CISA tells operators to harden Siemens S7 PLCs. Here’s how to do it without disrupting production
CISA, NSA, FBI and other agencies warn of active targeting of internet-exposed Siemens S7 PLCs and urge patching, exposure removal and hardening.
Joint advisory AA26-231A from the NSA, CISA, FBI, Department of Energy and EPA warns that actors are actively targeting Siemens S7 PLCs using internet scanning, AI-assisted scripts and libraries such as Snap7 and python-snap7 over S7comm on TCP port 102. The advisory covers S7-200 through S7-1500 series controllers and recommends patching, removing internet exposure, access controls, monitoring and disabling unneeded services. Siemens states no new S7 vulnerabilities are involved, only misconfigurations addressed in existing ProductCERT guidance SSB-104599. The article details how to apply each measure without breaking production dependencies such as remote I/O, HMI links and diagnostics.
September 2026 Patch Tuesday forecast: All we need is more time
September 2026 Patch Tuesday forecast expects record CVE volume after August's 398 fixes, with SharePoint flaws CVE-2026-55040 and CVE-2026-63520 actively exploited.
This Patch Tuesday forecast column notes August 2026 Patch Tuesday was the second largest ever with 398 resolved CVEs, yet only one was confirmed actively exploited. SharePoint flaws CVE-2026-55040 and CVE-2026-63520 are being chained for authentication bypass and remote code execution in active attacks against unpatched servers. Microsoft Defender's ShieldBreak elevation of privilege flaw (CVE-2026-69414) is publicly disclosed with PoC code and a fix is expected, while Chrome CVE-2026-85046 was reported exploited in the wild. Several products, including Windows 11 24H2 Home/Pro and Exchange Server 2016/2019 ESU, reach end of support in October 2026.
Microsoft releases Windows 10 KB5122878 extended security update
Microsoft shipped Windows 10 ESU update KB5122878, delivering the record September 2026 Patch Tuesday fixes, including patches for two actively exploited zero-days.
Microsoft released KB5122878 for Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC and ESU customers, moving builds 19045/19044 to .7725 with security and bug fixes. The update carries this month's record September 2026 Patch Tuesday set, which fixed 966 Microsoft vulnerabilities including two actively exploited zero-day flaws. It also fixes BitLocker recovery-key prompts and Remote Desktop audio redirection, and updates Secure Boot certificate rollout and Morocco time zone data. Microsoft reports no known issues with the update.
AI-fueled attacks pose ‘active threat’ to water, other sectors, U.S. agencies warn
NSA, CISA, FBI, DOE and EPA warn hackers are using AI-generated scripts to actively attack Siemens S7 PLCs across critical-infrastructure sectors.
A joint cybersecurity advisory from the NSA, CISA, FBI, Department of Energy and EPA warns of an active threat campaign targeting water, food, energy, chemical, manufacturing and commercial facilities via Siemens S7 Series programmable logic controllers. The actors use internet scanning to find exposed or poorly protected PLCs, then deploy AI-generated exploitation scripts disguised as legitimate monitoring tools, an OT first that dramatically lowers the expertise required for ICS attacks. Siemens says no new S7 vulnerabilities are involved, only exploitation of misconfigurations, and it is coordinating with CISA's ProductCERT. The warning follows a joint FBI-EPA advisory confirming attacks at water and wastewater utilities in at least 12 states since July 27.
Adobe security advisory (AV26-808) – Update 1
Canada's Cyber Centre updated Adobe advisory AV26-808 to flag that CVE-2026-71362 in Adobe Commerce is being exploited in the wild.
The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security advisory AV26-808 (Update 1) lists vulnerabilities affecting Adobe products including Campaign Classic, Adobe Commerce, Magento Open Source, ColdFusion 2023/2025, Lightroom Classic, and Content Credentials SDKs. Update 1 notes that open-source reporting indicates CVE-2026-71362 is being exploited in the wild. Users and administrators are urged to review the referenced links and apply updates, including those in Adobe bulletin APSB26-92 for Adobe Commerce.
Adobe security advisory (AV26-888)
Canada's Cyber Centre warns CVE-2026-75650 in Adobe Commerce and Magento Open Source is exploited in the wild; hotfixes and updates are available.
Canadian Centre for Cyber Security advisory AV26-888 (September 8, 2026) covers CVE-2026-75650 in Adobe Commerce, Adobe Commerce B2B and Magento Open Source. Adobe states the vulnerability is being exploited in the wild. Affected versions extend through the August 2026 patch levels across the 2.4.4-2.4.9 branches, with B2B versions 1.3.x-1.5.x also affected. Administrators are urged to apply the available hotfixes and updates.
China-Based Artificial Intelligence Companies Conducting Industrial-Scale Distillation Campaigns Against U.S. AI Companies
NSA, CISA, and FBI warn DeepSeek, Alibaba, and other Chinese AI firms ran industrial-scale distillation of U.S. frontier models, threatening U.S. AI leadership.
A joint NSA, CISA, and FBI Cybersecurity Advisory (AA26-251A) says China-based firms DeepSeek, Moonshot AI, Alibaba, MiniMax, StepFun, and Z.AI extracted billions of tokens from U.S. frontier models including Claude, GPT, Gemini, and Grok, likely with Chinese government knowledge. Campaigns running since at least late 2024 used native APIs, cloud providers, third-party aggregators, gray-market proxy "transfer stations", and shared premium subscriptions to bypass geographic restrictions, evade safeguards, and violate providers' terms of use. The agencies recommend detecting anomalous prompts, accounts, and usage patterns; subtly altering responses to suspected distillers; and cross-organization intelligence sharing. They also call DeepSeek's publicly cited $5.6M training cost misleading because it excludes data acquired through distillation.
Cisco Identity Services Engine Hardening Release: September 2026
Cisco ISE hardening release fixes multiple internally discovered vulnerabilities, including an authentication bypass known to be actively exploited.
Cisco released September 2026 hardening updates for Identity Services Engine (ISE) and ISE Passive Identity Connector (ISE-PIC) following a comprehensive internal security review that uncovered multiple vulnerabilities. One of the flaws, an ISE authentication bypass, is known to be actively exploited. Cisco grouped the issues by underlying vulnerability to help customers prioritize patching and streamline disclosure.
Cisco Secure Firewall Adaptive Security Appliance, Secure Firewall Threat Defense, and Secure Firewall Management Center Software Hardening Release: September 2026
Cisco's September 2026 firewall hardening release fixes internally found ASA, FTD, and FMC flaws, two of which are actively exploited.
Cisco released September 2026 hardening updates for Secure Firewall ASA, FTD, and FMC software addressing multiple vulnerabilities discovered during a comprehensive internal security review. Two of the vulnerabilities are known to be actively exploited, including a Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center static credential vulnerability. Details are provided in separate linked advisories.
Cisco security advisory (AV26-921)
Canadian Cyber Centre warns actively exploited Cisco Secure Email Gateway SQL injection CVE-2026-76461 was added to CISA's KEV database.
The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security advisory AV26-921 (September 14, 2026) covers a SQL injection vulnerability in Cisco Secure Email Gateway (AsyncOS) and Secure Email and Web Manager. Affected versions include AsyncOS/Secure Email Gateway prior to 15.5.5-014, 16.0.4-302, and 16.5.0-780, and Secure Email and Web Manager prior to 15.5.5-006 and 16.5.0-429. Cisco stated CVE-2026-76461 is being actively exploited, and CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities database the same day. Users and administrators are urged to apply updates as they become available.
Cisco Secure Email Gateway and Secure Email and Web Manager Security Hardening Release: September 2026
Cisco's September 2026 hardening release for Secure Email Gateway and Secure Email and Web Manager patches internally found flaws, one actively exploited.
Cisco issued a security hardening release for Cisco Secure Email Gateway and Secure Email and Web Manager covering multiple internally discovered vulnerabilities, grouped by CWE class to streamline patching. Cisco states one of the vulnerabilities is known to be actively exploited. The exploited issue is the Cisco Secure Email Gateway SQL Injection Vulnerability detailed in a companion advisory. Software updates are available.
GitLab security advisory (AV26-917)
Canada's Cyber Centre warns GitLab versions before 19.1.8, 19.2.6 and 19.3.2 are affected; CISA added CVE-2026-85706 to KEV.
The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security issued advisory AV26-917 on September 11, 2026, warning that GitLab versions prior to 19.1.8, 19.2.6, and 19.3.2 are affected by vulnerabilities. CISA added CVE-2026-85706 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on the same date. The Cyber Centre urges users and administrators to review the advisory links and apply GitLab's critical patch release updates.
Google security advisory (AV26-904)
Google patches Chrome CVE-2026-87491, exploited in the wild and added to CISA's KEV; users should update to 153.0.8010.37.
Google released a stable channel desktop update fixing vulnerabilities in Chrome prior to 153.0.8010.37. Google confirmed that an exploit for CVE-2026-87491 exists in the wild, and CISA added the flaw to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on September 9, 2026. The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security issued advisory AV26-904 urging users and administrators to apply the update.
ConnectWise security advisory (AV26-903)
ConnectWise patches ScreenConnect CVE-2026-84869, reported exploited in the wild; administrators should update to 26.6.5.
ConnectWise shipped ScreenConnect 26.6.5 to fix a vulnerability tracked as CVE-2026-84869 affecting versions prior to 26.6.5. Open-source reporting indicates the flaw is being exploited in the wild. The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security issued advisory AV26-903 urging users and administrators to apply the patch.
Microsoft Patch Tuesday for September 2026 — Snort rules and prominent vulnerabilities
Microsoft's September 2026 Patch Tuesday fixes 973 vulnerabilities, including 113 critical, with two Windows privilege-escalation bugs (CVE-2026-81963, CVE-2026-85880) exploited in the wild.
Microsoft's September 2026 security update addresses 973 vulnerabilities across its product lineup, 113 rated critical, of which 82 are remote code execution flaws. Two vulnerabilities are confirmed exploited in the wild: CVE-2026-81963, an elevation-of-privilege flaw in the Windows Update Stack (CVSS 7.8), and CVE-2026-85880, a heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Advanced Local Procedure Call (CVSS 7.8). Microsoft flags several bugs as more likely to be exploited, including a 9.8 RCE in Windows DNS Server (CVE-2026-69730), an 8.8 RCE in Windows Kerberos (CVE-2026-69676), and a 9.0 EoP in Spring Cloud Azure (CVE-2026-69854). Cisco Talos published accompanying Snort rules to detect exploitation attempts against the prominent flaws.
Microsoft security advisory – September 2026 monthly rollup (AV26-896) – Update 1
Canada's Cyber Centre relays Microsoft's September 2026 rollup; CISA added exploited zero-days CVE-2026-85880 and CVE-2026-81963 to KEV.
Advisory AV26-896 from the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security summarizes Microsoft's September 2026 monthly security rollup, listing affected products across Windows, Office, .NET, Azure, Exchange and SQL Server. It notes Microsoft confirmed CVE-2026-81963 and CVE-2026-85880 have been exploited. On September 8, 2026, CISA added both CVEs to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, and administrators are urged to apply the updates.
Mikrotik security advisory (AV26-887)
Canada's Cyber Centre urges MikroTik RouterOS updates as CVE-2026-67276, CVE-2026-67277 and CVE-2026-86060 are reported exploited in the wild.
Canadian Centre for Cyber Security advisory AV26-887 covers MikroTik RouterOS vulnerabilities affecting versions prior to 6.49.21, 7.23.4, 7.24.2 and 7.25 beta 3. Open-source reporting indicates CVE-2026-67276, CVE-2026-67277 and CVE-2026-86060 are being exploited in the wild. The Cyber Centre urges users and administrators to review the vendor advisories and apply the necessary updates.
N-able security advisory (AV26-885)
N-able says CVE-2026-86218 in N-central is exploited in the wild; MSPs must apply hotfix 2026.3.1.14 (2026.3 HF4).
Canadian Centre for Cyber Security advisory AV26-885 covers CVE-2026-86218 in N-able N-central, which the vendor confirms is being exploited in the wild. Versions prior to 2026.3.1.14 are affected, and the fix ships as N-central 2026.3 Hotfix 4. The Cyber Centre urges users and administrators to apply the update promptly.
US agencies warn of AI-powered attacks on Siemens industrial controllers
NSA, CISA, FBI, DOE, and EPA warn threat actors use AI-assisted scripts and snap7 libraries to access internet-exposed Siemens S7 PLCs in critical infrastructure sectors.
NSA, CISA, FBI, DOE, and EPA issued a joint advisory warning that threat actors combine open-source snap7.dll/python-snap7 libraries with AI-generated scripts to gain read/write access to Siemens S7-200 through S7-1500 PLCs over the S7comm protocol. Actors use Censys and ZoomEye to find internet-exposed devices and abuse default or weak credentials, with activity assessed as persistent reconnaissance and positioning for future write operations. Agencies urge device inventory, patching, removing PLCs from the internet, and hardening; the pattern resembles Iran-linked CyberAv3ngers targeting of Rockwell, Schneider, and Siemens PLCs.