CISA Warns of Active Spyware Campaigns Hijacking High
Vulnerabilities mentionedAll →
| CVE | Vulnerability | CVSS | EPSS | Flags | Affected | Exposure | Published |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2025-21042 | Out-of-Bounds Write RCE in Samsung Mobile Image Codec (libimagecodec.quram.so) CVE-2025-21042 is an out-of-bounds write (CWE-787) in libimagecodec.quram.so, the Quram image codec library in the image-processing stack of Samsung mobile devices. A remote attacker can trigger the flaw by getting a vulnerable device to decode a crafted image or media file, corrupting memory and potentially executing arbitrary code (the advisory does not specify the exact delivery vector, such as messaging or web content). Successful exploitation allows the attacker to run code on the device, though whether execution is confined to the decoding application or achieves broader privileges is not stated. Any Samsung mobile device using the affected codec is potentially at risk; CISA lists the product only as 'Samsung Mobile Devices' without model or version detail. The flaw is confirmed to be exploited in the wild: CISA added it to the KEV catalog on 2025-11-10 (ransomware use unknown), no public PoC is known, and EPSS assigns a 33.2% probability of exploitation within 30 days (98th percentile). Do: Install the latest Samsung security maintenance release (SMR) / monthly security update on all Samsung mobile devices and verify each device's Android security patch level includes the fix for this CVE; per CISA's KEV required action, apply the vendor's mitigations, and federal civilian agencies must follow BOD 22-01 or discontinue use of affected products. Until the update is confirmed, treat untrusted image/media files (e.g., received via messaging or web) as a risk vector on Samsung devices and monitor Samsung's security advisories for the affected-model list. | 9.8 | 33% | KEV |
| masshundreds of millions to roughly a billion Samsung mobile devices in use worldwide (order of magnitude 10^8-10^9) | |
| CVE-2025-43300 | Actively Exploited Out-of-Bounds Write in Apple iOS/iPadOS/macOS Image I/O CVE-2025-43300 is an out-of-bounds write (CWE-787) in the Image I/O (ImageIO) framework used by Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. It can be triggered when a device processes a specially crafted image file, corrupting memory in the image-parsing process. Successful exploitation may cause application crashes or allow arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the application handling the image. Because ImageIO is a core system component on essentially every Apple device, virtually all users of iPhones, iPads, and Macs are exposed. The flaw is being exploited in the wild — CISA added it to the KEV catalog on 2025-08-21, mandating patching per BOD 22-01 for federal agencies — and EPSS estimates a 22% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days (98th percentile); no public PoC is known and ransomware use is unconfirmed. Do: Apply Apple's security updates for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS issued in August 2025 (e.g., iOS 18.6.1 / iPadOS 18.6.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.6.1) on all devices, prioritizing user-facing fleets and agencies bound by BOD 22-01 deadlines. Until devices are patched, exercise caution with images from untrusted sources (email, messaging, web content), since no compensating mitigations are specified. Note that the source data does not enumerate exact affected builds, so verify coverage against Apple's advisory and CISA KEV required actions. | 10.0 | 22% | KEV PoC |
| mass>1 billion active Apple devices (ImageIO is a core framework on all iOS/iPadOS/macOS devices; Apple's active device base exceeds 2 billion) | |
| CVE-2025-55177 | Incorrect Authorization in WhatsApp Linked-Device Sync Used in Targeted Spyware Attacks CVE-2025-55177 is an incorrect authorization flaw (CWE-863) in how WhatsApp for iOS, WhatsApp Business for iOS, and WhatsApp for Mac validate linked device synchronization messages, allowing an unrelated user to trigger processing of content from an arbitrary URL on a target's device. An attacker can reach a vulnerable client through the messaging channel without normal authorization checks, causing the app to fetch or process attacker-chosen content. On its own the flaw carries only partial confidentiality and integrity impact (CVSS 5.4), but Meta assesses it was chained with an Apple OS vulnerability (CVE-2025-43300) in a sophisticated attack against specific, targeted users. Users running WhatsApp for iOS before 2.25.21.73, WhatsApp Business for iOS before 2.25.21.78, or WhatsApp for Mac before 2.25.21.78 are affected. The flaw was added to CISA's KEV catalog on 2025-09-02 amid reports of highly targeted zero-day attacks, though no public proof-of-concept is known and use in ransomware campaigns has not been reported. Do: Update WhatsApp for iOS to v2.25.21.73 or later, WhatsApp Business for iOS to v2.25.21.78 or later, and WhatsApp for Mac to v2.25.21.78 or later. Also apply Apple's backported OS fix for CVE-2025-43300, since the two flaws were combined in the observed attack chain. Review and re-link WhatsApp companion devices if compromise is suspected; federal agencies must follow BOD 22-01 required-action deadlines per the KEV listing. | 5.4 | 4% | KEV |
| masshundreds of millions of users (WhatsApp's multi-billion user base includes a very large iOS/macOS install base) |
Full article493 words · extracted from thehackernews.com · click to collapse
Ravie LakshmananNov 25, 2025Spyware / Mobile Security
The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) on Monday issued an alert warning of bad actors actively leveraging commercial spyware and remote access trojans (RATs) to target users of mobile messaging applications.
"These cyber actors use sophisticated targeting and social engineering techniques to deliver spyware and gain unauthorized access to a victim's messaging app, facilitating the deployment of additional malicious payloads that can further compromise the victim's mobile device," the agency said.
CISA cited as examples multiple campaigns that have come to light since the start of the year. Some of them include -
- The targeting of the Signal messaging app by multiple Russia-aligned threat actors by taking advantage of the service's "linked devices" feature to hijack target user accounts
- Android spyware campaigns codenamed ProSpy and ToSpy that impersonate apps like Signal and ToTok to target users in the United Arab Emirates to deliver malware that establishes persistent access to compromised Android devices and exfiltrates data
- An Android spyware campaign called ClayRat has targeted users in Russia using Telegram channels and lookalike phishing pages by impersonating popular apps like WhatsApp, Google Photos, TikTok, and YouTube to trick users into installing them and steal sensitive data
- A targeted attack campaign that likely chained two security flaws in iOS and WhatsApp (CVE-2025-43300 and CVE-2025-55177) to target fewer than 200 WhatsApp users
- A targeted attack campaign that involved the exploitation of a Samsung security flaw (CVE-2025-21042) to deliver an Android spyware dubbed LANDFALL to Galaxy devices in the Middle East
The agency said the threat actors use multiple tactics to achieve compromise, including device-linking QR codes, zero-click exploits, and distributing spoofed versions of messaging apps.
CISA also pointed out that these activities focus on high-value individuals, primarily current and former high-ranking government, military, and political officials, along with civil society organizations and individuals across the United States, the Middle East, and Europe.
To counter the threat, the agency is urging highly targeted individuals to review and adhere to the following best practices -
- Only use end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) communications
- Enable Fast Identity Online (FIDO) phishing-resistant authentication
- Move away from Short Message Service (SMS)-based multi-factor authentication (MFA)
- Use a password manager to store all passwords
- Set a telecommunications provider PIN to secure mobile phone accounts
- Periodically update software
- Opt for the latest hardware version from the cell phone manufacturer to maximize security benefits
- Do not use a personal virtual private network (VPN)
- On iPhones, enable Lockdown Mode, enroll in iCloud Private Relay, and review and restrict sensitive app permissions
- On Android phones, choose phones from manufacturers with strong security track records, only use Rich Communication Services (RCS) if E2EE is enabled, turn on Enhanced Protection for Safe Browsing in Chrome, ensure Google Play Protect is on, and audit and limit app permissions
Found this article interesting? Follow us on Google News, Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.
Text extracted automatically; images, tables and formatting may be missing. Original: https://thehackernews.com/2025/11/cisa-warns-of-active-spyware-campaigns.html