The KRVTZ IDS alerts dated 2026-01-20 detail observed network reconnaissance activities identified through multiple indicators of compromise (IOCs). Key indicators include IP addresses associated with exploit attempts against Fortigate VPN appliances via repeated GET requests to the /remote/logincheck endpoint, exploiting CVE-2023-27997, a known vulnerability allowing unauthorized access or denial of service. Additional indicators show attempts to exploit a Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability in phpMyAdmin's setup.php, which could allow attackers to read arbitrary files or execute code. Other IPs are linked to scanning activities using user-agent strings mimicking legitimate crawlers such as Naver Webcrawler and Censys HTTP User-Agent Scanner, indicating automated reconnaissance tools. The alerts are tagged as reconnaissance and information-gathering, suggesting these are preliminary steps by attackers to identify vulnerable targets. No patches are indicated as newly available in this alert, and no active exploitation campaigns or ransomware use have been reported. The absence of CVE IDs for some indicators and the low severity rating reflect the current limited impact but highlight ongoing scanning efforts. The data originates from the CIRCL OSINT feed, a reputable source for threat intelligence, and is classified as unsupervised automated detection. This intelligence is critical for defenders to recognize early-stage attack behaviors and prepare defenses accordingly.

For European organizations, the impact of these reconnaissance activities is primarily the increased risk of targeted exploitation attempts against vulnerable Fortigate VPN devices and phpMyAdmin installations. Successful exploitation of CVE-2023-27997 could lead to unauthorized access to VPN infrastructure, potentially compromising internal networks and sensitive data. Exploiting phpMyAdmin LFI vulnerabilities could allow attackers to access configuration files, credentials, or execute arbitrary code, leading to data breaches or system compromise. Even though the current severity is low and no active exploits are reported, the reconnaissance signals intent and capability of threat actors to identify weak points. Organizations in Europe with exposed Fortigate VPN endpoints or phpMyAdmin web interfaces face elevated risk, especially if patches or mitigations are not applied. The scanning activity also increases noise in network monitoring and may be a precursor to more sophisticated attacks. The impact extends to operational disruption, data confidentiality loss, and potential regulatory compliance issues under GDPR if breaches occur.

European organizations should implement targeted mitigation strategies beyond generic advice. First, ensure all Fortigate VPN appliances are updated to the latest firmware versions that address CVE-2023-27997, and verify VPN login endpoints are not publicly exposed unnecessarily. Employ network segmentation and restrict VPN access to trusted IP ranges. For phpMyAdmin, disable or restrict access to setup.php and other sensitive scripts, apply all security patches promptly, and consider web application firewalls (WAF) to detect and block LFI attempts. Enhance network monitoring to detect repeated GET requests or unusual user-agent strings indicative of scanning. Implement rate limiting and anomaly detection on exposed services. Conduct regular vulnerability assessments focusing on VPN and web management interfaces. Additionally, employ threat intelligence feeds like CIRCL OSINT to stay informed of emerging reconnaissance patterns. Finally, educate security teams to recognize reconnaissance activity as early warning signs and respond with incident readiness plans.