the perfect time to set clear objectives for ourselves and our organisations, laying the groundwork for the year ahead. It’s also an ideal opportunity to strengthen cyber hygiene and invest in training to further develop our individual and collective expertise. The start of this new year marks a chapter filled with potential for growth, progress, and innovation. We are ready to embrace the challenges ahead, learn from past experiences, and move forward into a period of development and success. As cyber attacks continue to rise, it is no longer a question of if, but when. To ensure organisations are properly prepared, it’s crucial to test the readiness of teams, policies, and strategies. Subsequently, tabletop exercises and maturity assessments should be prioritised as vital components of a robust cyber security strategy. Tabletop exercises simulate realistic cyber attack scenarios, enabling teams to evaluate their response plans, improve coordination, and identify vulnerabilities in their incident response processes. These exercises foster collaboration across departments, helping ensure that all stakeholders are ready to respond quickly and effectively to emerging threats. In addition, maturity assessments provide organisations with a comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of their cyber security frameworks. These assessments help identify gaps in policies, processes, and technologies while benchmarking progress against industry standards. By regularly conducting both tabletop exercises and maturity assessments, organisations can maintain a resilient, adaptive cyber security posture, prepared to defend against increasingly sophisticated threats. Interested in tabletop exercises or maturity assessments? Reach out to us for a quote today! New "DoubleClickjacking" Exploit Bypasses Clickjacking Protections on Major Websites Date: 2025-01-01 Author: The Hacker News Threat hunters have disclosed a new "widespread timing-based vulnerability class" that leverages a double-click sequence to facilitate clickjacking attacks and account takeovers in almost all major websites. The technique has been codenamed DoubleClickjacking by security researcher Paulos Yibelo. New details reveal how hackers hijacked 35 Google Chrome extensions Date: 2024-12-31 Author: Bleeping Computer New details have emerged about a phishing campaign targeting Chrome browser extension developers that led to the compromise of at least thirty-five extensions to inject data-stealing code, including those from cybersecurity firm Cyberhaven. Although initial reports focused on Cyberhaven's security-focused extension, subsequent investigations revealed that the same code had been injected into at least 35 extensions collectively used by roughly 2,600,000 people. DrayTek Devices Vulnerability Let Attackers Arbitrary Commands Remotely Date: 2025-01-01 Author: GB Hackers The DrayTek Gateway devices, more specifically the Vigor2960 and Vigor300B models, are susceptible to a critical command injection vulnerability. Exploitable via the /cgi-bin/mainfunction.cgi/apmcfgupload endpoint, attackers can inject arbitrary commands into the system by manipulating the session parameter within a crafted HTTP request. FortiGuard Labs Links New EC2 Grouper Hackers to AWS Credential Exploits Date: 2025-01-01 Author: Hack Read According to the latest research from Fortinet’s FortiGuard Labs Threat Research team, this group is characterized by its consistent use of AWS tools and a unique security group naming convention in its attacks. Researchers tracked this actor in several dozen customer environments due to similar user agents and security group naming conventions. ESB-2025.0025 – IBM Db2 OpenSSH could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the system, caused by a signal handler race condition. By sending a specially crafted request, an attacker could exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with root privileges on glibc-based Linux systems. ESB-2025.0018 – python-django It was discovered that there was a potential Denial of Service (DoS) vulnerability, in Django, a popular Python-based web development framework. ESB-2025.0010 – gst-plugins-good1.0 Multiple vulnerabilities were discovered in plugins for the GStreamer media framework and its codecs and demuxers, which may result in denial of service or potentially executing arbitrary code if a malformed media file is opened. Stay safe, stay patched and have a good weekend! The AUSCERT team

Greetings, As the year draws to a close, we take pride in reflecting on the remarkable achievements of AUSCERT in 2024. This year has been defined by innovation, growth, and collaboration, marked by significant milestones that have further enhanced the value we deliver to our members. AUSCERT has strengthened its reputation as a trusted ally in cyber security by introducing transformative initiatives, enhancing existing services, and fostering deeper connections within the global cyber security community. These accomplishments demonstrate our unwavering commitment to equipping our members with the tools, knowledge, and support they need to confidently navigate the ever-evolving cyber security landscape. One of the standout moments of the year was the successful delivery of AUSCERT2024, which welcomed over 900 delegates—a record-breaking achievement! The conference featured ground-breaking workshops, insightful presentations, and key initiatives designed to strengthen and advance the cyber security industry. For those who missed conference presentations or wish to revisit them, recordings are available on our YouTube Channel. This year, we celebrated a major milestone with the launch of our rebrand—a refreshed identity that proudly reflects our new position as an “Ally in Cyber Security.” As part of this transformation, we unveiled an updated member portal featuring enhanced functionality designed to provide a more seamless and improved experience for our members. Our commitment to continuous improvement and service excellence remains unwavering. We invite our members to share their thoughts and ideas for future enhancements. Your feedback is invaluable—please submit your suggestions through the feedback feature in the member portal. Together, we can shape the future of our services to better meet your needs. Additionally, we expanded our offerings to include Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) services. These encompass maturity assessments and tabletop exercises tailored to help our members navigate the complexities of GRC while aligning cyber security practices with their business objectives. Our proactive approach identifies and provides advice to address cyber security gaps, mitigate risks, and enhance organisational resilience. Through close collaboration, we aim to elevate security and compliance standards across your organisation. Looking ahead to 2025, we are excited to build on this momentum and continue delivering exceptional value to our members. Together, we will achieve even greater success in the coming year. CVE-2024-51479: Next.js Authorization Bypass Vulnerability Affects Millions of Developers Date: 2024-12-18 Author: Security Online [AUSCERT has identified the impacted members (where possible) and contacted them via email] A recently disclosed security vulnerability in Next.js, a popular React framework used by millions of developers worldwide, could have allowed unauthorized access to sensitive application data. The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2024-51479 and assigned a CVSS score of 7.5, was discovered by tyage from GMO Cybersecurity by IERAE. It affects Next.js versions 9.5.5 through 14.2.14. Clop is back to wreak havoc via vulnerable file-transfer software Date: 2024-12-17 Author: CyberScoop In what we can assure you is a new cybersecurity incident despite sounding incredibly similar to incidents of past notoriety: threat actors tied to a notorious ransomware and extortion group have exploited file-transfer software to carry out attacks. Clop has claimed responsibility for attacks tied to vulnerabilities in software made by Cleo, an Illinois-based IT company that sells various types of enterprise software. The vulnerabilities, which affected Cleo’s LexiCom, VLTrader, and Harmony products, have led to worries that sensitive data across various industries could be swiped by the group in a repeat of some of the most damaging security incidents of the past few years. CISA confirms critical Cleo bug exploitation in ransomware attacks Date: 2024-12-13 Author: Bleeping Computer CISA confirmed today that a critical security vulnerability in Cleo Harmony, VLTrader, and LexiCom file transfer software is being exploited in ransomware attacks. This flaw (tracked as CVE-2024-50623 and impacting all versions before version 5.8.0.21) enables unauthenticated attackers to gain remote code execution on vulnerable servers exposed online. Cleo released security updates to fix it in October and warned all customers to "immediately upgrade instances" to additional potential attack vectors. Citrix Warns of Password Spraying Attacks Targeting NetScaler Appliances Date: 2024-12-16 Author: Security Week [AUSCERT has identified the impacted members (where possible) and contacted them via email] Citrix has issued a fresh warning on password spraying attacks targeting NetScaler and NetScaler Gateway appliances deployed by organizations worldwide. The attacks appear to be related to a broad campaign that was initially detailed in April 2024, targeting VPN and SSH services from Cisco, CheckPoint, Fortinet, SonicWall, and other organizations to brute-force them. Cisco patched a vulnerability related to these attacks in early October, and later that month Microsoft warned of password spray attacks targeting routers from multiple vendors. Curl Vulnerability Let Attackers Access Sensitive Information Date: 2024-12-15 Author: Cyber Security News [Please sere AUSCERT bulletin: https://portal.auscert.org.au/bulletins/ESB-2024.8235/] A critical security flaw has been discovered in the popular data transfer tool Curl, potentially allowing attackers to access sensitive information. The vulnerability, identified as CVE-2024-11053, affects curl versions 6.5 through 8.11.0 and could lead to the exposure of passwords to unauthorized parties. Windows kernel bug now exploited in attacks to gain SYSTEM privileges Date: 2024-12-16 Author: Bleeping Computer [Please see AUSCERT bulletins: https://portal.auscert.org.au/bulletins/ASB-2024.0118/, https://portal.auscert.org.au/bulletins/ASB-2024.0113/, https://portal.auscert.org.au/bulletins/ESB-2024.1544/] [AUSCERT has also identified the impacted members (where possible) for the Improper Access Control Vulnerability in Adobe ColdFusion and has contacted them via email] CISA has warned U.S. federal agencies to secure their systems against ongoing attacks targeting a high-severity Windows kernel vulnerability. Tracked as CVE-2024-35250, this security flaw is due to an untrusted pointer dereference weakness that allows local attackers to gain SYSTEM privileges in low-complexity attacks that don't require user interaction. ESB-2024.8323 – Google Chrome CVSS (Max): None Google has rolled out an important update for its Chrome browser, fixing five security vulnerabilities, some of which are classified as “High” severity. Users are strongly advised to upgrade to the latest Stable channel version (131.0.6778.204/.205 for Windows and Mac, 131.0.6778.204 for Linux) at their earliest convenience. The update addresses various issues, with special attention given to the V8 JavaScript engine. ESB-2024.8334 – FortiWLM CVSS (Max): 9.6 A critical vulnerability in FortiWLM, enables unauthenticated attackers to access sensitive files. With a CVSS score of 9.6, this flaw arises from a relative path traversal issue, allowing attackers to obtain unauthorized access to confidential data. ESB-2024.8264 – Apache Tomcat CVSS (Max): 9.8 The Apache Software Foundation has released a patch to address a critical vulnerability in Apache Tomcat. This flaw enables a malicious actor to upload harmful files disguised as legitimate ones, potentially leading to remote code execution (RCE). ESB-2024.8163 – Apache Struts CVSS (Max): 9.5 Researchers have alerted that threat actors are attempting to exploit the vulnerability CVE-2024-53677 in Apache Struts. A remote attacker could leverage this flaw to upload malicious files, potentially resulting in arbitrary code execution. Stay safe, stay patched and have a good weekend! The AUSCERT team

Greetings, This week, we were reminded of the critical importance of strong operational security (OPSEC) in protecting sensitive information, as poor security practices can not only compromise data but also expose criminal activities and lead to arrests. A 19-year-old Californian resident was recently arrested for an alleged role in cyber crimes committed by the Scattered Spider group. According to court documents released this week, investigators were able to identify the suspect by linking together online accounts, IP and physical addresses, and the use of a money laundering service that was operated by the FBI. In a similar case, alleged cyber criminals who had stolen source code, credentials, and other sensitive data were uncovered due to their own poor cyber security practices. Security researchers discovered more than 2 terabytes of stolen data as a result of overly permissive access control settings on their AWS S3 bucket. These incidents underscore the need for vigilance and robust security practices—not only for those seeking to protect against cyber threats but ironically also for those who perpetrate them. Mitel MiCollab zero-day flaw gets proof-of-concept exploit Date: 2024-12-05 Author: Bleeping Computer [AUSCERT identified the impacted members (where possible) and contacted them via email] Researchers have uncovered an arbitrary file read zero-day in the Mitel MiCollab collaboration platform, allowing attackers to access files on a server's filesystem. Mitel MiCollab is an enterprise collaboration platform that consolidates various communication tools into a single application, offering voice and video calling, messaging, presence information, audio conferencing, mobility support, and team collaboration functionalities. Fully patched Cleo products under renewed 'zero-day-ish' mass attack Date: 2024-12-10 Author: The Register Researchers at security shop Huntress are seeing mass exploitation of a vulnerability affecting three Cleo file management products, even on patched systems. Cleo issued patches for CVE-2024-50623, an unauthenticated remote code execution (RCE) bug affecting Harmony, VLTrader, and LexiCom running version 5.8.0.21 – marketed as secure file integration and transfer products – back in October. The situation was described by Huntress on Reddit as "zero-day-ish." It's a zero-day in the sense that it involves the novel exploit of a vulnerability, but "ish" because that vulnerability was already addressed, or so Cleo thought. SonicWall Patches 6 Vulnerabilities in Secure Access Gateway Date: 2024-12-06 Author: Security Week [AUSCERT identified the impacted members (where possible) and contacted them via email] SonicWall this week announced patches for multiple vulnerabilities in the SMA100 SSL-VPN secure access gateway, including high-severity flaws leading to remote code execution (RCE). The most severe of these issues are two buffer overflow bugs affecting the web management interface and a library loaded by the Apache web server. Django Releases Patches for CVE-2024-53907 and CVE-2024-53908 to Mitigate DoS and SQLi Threats Date: 2024-12-05 Author: Security Online [AUSCERT identified the impacted members (where possible) and contacted them via email] The Django team has recently announced the release of Django 5.1.4, Django 5.0.10, and Django 4.2.17 to address two security vulnerabilities. All users are strongly encouraged to upgrade their Django installations as soon as possible. CVE-2024-53907: Potential Denial-of-Service Attack The first vulnerability, identified as CVE-2024-53907, involves a potential denial-of-service (DoS) vulnerability in the django.utils.html.strip_tags() method and striptags template filter. Microsoft NTLM Zero-Day to Remain Unpatched Until April Date: 2024-12-10 Author: Dark Reading [Please see AUSCERT advisory: https://portal.auscert.org.au/bulletins/ASB-2024.0236/ ] The second zero-day vulnerability found in Windows NTLM in the past two months paves the way for relay attacks and credential theft. Microsoft has no patch, but released updated NTLM cyberattack mitigation advice. QNAP Patches Vulnerabilities Exploited at Pwn2Own Date: 2024-12-09 Author: Security Week Taiwan-based QNAP Systems over the weekend announced patches for multiple QTS and QuTS Hero vulnerabilities demonstrated at the Pwn2Own Ireland 2024 hacking contest. At Pwn2Own, participants earned tens of thousands of dollars for QNAP product exploits, and one entry even earned white hat hackers $100,000, but it involved chaining not only QNAP but also TrueNAS device vulnerabilities. ASB-2024.0236 – Windows Workstation and Server AUSCERT issued an advisory warning its members about the zero-day vulnerability in Windows NTLM. Microsoft has not yet released a patch but has provided new guidance to organisations on how to mitigate NTLM relay attacks. ESB-2024.8086 – Atlassian Products: CVSS (Max): 8.1 Atlassian has released fixes for 10 high-severity vulnerabilities affecting Bamboo, Bitbucket, and Confluence Data Center and Server products. The patches address issues in third-party dependencies like Apache, AWS SDK, and Hazelcast. Users are urged to update their instances. ASB-2024.0233 – Microsoft Windows: CVSS (Max): 9.8 Microsoft has issued security updates for 59 vulnerabilities across Windows 10, 11, and Server, with Windows 7 and 8.1 no longer receiving support. CVE-2024-49138, a high-risk buffer overflow vulnerability in the shared protocol file system driver, is actively being targeted, allowing attackers to gain elevated system privileges. Users are advised to update to Windows 10 22H2 or Windows 11 23H2 for continued security. ESB-2024.8056 – Google Chrome: CVSS (Max): None Google has released a Chrome update (version 131.0.6778.139/140) for Windows, Mac, and Linux, addressing several security vulnerabilities, including two rated "High" severity. Notably, CVE-2024-12381 (Type Confusion in V8) and CVE-2024-12382 (Use After Free in Translate) were fixed, reducing risks of arbitrary code execution and system control. ESB-2024.8062 – Adobe Connect: CVSS (Max): 9.3 Adobe has released a security update for Adobe Connect, addressing critical, important, and moderate vulnerabilities that could lead to arbitrary code execution, privilege escalation, and security feature bypass. Affected versions include Adobe Connect 12.6 and earlier, as well as 11.4.7 and earlier. The update, rated priority 3, is available for all platforms, and users are urged to upgrade to Adobe Connect 12.7 or 11.4.9. Stay safe, stay patched and have a good weekend! The AUSCERT team

Greetings, The festive season is a time for celebration, but it’s also a period when cyber criminals ramp up their efforts to exploit busy, distracted, or unsuspecting individuals. As online shopping surges during Christmas, it’s essential to stay vigilant and take proactive steps to safeguard your personal information and devices. As cyber security professionals, it’s critical to not only apply best practices personally but also reinforce awareness among less tech-savvy colleagues, friends, and family members. Phishing scams, fake e-commerce promotions, and delivery fraud are rampant during this period. Scammers create convincing fake websites, pay for top placement in search results, and set up fraudulent stores on social media to deceive consumers. Common tactics include fake travel deals, parcel delivery scams, and offers that seem too good to be true—designed to steal payments or personal data. To protect yourself, always verify URLs for accuracy and security, avoid clicking on links in emails or messages, and download apps only from trusted sources. Use secure payment methods with consumer protections like PayPal or credit cards, and consider a low-limit credit card for online transactions. Avoid saving payment details in online accounts, and the more risky payment methods like bank transfers or cryptocurrencies. Strengthen account and device security with unique passwords, multi-factor authentication, and regular software updates. Stay alert to parcel scams, verifying any messages even if expecting a delivery. If a deal seems too good to be true, access the retailer’s website directly to confirm its legitimacy. Remember these three steps to avoid scams: Stop—Don’t rush into action; Check—Verify the offer through official channels or reviews; and Report—inform your bank and update passwords if you suspect a scam. By staying proactive, you can enjoy a safe and secure holiday season for all! CVE-2024-42330 (CVSS 9.1): Zabbix Patches Critical Remote Code Execution Vulnerability Date: 2024-11-28 Author: Security Online [AUSCERT has identified the impacted members (where possible) and contacted them via email] Popular open-source monitoring tool Zabbix has released urgent security updates to address a critical vulnerability that could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems. The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2024-42330 and assigned a CVSS score of 9.1, affects multiple versions of Zabbix 6.0, 6.4, and 7.0. Zabbix is widely used by organizations of all sizes to monitor their IT infrastructure, including networks, servers, and cloud services. RomCom exploits Firefox and Windows zero days in the wild Date: 2024-11-26 Author: We Live Security [Please see the AUSCERT bulletin published in October for CVE-2024-9680: https://portal.auscert.org.au/bulletins/ESB-2024.6620/] ESET Research details the analysis of a previously unknown vulnerability in Mozilla products exploited in the wild and another previously unknown Microsoft Windows vulnerability, combined in a zero-click exploit. ESET researchers discovered a previously unknown vulnerability in Mozilla products, exploited in the wild by Russia-aligned group RomCom. This is at least the second time that RomCom has been caught exploiting a significant zero-day vulnerability in the wild, after the abuse of CVE-2023-36884 via Microsoft Word in June 2023. CISA Warns of Zyxel Firewall Vulnerability Exploited in Attacks Date: 2024-12-04 Author: Security Week The US cybersecurity agency CISA on Tuesday warned that a path traversal vulnerability in multiple Zyxel firewall appliances has been exploited in the wild. The issue, tracked as CVE-2024-11667 (CVSS score of 7.5), is a high-severity flaw affecting the web management interface of Zyxel ATP, USG FLEX, and USG20(W)-VPN series devices. Veeam warns of critical RCE bug in Service Provider Console Date: 2024-12-03 Author: Bleeping Computer ​Veeam released security updates today to address two Service Provider Console (VSPC) vulnerabilities, including a critical remote code execution (RCE) discovered during internal testing. VSPC, described by the company as a remote-managed BaaS (Backend as a Service) and DRaaS (Disaster Recovery as a Service) platform, is used by service providers to monitor the health and security of customer backups, as well as manage their Veeam-protected virtual, Microsoft 365, and public cloud workloads. Exploit released for critical WhatsUp Gold RCE flaw, patch now Date: 2024-12-03 Author: Bleeping Computer A proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit for a critical-severity remote code execution flaw in Progress WhatsUp Gold has been published, making it critical to install the latest security updates as soon as possible. The flaw is tracked as CVE-2024-8785 (CVSS v3.1 score: 9.8) and was discovered by Tenable in mid-August 2024. It exists in the NmAPI.exe process in WhatsUp Gold versions from 2023.1.0 and before 24.0.1. ESB-2024.7833 – Google Chrome: CVSS (Max): 8.8 Google has released a security update for Chrome to fix a high-severity "type confusion" vulnerability (CVE-2024-12053) in the V8 JavaScript engine. This flaw could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code, bypassing Chrome’s sandbox and compromising system security. The issue was promptly patched in Chrome version 131.0.6778.108/.109 for Windows, Mac, and Linux. ESB-2024.7802 – Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance WebVPN: CVSS (Max): 6.1 Cisco warns that the decade-old ASA vulnerability (CVE-2014-2120) is being actively exploited in attacks. This flaw, found in the WebVPN login page of Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) software, allows unauthenticated remote attackers to conduct cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks. Cisco urges customers to upgrade to fixed software versions following new exploitation attempts detected in November 2024. ESB-2024.7832 – Siemens RUGGEDCOM APE1808: CVSS (Max): 10.0 Siemens products are affected by multiple vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities could allow attackers to gain unauthorised access, cause denial-of-service conditions, or escalate privileges. Affected devices should be updated using Siemens patches, and access to the management interface should be limited to trusted IP addresses. CISA recommends protective measures to reduce exploitation risks, including securing network access and following industrial security guidelines. Additionally, users should be vigilant against social engineering attacks. ESB-2024.7785 – Google Android: CVSS (Max): 8.4* The Android Security Bulletin highlights critical vulnerabilities, with the most severe being a high-risk flaw in the System component, potentially allowing remote code execution without requiring additional privileges. The vulnerability could severely impact devices if platform and service mitigations are bypassed or disabled. Security patch levels of 2024-12-05 or later address all issues. Android partners were notified in advance, and source code patches have been released in the AOSP repository. Stay safe, stay patched and have a good weekend! The AUSCERT team

Greetings, This week, we had the exciting opportunity to reconnect with our Melbourne community at an AUSCERT member meetup. It was an inspiring space for collaboration, where participants shared experiences, discussed challenges in a supportive environment. Coming together in person highlighted the passion, innovation, and drive that are the heart of our community, reminding us of the importance of meaningful interactions as we work towards our common goals. Following the meet up, the AUSCERT team attended the AISA Melbourne CyberCon where our General Manager, Ivano Bongiovanni, delivered three engaging sessions. These focused on the future of cyber security, the vital role of data governance, and decision-making in the age of AI. It was a great opportunity to reconnect with the AISA community and engage with the wider cyber security industry in Melbourne during this event! This week the Australian government has passed its first standalone Cyber Security Act as part of the 2023–2030 Cyber Security Strategy. This landmark legislation aims to strengthen the nation's cyber resilience with provisions such as enhanced incident reporting, mandatory smart device security standards, and the creation of a Cyber Incident Review Board. A notable feature is the "limited use" obligation, which safeguards organisations that share data during cyber incidents, promoting greater collaboration between government and industry. The Act also updates critical infrastructure protections and broadens government powers to address emerging cyber threats. Key elements of the legislative package include: Mandatory Ransomware Payment Reporting: Businesses with annual turnovers above AUD 3 million must disclose ransomware payments within a set timeframe, enhancing transparency and response efforts. IoT Security Standards: New regulations bring Australian IoT devices, like home security cameras and smart appliances, in line with international security standards to reduce vulnerabilities. Enhanced Protections for Data and Critical Infrastructure: Updates to laws such as the Privacy Act 1988 and the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018 aim to fortify the security of critical infrastructure and improve data management. Liability Protections: The new rules offer [businesses "no-fault" protections when reporting cyber incidents, encouraging greater transparency without the fear of legal consequences. These reforms represent a major step toward building a more secure digital environment across Australia. QNAP addresses critical flaws across NAS, router software Date: 2024-11-25 Author: Bleeping Computer QNAP has released security bulletins over the weekend, which address multiple vulnerabilities, including three critical severity flaws that users should address as soon as possible. Starting with QNAP Notes Station 3, a note-taking and collaboration application used in the firm's NAS systems, the following two vulnerabilities impact it: CVE-2024-38643 – Missing authentication for critical functions could allow remote attackers to gain unauthorized access and execute specific system functions. The lack of proper authentication mechanisms makes it possible for attackers to exploit this flaw without prior credentials, leading to potential system compromise. (CVSS v4 score: 9.3, "critical") CVE-2024-38645 – Server-side request forgery (SSRF) vulnerability that could enable remote attackers with authentication credentials to send crafted requests that manipulate server-side behavior, potentially exposing sensitive application data. CISA Urges Agencies to Patch Critical "Array Networks" Flaw Amid Active Attacks Date: 2024-11-26 Author: The Hacker News The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) on Monday added a now-patched critical security flaw impacting Array Networks AG and vxAG secure access gateways to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog following reports of active exploitation in the wild. The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2023-28461 (CVSS score: 9.8), concerns a case of missing authentication that could be exploited to achieve arbitrary code execution remotely. Fixes (version 9.4.0.484) for the security shortcoming were released by the network hardware vendor in March 2023. Cyber security bill passes parliament Date: 2024-11-26 Author: iTnews Australia’s first cyber security legislation has been passed by parliament after being approved by the senate yesterday. The package of legislation was introduced last month as part of the government’s 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy. Now, businesses that pay ransomware hackers will be compelled to report it to the government. There is also a ‘limited use’ obligation for the National Cyber Security Coordinator and the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) to share information from a victim during an incident. macOS Vulnerability (CVE-2023-32428) Grants Root Access, PoC Published Date: 2024-11-26 Author: Security Online Security researcher Gergely Kalman has detailed a high-severity vulnerability in Apple’s MallocStackLogging framework that could allow attackers to gain local privilege escalation (LPE) on macOS systems. The flaw, designated CVE-2023-32428 with a CVSS score of 7.8, demonstrates how seemingly helpful developer tools can be manipulated to bypass security measures and compromise high-privilege operations. CVE-2024-8114: GitLab Vulnerability Allows Privilege Escalation Date: 2024-11-26 Author: Security Online GitLab has released critical security updates to address multiple vulnerabilities affecting its Community Edition (CE) and Enterprise Edition (EE) products. Versions 17.6.1, 17.5.3, and 17.4.5 contain important bug and security fixes, including patches for a high severity privilege escalation vulnerability. “We strongly recommend that all installations running a version affected by the issues described below are upgraded to the latest version as soon as possible,” GitLab said in its security advisory. ESB-2024.7747 – GitLab Community Edition (CE) and Enterprise Edition (EE) GitLab has released critical security updates to address multiple vulnerabilities affecting its Community Edition (CE) and Enterprise Edition (EE) products. ESB-2024.7745 – GlobalProtect App An insufficient certification validation issue in the Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect app enables attackers to connect the GlobalProtect app to arbitrary servers. ESB-2024.7714 – OpenSSL Splunk remedied common vulnerabilities and exposures (CVEs) in Third Party Packages in Python for Scientific Computing versions 3.2.2, 4.2.2 and higher. ESB-2024.7561.2 – Palo Alto PAN-OS An authentication bypass in Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS software enables an unauthenticated attacker with network access to the management web interface to gain PAN-OS administrator privileges to perform administrative actions, tamper with the configuration, or exploit other authenticated privilege escalation vulnerabilities. Stay safe, stay patched and have a good weekend! The AUSCERT team