Week in review: Actively exploited Windows SMB flaw, trusted OAuth apps turned into cloud backdoors
Vulnerabilities mentionedAll →
| CVE | Vulnerability | CVSS | EPSS | Flags | Affected | Exposure | Published |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2025-33073 | Improper Access Control Privilege Escalation in Microsoft Windows SMB Client CVE-2025-33073 is an improper access control flaw (CWE-284) in the Windows SMB client that allows an authorized, low-privileged attacker to elevate privileges over the network (CVSS 3.1: 8.8). The attack is network-based with low attack complexity and no user interaction: the attacker must get a vulnerable Windows machine's SMB client to connect to their crafted SMB server, and crafted server responses during the client's authentication flow cause the client to grant the attacker elevated (reportedly SYSTEM-level) access. An attacker gains local privilege elevation on the connecting Windows client, which can be used for full host compromise and lateral movement. Affected systems include essentially all currently supported Windows desktop and server branches in the data: Windows 10 (1507, 1607, 1809, 21H2, 22H2), Windows 11 (22H2, 23H2, 24H2), and Windows Server 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2019. The flaw is actively exploited in the wild — CISA added it to the KEV catalog on 2025-10-20 (ransomware linkage unknown), and EPSS places it at an 80.5% probability of exploitation within 30 days (100th percentile). Do: Apply Microsoft's June 2025 (or later) cumulative security updates that address CVE-2025-33073 on all listed Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server systems, prioritizing domain-critical, internet-reachable, and server assets given active exploitation. If immediate patching is not possible, restrict SMB client access to trusted servers and follow Microsoft guidance on hardening NTLM authentication; note that federal agencies must meet CISA KEV/BOD 22-01 remediation timelines following the 2025-10-20 KEV listing. Verify the update actually landed on each host (checking that CVE-2025-33073 is listed as addressed) and hunt for connections to untrusted SMB servers from Windows clients. | 8.8 | 83% | KEV |
| masshundreds of millions of Windows endpoints and servers (SMB client is present and reachable by default across the listed Windows 10/11 and Windows Server… | |
| CVE-2025-54236 | Unauthenticated Session Takeover in Adobe Commerce and Magento (SessionReaper) Adobe Commerce and Magento Open Source contain an improper input validation flaw (CWE-20), widely tracked as 'SessionReaper', that lets a remote, unauthenticated attacker take over user sessions. The flaw is exploitable over the network with no privileges and no user interaction (CVSS 3.1 9.1, critical). A successful attacker hijacks legitimate customer or admin sessions, yielding high confidentiality and integrity impact; a public writeup additionally describes unauthenticated exploitation potentially reaching code execution. Anyone running Adobe Commerce (including Commerce B2B) or Magento Open Source on the affected 2.4.x releases is exposed. Exploitation is confirmed in the wild: CISA added the flaw to its KEV catalog on 2025-10-24, reporting headlines cite over 250 observed attacks, EPSS is 94.5%, and roughly 3 in 5 stores were reported as still unpatched. Do: Immediately upgrade every affected 2.4.x line to a release newer than 2.4.9-alpha2/2.4.8-p2/2.4.7-p7/2.4.6-p12/2.4.5-p14/2.4.4-p15 per Adobe's security advisory. Because the flaw is on CISA's KEV list, federal agencies must apply the vendor's mitigations (or BOD 22-01 cloud guidance) or discontinue use; other defenders should prioritize patching given 250+ observed attacks and 94.5% EPSS. Until patched, watch for indicators of session takeover — unexpected customer or admin sessions, unfamiliar admin accounts, and anomalous session activity — and review Adobe's advisory for interim mitigations. | 9.1 | 95% | KEV PoC |
| mass≈100,000+ internet-facing Adobe Commerce/Magento storefronts (order of magnitude 10^5) | |
| CVE-2025-59287 | Deserialization RCE in Microsoft WSUS (Windows Server) CVE-2025-59287 is a deserialization of untrusted data flaw (CWE-502) in the Microsoft Windows Server Update Service (WSUS) that permits remote code execution. It is triggered when the WSUS service processes attacker-controlled serialized input, allowing an attacker to run arbitrary code on the server hosting the WSUS role. Organizations running WSUS are affected — typically enterprises that use the role for internal Windows update management — and CISA lists the affected scope as Microsoft Windows broadly. The issue is confirmed exploited in the wild: it was added to the CISA KEV catalog on 2025-10-24, and the EPSS model assigns a 100% (100th percentile) probability of exploitation within 30 days, though no public proof-of-concept is known. CVSS scoring is not yet available, so defenders should treat it as a high-priority remote code execution issue until more detail is published. Do: Apply Microsoft's latest WSUS security updates on every Windows Server with the WSUS role enabled and verify patch status through your update and configuration-management tooling. Where the WSUS role is not required, disable or remove it, and restrict inbound network access to WSUS service ports (typically TCP 8530/8531) from untrusted networks. Federal agencies must apply the required mitigations per CISA BOD 22-01 given the KEV listing. | 9.8 | 100% | KEV PoC |
| largetens of thousands of internet-exposed WSUS servers, within a global deployment base plausibly exceeding 100,000 | |
| CVE-2025-61932 | Unauthenticated RCE via spoofed packets in Motex LANSCOPE Endpoint Manager agents Motex LANSCOPE Endpoint Manager (On-Premises) — specifically its client program (MR) and detection agent (DA) components — fails to properly verify the source of incoming communications (CWE-940). An attacker who can reach a machine running the vulnerable agent over the network can send specially crafted packets and execute arbitrary code, with no privileges or user interaction required (CVSS 4.0: 9.3, critical, with high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the compromised endpoint). Organizations running the on-premises product, typically as agent software deployed across their managed endpoints, are affected. The flaw has been exploited as a zero-day in ongoing attacks, reportedly by the China-linked Tick group, and CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2025-10-22. No public proof-of-concept is known, but confirmed in-the-wild exploitation means patching should be treated as urgent. Do: Upgrade to the patched versions specified in Motex's security advisory (and the JPCERT coordination notice) as soon as possible; CISA KEV inclusion means U.S. federal agencies must patch or apply vendor mitigations per BOD 22-01. Until patched, restrict network access to the ports used for MR/DA agent communications and limit which network segments can send packets to agent hosts, since the flaw requires only network reachability. Given confirmed zero-day use by the China-linked Tick group, also hunt for signs of post-compromise lateral movement on endpoints running the agents. | 9.3 | 3% | KEV |
| masslikely 1M+ agent-installed endpoints across thousands of organizations, concentrated in Japan (exact install counts not published) | |
| CVE-2025-6950 | An Use of Hard-coded Credentials vulnerability has been identified in Moxa’s network security appliances and routers. An Use of Hard-coded Credentials vulnerability has been identified in Moxa’s network security appliances and routers. The system employs a hard-coded secret key to sign JSON Web Tokens (JWT) used for authentication. This insecure implementation allows an unauthenticated attacker to forge valid tokens, thereby bypassing authentication controls and impersonating any user. Exploitation of this vulnerability can result in complete system compromise, enabling unauthorized access, data theft, and full administrative control over the affected device. While successful exploitation can severely impact the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected device itself, there is no loss of confidentiality or integrity within any subsequent systems. NVD description · AI analysis pending | 9.9 | <1% | — | — |
Full article1,811 words · extracted from helpnetsecurity.com · click to collapse
Here’s an overview of some of last week’s most interesting news, articles, interviews and videos:
Most AI privacy research looks the wrong way
Most research on LLM privacy has focused on the wrong problem, according to a new paper by researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and Northeastern University. The authors argue that while most technical studies target data memorization, the biggest risks come from how LLMs collect, process, and infer information during regular use.
When everything’s connected, everything’s at risk
In this Help Net Security interview, Ken Deitz, CISO at Brown & Brown, discusses how the definition of cyber risk has expanded beyond IT to include IoT, OT, and broader supply chain ecosystems. As organizations connect these assets through cloud and networked systems, the attack surface and dependencies have multiplied.
Google introduces agentic threat intelligence for faster, conversational threat analysis
Security teams spend much of their day pulling data from reports, forums, and feeds, trying to connect clues across multiple sources. Google says that work can now happen through a simple conversation.
Microsoft releases urgent fix for actively exploited WSUS vulnerability (CVE-2025-59287)
Microsoft has released an out-of-band security update that “comprehensively” addresses CVE-2025-59287, a remote code execution vulnerability in the Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) that is reportedly being exploited in the wild.
Microsoft blocks risky file previews in Windows File Explorer
Along with fixing many code-based vulnerabilities, the October 2025 Windows updates also change how File Explorer handles files downloaded from the internet.
Researchers expose large-scale YouTube malware distribution network
Check Point researchers have uncovered, mapped and helped set back a stealthy, large-scale malware distribution operation on YouTube they dubbed the “YouTube Ghost Network.”
Lanscope Endpoint Manager vulnerability exploited in zero-day attacks (CVE-2025-61932)
CVE-2025-61932, an “improper verification of source of a communication channel” vulnerability affecting Lanscope Endpoint Manager, has been exploited as a zero-day since April 2025, the Japan Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Center (JPCERT/CC) warned on Wednesday.
Critical Adobe Commerce, Magento vulnerability under attack (CVE-2025-54236)
Attackers are trying to exploit CVE-2025-54236, a critical vulnerability affecting Adobe Commerce and Magento Open Source, Sansec researchers have warned.
Attackers target retailers’ gift card systems using cloud-only techniques
A newly uncovered attack campaign mounted by suspected Morocco-based attackers has been hitting global retailers and other businesses issuing gift cards.
Attackers turn trusted OAuth apps into cloud backdoors
Attackers are increasingly abusing internal OAuth-based applications to gain persistent access to cloud environments, Proofpoint researchers warn.
CISA warns of Windows SMB flaw under active exploitation (CVE-2025-33073)
CVE-2025-33073, a Windows SMB Client vulnerability that Microsoft fixed in June 2025, is being exploited by attackers.
Official Xubuntu website compromised to serve malware
The official website for Xubuntu, a community-maintained “flavour” of Ubuntu that ships with the Xfce desktop environment, has been compromised to serve Windows malware instead of the Linux distro.
Hard-coded credentials found in Moxa industrial security appliances, routers (CVE-2025-6950)
Moxa has fixed 5 vulnerabilities in its industrial network security appliances and routers, including a remotely exploitable flaw (CVE-2025-6950) that may result in complete system compromise.
China-linked Salt Typhoon hackers attempt to infiltrate European telco
Salt Typhoon, the China-linked APT group that has a penchant for targeting telecommunications companies, has been spotted trying to sneak into yet another one.
Smart helmet tech points to the future of fighting audio deepfakes
A research team at Texas Tech University tested a method that connects voice verification to the physical act of speaking. The study examines whether jaw and cheek movements can serve as proof of identity.
Faster LLM tool routing comes with new security considerations
Large language models depend on outside tools to perform real-world tasks, but connecting them to those tools often slows them down or causes failures. A new study from the University of Hong Kong proposes a way to fix that.
Your wearable knows your heartbeat, but who else does?
Smartwatches, glucose sensors, and connected drug-monitoring devices are common in care programs. Remote monitoring helps detect changes early and supports personalized treatment and long-term condition management. They give clinicians valuable insight into patient health but also introduce new exposure points. As more care shifts outside hospital walls, sensitive information crosses networks that few organizations can see end to end.
How Lazarus Group used fake job ads to spy on Europe’s drone and defense sector
ESET researchers have uncovered a fresh wave of Operation DreamJob, a long-running campaign linked to North Korea’s Lazarus Group. This latest activity targeted several European defense contractors, including firms deeply involved in drone and UAV development, which may point to a connection with Pyongyang’s push to expand its drone capabilities.
OpenFGA: The open-source engine redefining access control
OpenFGA is an open-source, high-performance, and flexible authorization engine inspired by Google’s Zanzibar system for relationship-based access control. It helps developers model and enforce fine-grained access control in their applications.
For blind people, staying safe online means working around the tools designed to help
Blind and low-vision users face the same password challenges as everyone else, but the tools meant to make security easier often end up getting in the way. A study from the CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security and DePaul University found that poor accessibility in password managers can lead people to risky habits such as reusing passwords.
Your smart building isn’t so smart without security
The lights switch on as you walk in. The air adjusts to your presence. Somewhere in the background, a server notes your arrival. It’s the comfort of a smart building, but that comfort might come with a cost.
AI’s split personality: Solving crimes while helping conceal them
What happens when investigators and cybercriminals start using the same technology? AI is now doing both, helping law enforcement trace attacks while also being tested for its ability to conceal them. A new study from the University of Cagliari digs into this double-edged role of AI, mapping out how it’s transforming cybercrime detection and digital forensics, and why that’s exciting and a little alarming.
10 data security companies to watch in 2026
At Help Net Security, we’ve been tracking the cybersecurity world for nearly three decades. Through our Industry News section, we’ve watched countless companies rise, and push the limits of what’s possible in data protection. Some vendors consistently stand out, not just for their products but for how they think about security itself.
Why ex-military professionals are a good fit for cybersecurity
After years of working as part of a team, many military veterans look for work that still carries meaning, challenge, and purpose. Cybersecurity offers a new way to serve and protect on a different battlefield.
Nodepass: Open-source TCP/UDP tunneling solution
When you think of network tunneling, “lightweight” and “enterprise-grade” rarely appear in the same sentence. NodePass, an open-source project, wants to change that. It’s a compact but powerful TCP/UDP tunneling solution built for DevOps teams and system administrators who need to manage complex network environments without wading through configuration files or rigid infrastructure setups.
Life, death, and online identity: What happens to your online accounts after death?
Rapid technological advances have transformed daily life, leaving most of us with digital footprints across email, social media, banking, and more. While we work to protect these accounts from cybercriminals, ensuring loved ones can legally access them after death or incapacity is becoming increasingly important. To address these challenges, the OpenID Foundation is developing a whitepaper and a digital estate planning guide. In this Help Net Security interview, Dean H. Saxe, an OIDF member and digital identity expert, discusses the initiative and its goals.
Why cybersecurity hiring feels so hard right now
In this Help Net Security video, Carol Lee Hobson, CISO at PayNearMe, explores the realities behind the so-called cybersecurity “talent gap.”
3 DevOps security pitfalls and how to stay ahead of them
In this Help Net Security video, Dustin Kirkland, SVP of Engineering at Chainguard, explores three of the most pressing DevOps security issues engineers encounter: unpatched code, legacy systems, and the rise of AI and automation.
Building trust in AI: How to keep humans in control of cybersecurity
In this Help Net Security video, Rekha Shenoy, CEO at BackBox, takes a look at AI in cybersecurity, separating hype from reality. She explains why AI’s true value lies not in replacing human expertise but in strengthening it.
What Microsoft’s 2025 report reveals about the new rules of engagement in cyberdefense
Adversaries are using AI to sharpen attacks, automate operations, and challenge long-standing defenses, according to a new Microsoft report. Researchers describe a year in which criminal and state-backed actors blurred the lines between cybercrime, espionage, and disruption, targeting public and private sectors.
When AI writes code, humans clean up the mess
AI coding tools are reshaping how software is written, tested, and secured. They promise speed, but that speed comes with a price. A new report from Aikido Security shows that most organizations now use AI to write production code, and many have seen new vulnerabilities appear because of it.
Wireshark 4.6.0 brings major updates for packet analysis and decryption
If you’ve ever used Wireshark to dig into network traffic you know how vital even small upgrades can be. With version 4.6.0 the team behind the open-source network protocol analyzer has added a number of features that could change how you analyse traffic, decode protocols and handle captures across platforms.
The next cyber crisis may start in someone else’s supply chain
Organizations are getting better at some aspects of risk management but remain underprepared for the threats reshaping the business landscape, according to a new Riskonnect report. The findings show a growing gap between awareness and action as technology, politics, and global markets shift faster than most companies can adapt.
Gartner predicts the technologies set to transform 2026
Gartner has unveiled its vision for the technologies that will define 2026, spotlighting the innovations and risks that business and IT leaders can’t afford to ignore. The research firm says organizations are entering a period of change, where AI, connectivity, and digital trust will shape how companies compete and operate.
Companies want the benefits of AI without the cyber blowback
51% of European IT and cybersecurity professionals said they expect AI-driven cyber threats and deepfakes to keep them up at night in 2026, according to ISACA.
Inside the messy reality of Microsoft 365 management
Most MSPs agree that Microsoft 365 is now the backbone of business operations, but a Syncro survey shows that complexity, incomplete backups, and reactive security continue to slow their progress in managing it.
Cybersecurity jobs available right now: October 21, 2025
We’ve scoured the market to bring you a selection of roles that span various skill levels within the cybersecurity field. Check out this weekly selection of cybersecurity jobs available right now.
New infosec products of the week: October 24, 2025
Here’s a look at the most interesting products from the past week, featuring releases from Axoflow, Elastic, Illumio, Keycard, Netscout and Rubrik.
Text extracted automatically; images, tables and formatting may be missing. Original: https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2025/10/26/week-in-review-actively-exploited-windows-smb-flaw-trusted-oauth-apps-turned-into-cloud-backdoors/