The Check Point Research 1st December Threat Intelligence Report provides a comprehensive overview of recent cyber threats and vulnerabilities impacting various sectors worldwide. A notable incident involves OpenAI suffering a data breach through its third-party analytics provider Mixpanel, exposing limited client metadata such as names, emails, approximate locations, and device/browser information, though no sensitive credentials or API keys were compromised. In the education sector, Dartmouth College was breached by the Cl0p ransomware gang exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities in Oracle E-Business Suite, resulting in theft of personal and financial data; other institutions like Harvard University were also targeted. Crisis24's OnSolve CodeRED emergency alert platform was disrupted by the INC ransomware gang, leaking sensitive user data including clear-text passwords, affecting US public safety agencies. The Russian postal operator Donbas Post experienced a destructive cyberattack attributed to the Ukrainian Cyber Alliance, causing widespread operational disruption. The French Football Federation faced unauthorized access to administrative systems, exposing personal data of club members. On the vulnerability front, the ShadowV2 Mirai-based botnet exploits multiple command injection flaws in IoT devices (routers, NAS, DVRs) to conduct large-scale DDoS attacks. A critical authentication bypass vulnerability (CVE-2025-59366) in ASUS routers allows remote code execution without user interaction. The Shai-Hulud 2.0 campaign compromises npm packages and GitHub repositories via malicious preinstall scripts, stealing developer and cloud credentials and enabling worm-like propagation. Additionally, the GhostAd Android adware campaign abuses legitimate app permissions to persistently run background ads and exfiltrate corporate documents. The report also discusses emerging cyber risks for 2026, including AI-driven attacks, quantum computing threats, and supply chain vulnerabilities. Protection is available through Check Point IPS, Threat Emulation, and Harmony Endpoint solutions against many outlined threats.

European organizations could face significant impacts from these threats across multiple sectors. The supply chain compromise of npm packages and GitHub repositories threatens software development and cloud environments widely used in Europe, potentially leading to credential theft, unauthorized access, and lateral movement within corporate networks. The ShadowV2 botnet targeting IoT devices poses risks to critical infrastructure, telecommunications, and smart city deployments prevalent in Europe, potentially causing service disruptions via DDoS attacks. The ASUS router vulnerability could allow attackers to gain control over network devices in homes and enterprises, undermining network integrity and availability. Ransomware campaigns like those by Cl0p and INC, while currently focused on US targets, demonstrate tactics that could be replicated against European universities, public safety agencies, and financial institutions, risking data breaches, operational disruption, and extortion. The breach of the French Football Federation highlights risks to sports organizations and their members’ personal data, with potential reputational damage and regulatory consequences under GDPR. Overall, these threats could lead to confidentiality breaches, operational downtime, financial losses, and erosion of trust in affected organizations. The diversity of attack vectors underscores the need for comprehensive security postures in Europe.

European organizations should implement a multi-layered defense strategy tailored to the specific threats identified. For supply chain risks like Shai-Hulud 2.0, enforce strict code review, dependency auditing, and implement runtime detection of anomalous behaviors in development environments; consider adopting software bill of materials (SBOM) practices and zero-trust principles for developer credentials and cloud access. To mitigate ShadowV2 botnet risks, promptly patch IoT devices with vendor updates, disable unnecessary services, segment IoT networks from critical infrastructure, and deploy network-based intrusion prevention systems capable of detecting command injection attempts. For ASUS router vulnerabilities, ensure firmware is updated to the latest patched versions and disable AiCloud features if not required. Ransomware preparedness should include regular offline backups, network segmentation, least privilege access controls, and continuous monitoring for indicators of compromise related to Cl0p and INC ransomware tactics. Organizations should also conduct phishing awareness training to reduce social engineering risks associated with supply chain and ransomware attacks. For breaches like those affecting the French Football Federation, enforce strong access controls, multi-factor authentication, and regular audits of administrative systems. Finally, maintain up-to-date endpoint protection solutions such as Check Point IPS and Threat Emulation to detect and block known threats.