Neptune exploit kit used to deliver Monero cryptocurrency miners

CVE-2014-6332 is a memory-corruption flaw (CWE-119) in OleAut32.dll, the OLE Automation component shipped with Microsoft Windows, in which OLE automation arrays are mishandled, allowing out-of-bounds memory access. A remote attacker triggers it by luring a user to a crafted website whose script (typically executed through Internet Explorer) calls into the vulnerable OLE Automation code, corrupting memory on the victim machine. Successful exploitation yields remote code execution with the privileges of the logged-on user, generally giving the attacker full control of the workstation. Because OleAut32.dll is a core OS component, essentially every Windows client and server in circulation at the time was affected; Microsoft addressed it in the November 2014 security updates (MS14-064). The flaw is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog (added 2022-03-25), indicating known in-the-wild exploitation, and EPSS assigns a 95% probability of exploitation within 30 days (100th percentile); no public PoC is tracked in the source data.

Do: Apply Microsoft's November 2014 Windows/OLE security updates (MS14-064) across all Windows clients and servers, prioritizing internet-facing systems and workstations used for web browsing, and confirm the patched OleAut32.dll is present via patch-management or vulnerability-scanner checks. Because the flaw is KEV-listed and exploitable in a drive-by web-attack scenario, treat any remaining unpatched Windows host as high risk and isolate legacy systems that cannot be updated.

CVE-2015-2419 is a memory corruption flaw (CWE-119) in the JScript engine used by Microsoft Internet Explorer, allowing remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service through a crafted website. It is triggered when a user visits an attacker-controlled page whose JScript content corrupts memory in the affected browser process. A successful attacker gains remote code execution in the context of the logged-on user (or crashes the browser), which makes drive-by and exploit-kit delivery routes viable. Any Windows user running the affected versions of Internet Explorer at the time of disclosure was exposed, and Microsoft shipped fixes as part of its July 2015 security updates. The flaw is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog (added 2022-03-28), carries a 53.4% EPSS (99th percentile), and related reporting places it among the top vulnerabilities used by exploit kits in 2015-2016.

Do: Apply Microsoft's July 2015 security updates for Internet Explorer per vendor instructions, as required by the CISA KEV catalog, and verify that any legacy Windows systems still running Internet Explorer have received them. Because exploitation typically occurs via drive-by web attacks, retire or fully patch IE on client endpoints and keep endpoint protection enabled to catch exploit-kit delivery. Confirm no workstations remain on unpatched IE builds, since this entry has been in CISA KEV since March 2022 and exploitation probability remains high (EPSS 53.4%).

CVE-2015-7645 is a code execution vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player in which a remote attacker can execute arbitrary code by having the player process a maliciously crafted SWF (Flash) file. Triggering requires only that a user load attacker-supplied Flash content, for example by visiting a compromised or malicious website, opening a document that embeds Flash content, or receiving an SWF payload delivered through an exploit kit. Successful exploitation lets the attacker run arbitrary code in the context of the Flash process, typically enabling malware or ransomware installation and compromise of the user's account and data. Anyone running Adobe Flash Player when the flaw was disclosed in 2015 was affected, and because Flash has since reached end-of-life, any installations that remain in use are unpatched. Exploitation is confirmed in the wild: the flaw is in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog (added 2022-03-03) with known ransomware use, and its EPSS score of 65.6% (99th percentile) indicates a high probability of exploitation.

Do: Remove or disable Adobe Flash Player entirely, consistent with CISA's required action, which notes the product is end-of-life and should be disconnected if still in use; audit for legacy Flash instances in intranet applications, bundled enterprise software, and older browser configurations. If Flash cannot be removed, install the latest patched release available from Adobe for this vulnerability and ensure browsers block or sandbox SWF content. Given the confirmed ransomware use, prioritize hunting for exploitation on any systems where Flash remains installed.

CVE-2015-8651 is an integer overflow (CWE-189, a numeric error-handling flaw) in Adobe Flash Player that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code when Flash processes specially crafted content. The realistic trigger is a drive-by web attack: a user browses to a compromised or attacker-controlled page, often reached through malvertising or exploit kits, and the malicious Flash (SWF) content exploits the overflow in the user's browser or standalone player. Successful exploitation gives the attacker code execution in the context of the logged-in user, typically as a delivery mechanism for ransomware, information stealers, or miners, as seen in exploit-kit campaigns of the era (RIG, Neptune, Stegano, and others were distributing Flash exploits at the time). Anyone running an affected version of Adobe Flash Player was exposed; Flash was near-universally deployed in 2015-2016, though the product has since reached end of life (December 31, 2020) and modern browsers no longer load it. Exploitation is confirmed in the wild: CISA added this CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2022-05-25, EPSS assigns it a 67.9% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days (99th percentile), and no public PoC is cataloged.

Do: Uninstall or disable Adobe Flash Player on all remaining systems, since it is end-of-life and CISA's required action is to disconnect/remove it if still in use. If legacy Flash cannot be removed immediately, apply Adobe's January 2016 security update (APSB16-01) and restrict those hosts from untrusted web browsing and ad content. Inventory for standalone Flash players, intranet applications that embed SWF content, and copies of Flash bundled inside other applications.

CVE-2016-0189 is a memory corruption flaw (out-of-bounds write, per CWE-787) in Microsoft's JScript 5.8 and VBScript 5.7/5.8 scripting engines, as used in Internet Explorer 9 through 11 and other products that embed those engines. It is triggered remotely when a user is lured into viewing a crafted website that mishandles script, corrupting memory in the browser process. A successful attacker gains arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user (or can crash the browser, causing denial of service), with no authentication required but user interaction needed. Anyone running Internet Explorer 9-11 on Windows, or other products using the affected scripting engines, was exposed. Exploitation is well established: public write-ups document its use in drive-by exploit kit attacks and subsequent 'God Mode' local privilege-escalation variants, it is listed in CISA KEV (added 2022-03-28) with known ransomware use, and EPSS assigns a 94.1% probability of exploitation within 30 days.

Do: Apply the vendor-supplied Microsoft security updates for Internet Explorer and the JScript/VBScript scripting engines per CISA's required action, prioritizing endpoints used for web browsing and email since this is delivered via drive-by website attacks and is known to be used by ransomware operators. Systems that no longer receive updates for IE 9-11 should be migrated to a supported browser or OS. Check your environment against CISA KEV to confirm remediation status.