TightVNC (Product): news timeline & CVEs

Microsoft Warns NeedyMantis Malware Enables Persistent Network Access

Microsoft warns China-linked NeedyMantis malware maintains persistent access in telecom, university, and government networks.

Microsoft Threat Intelligence warned on September 28 that NeedyMantis, active since at least October 2025, is a multi-component C++ and x64 shellcode framework used for long-term access after an intrusion. Campaigns have targeted telecommunications providers, universities, and government-linked organizations; Microsoft associates the activity with China and at least one operator, Storm-3069, without confirming state direction. Attackers install it through hands-on access, side-loading DLLs packaged with software such as Poedit, curl, Vim, and TightVNC or fake Microsoft, Broadcom, Intel, and NVIDIA components, then deploy a second-stage loader that contacts command-and-control for persistence, exfiltration, and additional payloads. Microsoft found no evidence it was distributed through the Daemon Tools supply-chain compromise linked to Storm-3069.

Infosecurity Magazineupdated Sep 29, 15:12 UTC · 13h agofirst Sep 29, 13:30 UTC · 15h agoMalware in the wild 7 sources

Microsoft Finds New Malware Used by Hackers to Maintain Secret Access Inside Target Networks

Microsoft uncovers NeedyMantis, a modular backdoor keeping covert access in targeted telecom, university, and government networks.

Microsoft Threat Intelligence disclosed NeedyMantis, a modular post-compromise framework used to keep covert access inside already-breached networks since at least October 2025. It appeared in a small number of targeted intrusions against telecommunications providers, universities, medical nonprofits, intergovernmental bodies, and government contractors. Operators deploy it after initial access, including Impacket copies from a network share and DLL sideloading of apps such as Poedit, curl, Vim, and TightVNC. The implant beacons to corp.tripswithengine.com over HTTPS and WebSockets; Microsoft links related DAEMON Tools supply-chain activity to China-based Storm-3069 but says NeedyMantis was not delivered that way.

Cyber Security Newsupdated Sep 29, 15:12 UTC · 13h agofirst Sep 28, 16:35 UTC · 1d agoMalware in the wild 7 sources

NeedyMantis: Unpacking a post-compromise malware family used in targeted operations

Microsoft details NeedyMantis, modular post-compromise malware used in targeted intrusions linked to China-based operators.

Microsoft Threat Intelligence disclosed NeedyMantis, a modular post-compromise malware family written in C++ and x64 shellcode and seen in a limited set of targeted intrusions since at least October 2025. Victims include telecommunications organizations, universities, medical nonprofits, intergovernmental organizations, and government contractors. One known operator is Storm-3069, Microsoft’s designator for activity tied to the DAEMON Tools supply-chain compromise previously reported by Kaspersky; Microsoft assesses a China nexus but has not attributed the group to a nation-state or confirmed a single operator. The malware is typically deployed after access is already obtained, using DLL sideloading of legitimate software such as Poedit, curl, Vim, and TightVNC, plus masqueraded Microsoft, Broadcom, Intel, and NVIDIA DLLs.

Microsoft Security Blogupdated Sep 29, 15:12 UTC · 13h agofirst Sep 28, 15:00 UTC · 1d agoMalware in the wild 7 sources

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Microsoft Warns NeedyMantis Malware Enables Persistent Network Access

Microsoft Finds New Malware Used by Hackers to Maintain Secret Access Inside Target Networks

NeedyMantis: Unpacking a post-compromise malware family used in targeted operations