Google says some Pixel phone owners were hacked in zero-day attacks
Google patched CVE-2026-58704, a zero-click Pixel modem privilege-escalation zero-day exploited in limited, targeted attacks.
Google disclosed that a vulnerability in Pixel smartphones' modem software, tracked as CVE-2026-58704, was exploited in limited and targeted cyberattacks and has now been patched. Exploitation could allow an attacker to escape the modem sandbox and escalate privileges to access broader phone data. The bug can be exploited silently with zero user interaction. Google did not attribute the activity, though such modem bugs are commonly abused by surveillance vendors selling spyware to governments.
Cisco FMC flaws exploited by ransomware gang, state-sponsored hackers
Cisco Talos confirms ransomware and state-sponsored groups exploited CVE-2026-20079 and CVE-2026-20316 in Secure Firewall Management Center, deploying Qilin ransomware and Cyclops Blink.
Cisco Talos identified three threat clusters (UAT-12197, UAT-11823, UAT-11988) exploiting CVE-2026-20079, a CVSS 10.0 authentication bypass, and CVE-2026-20316, a CVSS 5.3 static-credential flaw, in Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center. Qilin affiliates used static credentials for reconnaissance and deployed Qilin ransomware; a Sandworm-linked cluster deployed a Cyclops Blink backdoor via a malicious license.tmp file; a third cluster stole credentials through a JSP web shell. Cisco has released hotfixes and urges immediate installation, with broader patches expected next week.
CVE-2026-34486: Apache Software Foundation Apache Tomcat
CISA added CVE-2026-34486, an actively exploited Apache Tomcat EncryptInterceptor bypass enabling unauthenticated deserialization RCE, to its KEV catalog.
CVE-2026-34486 allows bypass of Apache Tomcat's EncryptInterceptor, a flaw introduced by the fix for padding-oracle issue CVE-2026-29146 in Tribes cluster encryption. CISA added the flaw to the Known Exploited Vulnerability catalog on August 4, 2026, alongside actively exploited Langflow and N-central flaws, with remediation required under BOD 26-04 guidance. Official patches and workarounds are available, and reporting notes unauthenticated remote code execution through Java deserialization on the Tribes receiver port 4000.
Microsoft discloses two actively exploited zero-days among 974 vulnerabilities
Microsoft patches 974 flaws in record Patch Tuesday, including two actively exploited Windows zero-days enabling privilege escalation.
Microsoft's largest-ever Patch Tuesday addresses 974 vulnerabilities, with CVE-2026-81963 (Windows Update Stack) and CVE-2026-85880 (Windows Advanced Local Procedure Call) exploited before disclosure. Both zero-days carry CVSS 7.8 ratings and allow privilege escalation. More than 10% of the defects are rated critical, and researchers attribute the record volume to AI-assisted vulnerability discovery without a matching rise in active exploitation.
CISA Warns Water Utilities: Find Your Exposed PLCs Before Attackers Do
CISA urged water utilities to secure internet-exposed PLCs after July 2026 attacks compromised over 100 US water and wastewater systems, suspected Iran-linked.
CISA's exposure-reduction guidance, published August 21, follows July 2026 attacks in which threat actors remotely accessed PLCs connected directly through cellular modems, changed device IP addresses and passwords, and in some cases disabled alarms and shutdown processes without notifying operators. Iran is the suspected actor, though officials stopped short of formal attribution. CISA recommends routing remote access through centrally managed secure gateways, phishing-resistant MFA, unique credentials, and external scanning of industrial protocols such as Modbus, EtherNet/IP, DNP3, BACnet and OPC UA.