Metasploit 6.2.0 comes with 138 new modules, 148 enhancements and features

Apache Log4j2, an extremely widely used Java logging library, fails to protect its JNDI lookup feature against attacker-controlled JNDI-related endpoints (CWE-20, CWE-502), so crafted text processed by the logger causes the Java runtime to fetch and load attacker-supplied objects, leading to remote code execution. The flaw is triggered whenever attacker-controlled input reaches the logging API and is parsed for JNDI lookups, a pattern common in web servers and enterprise Java applications that log user-supplied fields such as headers or form values. Successful exploitation yields arbitrary code execution under the privileges of the affected application, giving attackers a foothold for lateral movement, data theft, and ransomware deployment. Any Java application or product that ships or bundles an affected Apache Log4j2 release is exposed, making this one of the most broadly deployed vulnerabilities ever disclosed. Exploitation is confirmed in the wild: CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2021-12-10 with known ransomware use, and EPSS assigns a 100% probability of exploitation within 30 days.

Do: Inventory all Java applications and dependencies for Apache Log4j2 and apply the vendor's patched updates, or remove affected assets from the network, as required by CISA's KEV catalog. Where updates are not yet available, use the temporary mitigations in CISA's ED-22-02 recommended-mitigation guidance, such as disabling message lookups, only until patches are applied. Prioritize internet-facing and business-critical systems and hunt for exploitation activity given known ransomware use.

CVE-2022-0847, widely known as 'Dirty Pipe,' is a privilege escalation flaw in the Linux kernel caused by improper initialization of the 'flags' member of the new pipe buffer structure in the copy_page_to_iter_pipe and push_pipe functions, allowing stale flag values to persist (CWE-665). An unprivileged local user can trigger the flaw by writing through a pipe into the page cache of files they can read, overwriting the contents of otherwise read-only files. This enables tampering with privileged files — for example, hijacking SUID binaries per the public proof-of-concepts — to escalate privileges to root on the local system. Affected products include the Linux kernel as tracked by CISA, with downstream distribution and appliance vendors Fedora, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (including EUS, IBM Z, Power little-endian, and Real Time/NFV variants), oVirt, NetApp, Siemens, and SonicWall. Exploitation is confirmed in the wild: the flaw is on CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog (added 2022-04-25), carries an 89.7% EPSS probability of exploitation within 30 days, and multiple public proof-of-concept exploits are available.

Do: Apply vendor-supplied fixed kernel updates immediately per the CISA KEV required action, including patches from Fedora and Red Hat Enterprise Linux (all listed variants) and from oVirt, NetApp, Siemens, and SonicWall appliances or products that embed affected kernels; verify the running kernel version on hosts, container hosts, and appliances and reboot into the patched kernel. There is no complete workaround — the kernel itself must be patched — so prioritize multi-user servers, systems running untrusted code or containers, and internet-exposed appliances, since any local account can gain root.

F5 BIG-IP contains a critical missing-authentication flaw (CWE-306) in its iControl REST control plane: an unauthenticated attacker with network reachability to the management interface, or to self IPs exposing the REST service on TCP 443, can bypass authentication completely. By sending specially crafted HTTP requests, the attacker gains the ability to execute arbitrary code, create or delete files, and disable services, effectively achieving full takeover of the load balancer or security appliance and the traffic it handles. All F5 BIG-IP deployments running unpatched software are affected; the provided data does not enumerate exact version ranges, which are listed in F5's May 2022 security advisory. The flaw was added to CISA's KEV catalog on 2022-05-10 with known ransomware use, and EPSS assigns a 100% probability of exploitation within 30 days (100th percentile), indicating active in-the-wild exploitation. No public proof-of-concept is catalogued in the provided data, but the KEV listing and known ransomware use confirm real-world attacks.

Do: Upgrade affected F5 BIG-IP systems to the fixed releases listed in F5's May 2022 security advisory (K23605340) immediately, prioritizing appliances whose management interface or self IPs on TCP 443 are reachable from untrusted networks; as an interim mitigation, block untrusted access to the management interface and the iControl REST service. Because this flaw is in CISA's KEV catalog with known ransomware use, also hunt for signs of compromise (unexpected files, disabled services, unknown persistence) on any system that was exposed before patching.

CVE-2022-21999 is a privilege elevation vulnerability in the Windows Print Spooler service, caused by improper encapsulation of resources (CWE-40), which lets a local, limited-privilege user manipulate spooler resource handling and execute code with elevated rights. An attacker gains SYSTEM-level privileges on the affected Windows host after already obtaining some foothold locally, making it a common post-compromise escalation step rather than a remote entry point. Any Windows system with the Print Spooler service enabled — the default on most Windows desktop and server installations — is affected. CISA added the flaw to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2022-03-25 with known ransomware use, and EPSS assigns a 41.7% chance of exploitation within 30 days (99th percentile), while the source data records no public proof-of-concept. Required action per CISA is to apply Microsoft updates per vendor instructions.

Do: Apply the vendor security updates per Microsoft's instructions, as required by CISA's KEV listing; since the source data does not specify fixed versions, verify your current Windows build against Microsoft's advisory. As an interim mitigation, disable the Print Spooler service on hosts where local or shared printing is not required. Because the flaw is exploited in the wild and linked to ransomware, check spooler-related privilege escalation activity in logs and prioritize patching servers and workstations accessible to low-privileged users.

CVE-2022-22954 is a server-side template injection vulnerability (CWE-94) in VMware Workspace ONE Access and VMware Identity Manager that allows remote code execution on affected appliances. It is triggered when attacker-controlled input is passed into a server-side template engine, allowing injected template directives to be evaluated and executed as code on the server. A successful attacker gains the ability to run arbitrary code on the identity appliance, and CISA notes the flaw has been used in ransomware campaigns, so compromise can serve as an initial foothold for broader enterprise intrusion. Any organization running Workspace ONE Access or Identity Manager, including deployments where the Identity Manager component is bundled into VMware Horizon environments, is potentially affected, though the source data does not specify affected version ranges. The vulnerability was added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2022-04-14 with ransomware use confirmed and a required action to apply vendor updates, and EPSS currently assigns it a 100% probability of exploitation within 30 days (100th percentile); no public PoC is known.

Do: Apply the patches published in VMware advisory VMSA-2022-0011 (April 2022) to Workspace ONE Access and Identity Manager appliances as required by the CISA KEV listing, prioritizing internet-facing instances, and restrict or remove public exposure until patched. Review appliance and web-server logs for template-injection probes and unexpected processes spawned by the identity service, and investigate any indications of compromise for follow-on ransomware or lateral-movement activity.

CVE-2022-30525 is an OS command injection vulnerability (CWE-78) in the CGI program of certain Zyxel firewall firmware versions. By sending crafted requests to the vulnerable CGI program, an attacker can modify specific files on the appliance and inject and execute operating system commands. Successful exploitation yields command execution on the firewall itself, allowing an attacker to alter device files/configuration and potentially pivot into the protected network — the class of edge-device flaw commonly targeted by ransomware operators (ransomware use in this case is not yet confirmed). Organizations running affected Zyxel firewalls, particularly those with management interfaces reachable from the internet, are at risk. Exploitation is confirmed in the wild: the flaw was added to CISA's KEV on 2022-05-16, EPSS assigns a 99.9% 30-day exploitation probability (100th percentile), and no public PoC is catalogued yet.

Do: Apply Zyxel's fixed firmware per the vendor's instructions immediately, as required by the CISA KEV listing. Until patched, restrict HTTP/HTTPS management access to the firewall to trusted source addresses only. Because exploitation is confirmed in the wild, prioritize internet-facing Zyxel firewalls and review devices for indicators of compromise such as modified configurations or unexpected administrative changes.