A suspected state-affiliated threat actor has been targeting Kazakh and Afghan entities in a persistent campaign since at least August 2022. The attackers use a Windows-based RAT called KazakRAT, which allows for payload downloads, host data collection, and file exfiltration. The malware is delivered via .msi files and persists using the Run registry key. C2 communications are unencrypted over HTTP. The campaign also utilizes modified versions of XploitSpy Android spyware. Multiple KazakRAT variants have been observed with minor command-set changes. Victim targeting includes government and financial sector entities, particularly in Kazakhstan's Karaganda region. The operation shows low sophistication but high persistence, with similarities to APT36/Transparent Tribe activities.
An active infostealer campaign is targeting macOS and Windows users across various sectors. The threat actors are using SEO poisoning to direct victims to fake GitHub repositories impersonating legitimate tools like PagerDuty. The campaign involves over 20 malicious repositories active since September 2025. The attack flow begins with a Google search, leading to a fraudulent GitHub repository, then to a GitHub Pages site with a deceptive command. This command deploys the MacSync stealer in three stages: a loader, a dropper, and the final payload. MacSync aggressively harvests credentials from browsers, cloud services, and cryptocurrency wallets. The campaign's scale includes 39 identified malicious repositories, with 24 still active as of January 2026. Evasion tactics include using 'readme-only' repositories and distributed identities.
Windows 11 25H2 introduced a new Administrator Protection feature designed to replace User Account Control (UAC) with a more secure mechanism for granting administrator privileges. Research identified nine separate vulnerabilities that could bypass this feature to silently gain full administrator privileges. All reported issues have been fixed by Microsoft either before the official release or in subsequent security updates. As of December 2025, Microsoft temporarily disabled Administrator Protection due to an unrelated application compatibility issue. The feature aims to address longstanding weaknesses in UAC, which allowed silent privilege escalation through various bypass techniques. The new mechanism enforces a stronger security boundary between limited and administrator privileges.
A sophisticated multi-stage malware campaign targeting Windows users in Russia has been identified. The attack chain begins with social engineering lures and progresses to a full system compromise, including security bypass, surveillance, and ransomware delivery. It abuses Defendnot to disable Microsoft Defender and uses modular hosting across cloud services. The attack employs various techniques such as PowerShell scripts, obfuscated VBScript, and COM object manipulation. It deploys Amnesia RAT for data theft and surveillance, Hakuna Matata ransomware for file encryption, and a WinLocker component for system lockout. The campaign demonstrates how full system compromise can be achieved without exploiting software vulnerabilities, instead relying on social engineering and abuse of legitimate Windows features.
This article details a recently patched critical zero-day vulnerability (CVE-2026-20805) in Microsoft's Desktop Window Manager (DWM) that allows local low-privilege attackers to disclose sensitive memory addresses, aiding privilege escalation. The vulnerability is actively exploited in the wild and affects legacy Windows versions still under extended support. Microsoft has released patches and recommends urgent deployment alongside monitoring and restricting local low-privilege accounts.
Two vulnerabilities patched this month by Microsoft were disclosed publicly before fixes were released. The post Microsoft Patches Exploited Windows Zero-Day, 111 Other Vulnerabilities appeared first on SecurityWeek .
This content announces the launch of the new Project Zero blog, highlighting past research posts on Windows exploitation techniques and zero-day vulnerabilities. It does not describe a specific vulnerability or active threat but rather serves as an informational update about ongoing research efforts.
In the Microsoft Windows ecosystem, DLLs (Dynamic Load Libraries) are PE files like regular programs. One of the main differences is that they export functions that can be called by programs that load them. By example, to call RegOpenKeyExA(), the program must first load the ADVAPI32.dll. A PE files has a lot of headers (metadata) that contain useful information used by the loader to prepare the execution in memory. One of them is the EntryPoint, it contains the (relative virtual) address where the program will start to execute.
Microsoft has addressed a Windows vulnerability exploited as zero-day that allows attackers to obtain System privileges. The post Microsoft Patches 57 Vulnerabilities, Three Zero-Days appeared first on SecurityWeek .
AutoIT3[1] is a powerful language that helps to built nice applications for Windows environments, mainly to automate tasks. If it looks pretty old, the latest version was released last September and it remains popular amongst developers, for the good… or the bad! Malware written in AutoIt3 has existed since the late 2000s, when attackers realized that the language was easy to learn (close to basic) but can also compiled into standalone PE files! From a malware point of view, such executables make an extended use of packed data, making them more stealthy.
Windows now displays in the properties tab of LNK files critical information that could reveal malicious code. The post Microsoft Silently Mitigated Exploited LNK Vulnerability appeared first on SecurityWeek .
The Lumma infostealer is a sophisticated malware distributed as Malware-as-a-Service, targeting Windows systems. It primarily steals sensitive data such as browser credentials, cryptocurrency wallets, and VPN/RDP accounts. Lumma is often used in the initial stages of multi-vector attacks, including ransomware and network breaches. The malware is distributed through phishing sites, disguised as pirated software, and uses complex techniques like NSIS packaging, AutoIt scripts, and process hollowing to evade detection. To combat this threat, organizations should implement behavior-based detection systems and integrate threat intelligence into their security strategies.
'The Gentlemen' ransomware group, active since July 2025, operates a Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) platform that employs advanced dual-extortion tactics by encrypting data and exfiltrating sensitive information to coerce ransom payments. Their ransomware targets Windows, Linux, and ESXi platforms, encrypting both local and network-shared drives using strong cryptographic algorithms XChaCha20 and Curve25519. Recent updates include automatic self-restart, run-on-boot persistence, configurable encryption speeds, and attack methods, enhancing their operational resilience and adaptability. The group has publicly disclosed 47 victims within two months, indicating rapid propagation and impact. The malware leverages multiple MITRE ATT&CK techniques such as persistence (T1547.001), data encryption (T1486), and network share discovery (T1135). No known exploits or CVEs are associated yet, but the threat is significant due to its multi-platform support and dual-extortion approach. European organizations with mixed OS environments and ESXi virtualization are at particular risk. Mitigation requires tailored detection of persistence mechanisms, network segmentation, and robust incident response plans. Countries with high adoption of VMware ESXi and diverse enterprise IT infrastructures, such as Germany, France, and the UK, are likely most affected.
Microsoft’s latest Patch Tuesday updates address more than 60 vulnerabilities in Windows and other products. The post Microsoft Patches Actively Exploited Windows Kernel Zero-Day appeared first on SecurityWeek .
ClickFix prompts typically contain instructions for Windows users, but now they are tailored for macOS and they are getting increasingly convincing. The post ClickFix Attacks Against macOS Users Evolving appeared first on SecurityWeek .
Arbitrary command/code execution has been demonstrated through the exploitation of CVE-2025-11953 on Windows, macOS and Linux. The post Critical Flaw in Popular React Native NPM Package Exposes Developers to Attacks appeared first on SecurityWeek .
Research by: Alexey Bukhteyev Key takeaways Introduction XLoader is a widely observed malicious loader with information-stealing capabilities. It first surfaced in 2020 as a rebrand of the FormBook code base, a well-known and capable information stealer, and has since undergone substantial hardening and feature growth. In addition to the Windows variant, its developers also marketed […] The post Beating XLoader at Speed: Generative AI as a Force Multiplier for Reverse Engineering appeared first on Check Point Research .
Background Check Point Research (CPR) identified three security vulnerabilities in the Graphics Device Interface (GDI) in Windows. We promptly reported these issues to Microsoft, and they were addressed in the Patch Tuesday updates in May, July, and August 2025. These are the vulnerabilities: Vulnerability disclosures such as these highlight the need for proactive measures to mitigate potential risks. […] The post Drawn to Danger: Windows Graphics Vulnerabilities Lead to Remote Code Execution and Memory Exposure appeared first on Check Point Research .
The Windows shortcut vulnerability has been seen in attacks conducted by Mustang Panda to drop the PlugX malware. The post Chinese APT Exploits Unpatched Windows Flaw in Recent Attacks appeared first on SecurityWeek .
CVE-2025-59287 allows a remote, unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code and a PoC exploit is available. The post Critical Windows Server WSUS Vulnerability Exploited in the Wild appeared first on SecurityWeek .
