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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.

CSO Online · 8d agoAdvisory in the wild

Passkey-themed social engineering leads to identity and cloud compromise

Microsoft tracks ongoing cloud intrusions where passkey-themed helpdesk lures enable AiTM credential theft, MFA persistence, and SharePoint data theft.

Microsoft Security Research is tracking active cloud-based intrusions, observed since May 2026, that begin with helpdesk impersonation calls and SMS lures urging urgent passkey, MFA, or SSO updates. The lures lead to adversary-in-the-middle phishing or device-code authentication flows that capture credentials and session tokens or grant actor access, after which the actors add authentication methods, conduct Microsoft Graph reconnaissance, and download SharePoint and OneDrive content via REST APIs. Phishing domains embed victim organization names as subdomains (e.g., contoso.add-passkey[.]com), are often registered with Nicenic, and go operational within hours. Microsoft advises revoking sessions and removing unauthorized authentication methods for confirmed compromises.

Microsoft Security Blog · 7d agoThreat actor in the wild2

Houthis Used Claude Code to Develop Missile Guidance Software: Anthropic

Anthropic's threat report details a Houthi-linked Yemeni cell using parallel Claude Code sessions to build missile guidance software, evading safeguards by fragmenting tasks.

Anthropic's September threat report describes a Yemen-based cell, assessed as highly likely Houthi-linked, that used Claude Code across multiple parallel instances to develop guidance software for a tactical guided rocket, a ballistic missile with over 2,000 km range, and a hypersonic glide vehicle concept called 'R2000'. The operators integrated open-source autopilot software, built six-degree-of-freedom trajectory simulations, and used reinforcement learning to tune flight-control algorithms, ultimately compiling an offline executable. The group test-fired a guided rocket that failed, then used Claude within hours to analyze launch telemetry. Anthropic blocked numerous requests, but operators evaded safeguards by obscuring intent and dividing work across separate conversations before accounts were banned; the case is one of six conventional-weapons cases (three China-linked, two Russia-linked) in a report covering disrupted operations from December 2025 to August 2026.

Hacker News · AI · 3d agoAI safety & securityHN 47↑ · 38 comments1

⚡ Weekly Recap: AI-Powered PLC Attacks, GitLab Attacks, Stripe Key Leaks and More

US agencies warn of AI-assisted attacks on exposed Siemens PLCs; the week also saw GitLab CVE-2026-19478 exploited and trojanized npm packages found.

The weekly recap leads with a US government warning that threat actors use AI-generated scripts and Censys/ZoomEye scanning to attack internet-exposed Siemens S7 PLCs in water, energy and manufacturing, calling it an active threat. Other stories include active exploitation of GitLab CVE-2026-19478 (CVSS 9.4, unauthenticated project rewriting), 14 trojanized npm packages delivering the RedC2 4.0 Linux backdoor, and the Zombie Card attack that revives expired Visa cards for contactless payment fraud. It also covers suspected Russian clusters UNC6293, UNC7005 and UNC5976 phishing campaigns, a faster Cloudflare Workers Spectre JWT leak, and a bespoke Cl0p JSP web shell deployed after exploiting PTC Windchill flaws.

The Hacker News · 19d agoThreat actor in the wildCVE-2026-194781

Clop-Linked Windchill Web Shell Decrypts Credentials and Maps Engineering Data

ReliaQuest details a bespoke JSP web shell that Clop deploys on hacked PTC Windchill and FlexPLM servers after exploiting CVE-2026-12569.

ReliaQuest analyzed a custom Java web shell planted on vulnerable PTC Windchill and FlexPLM servers following exploitation of CVE-2026-12569 (CVSS 9.3). The implant decrypts Windchill keystore credentials including the LDAP manager password, enumerates the file vault for engineering data, and loads attacker-supplied Java classes in memory for post-exploitation. Commands let operators read and delete files, exfiltrate results, and deliver follow-on payloads such as ransomware. Ransom-ISAC, eCrime.ch and Defused previously attributed the campaign to the Clop data-theft extortion group.

The Hacker News · 28d agoThreat actor in the wildCVE-2026-12569

Iranian cyber targeting of dissidents, activists and journalists

UK NCSC, FBI, and Dutch AIVD expose CHOSEN BRICK spyware used by Iranian state actors against dissidents, activists, and journalists worldwide.

A joint advisory from the UK NCSC, FBI, and Dutch AIVD details CHOSEN BRICK, a Windows spyware family used by Iranian state cyber actors since at least 2025 against dissidents, activists, and journalists in the UK, US, and Netherlands. Actors build rapport on WhatsApp and Telegram impersonating known contacts or platform support, then deliver disguised payloads resembling apps such as Telegram, Norton, RunwayML, or fake MRI results. The malware persists via HKCU Run registry keys, adds Microsoft Defender exclusions, and uses a unique Telegram bot C2 per victim. Capabilities include screen capture, microphone recording, process enumeration, email and messaging data theft, file deletion, and system wiping; victim data has appeared on pro-Iranian leak sites.

NCSC UK · 1d agoThreat actor in the wild2

Impersonating IT support: how threat actors turn a remote session into enterprise-wide access

Microsoft details Teams IT-support impersonation campaigns deploying Node.js implants, AD reconnaissance, and WinRM lateral movement toward domain controllers.

Microsoft Threat Intelligence describes a human-operated campaign where attackers impersonate IT/helpdesk staff via Microsoft Teams external collaboration, talk users into granting remote sessions, and use RMM tools for interactive access. During the session they run PowerShell to silently install a malicious MSI that stages a portable Node.js runtime and obfuscated JavaScript implant for C2, executing follow-on payloads via rundll32. Operators then perform host and Active Directory reconnaissance, capture desktop screenshots, and pivot via WinRM on port 5985 to domain controllers and certificate authorities. The hands-on-keyboard chain, which can precede data theft and ransomware, blends into normal operations by relying on Teams, Quick Assist, msiexec, and Node.js; Microsoft shares hunting and mitigation guidance.

Microsoft Security Blog · 14d agoThreat actor in the wild

Iran-Linked Hackers Use Fake LinkedIn Job Offers to Deploy NodeRabbit and PollCat RATs

Iran-linked Mirage Kitten targets software engineers with fake LinkedIn recruiter coding tests deploying new NodeRabbit and PollCat RATs.

Kaspersky researchers link the campaign to Mirage Kitten (also tracked as UNC1549, Smoke Sandstorm, Nimbus Manticore), with victims in aviation, aerospace and fintech in Egypt, Ethiopia and Afghanistan. Trojanized npm dependencies (colorized_terminal, pretty-log) bundled in coding-challenge archives launch the Node.js implants across Windows, Linux and macOS. NodeRabbit uses AES-256-GCM-encrypted C2 via Azure, and its third variant persists through a fake GitHub Copilot Helper VS Code extension plus Git post-merge/post-checkout hooks. PollCat is an obfuscated JavaScript RAT that registers with C2 before OTP authentication and inventories tools from 24 security vendors.

GBHackers · 7d agoThreat actor in the wild1

Windows Defender ShieldCrash 0-Day Lets Attackers Read Arbitrary Files as SYSTEM

Unpatched Windows Defender zero-day 'ShieldCrash' PoC lets local attackers read arbitrary files as SYSTEM, apparently bypassing the CVE-2026-69414 patch.

Researcher MSNightmare published a skeleton proof-of-concept for 'ShieldCrash', an unpatched Microsoft Defender flaw enabling arbitrary file reads with SYSTEM privileges that reportedly persists on supported Windows versions after September 2026 updates. It appears to bypass the recent fix for the Malware Protection Engine elevation-of-privilege flaw CVE-2026-69414 (ShieldBreak), patched in engine version 1.1.26080.3. SYSTEM-level file disclosure could expose credentials, application secrets and registry hives and support post-compromise reconnaissance. No active exploitation is confirmed and Microsoft had issued no specific patch or mitigation at disclosure time.

GBHackers · 7d agoExploit / PoCCVE-2026-694141

Chaotic Eclipse Released ShieldCrash, A PoC For Microsoft Defender Zero-Day

Researcher Chaotic Eclipse released ShieldCrash, a PoC showing Microsoft Defender's CVE-2026-69414 patch is incomplete, enabling arbitrary file reads as SYSTEM.

Security researcher Chaotic Eclipse published ShieldCrash, a proof-of-concept exploit for the Microsoft Malware Protection Engine privilege escalation vulnerability CVE-2026-69414 (ShieldBreak). The PoC performs arbitrary file reads with SYSTEM privileges on all supported Windows versions, including systems running the September 2026 security updates and Malware Protection Engine version 1.1.26080.3. The researcher claims Microsoft's patch fixed several exploit paths but missed a specific condition that still enables the attack. His recent releases also include zero-day PoCs targeting Nvidia, Kaspersky, Avast, and CrowdStrike Falcon.

Security Affairs · 7d agoExploit / PoCCVE-2026-69414

Party’s Over for Crypto Scammers Who Went on a Spending Spree After a $240 Million Bitcoin Theft

Malone Lam's plea hearing approaches in the $240 million bitcoin social engineering theft; the case highlights surging crypto fraud and limited enforcement.

Malone Lam, accused of organizing a social engineering attack that stole over $240 million in bitcoin (4,100+ BTC) from a Washington, D.C. resident in August 2024, has a plea agreement hearing set. Callers impersonating Google and Gemini staff tricked the victim into revealing security codes. Lam and 17 co-defendants spent lavishly before FBI arrests; crypto investment fraud complaints to the FBI rose nearly 50% in 2025 while DOJ disbanded its crypto crimes unit.

SecurityWeek · 8d agoPolicy & legal

Attackers Use Passkey Phishing to Hijack Microsoft Cloud Accounts and Exfiltrate Data

Microsoft details two campaigns: million-email CEO impersonation ACH fraud and passkey-themed vishing that hijacks Microsoft cloud accounts for data theft and extortion.

Microsoft disclosed a campaign that sent over one million CEO-impersonation scam emails between August 3-5, 2026, targeting U.S. accounts payable departments with fake ServiceNow subscription invoices to induce ACH transfers, using generative AI to tailor templates. A second campaign detected since May 2026 uses passkey/MFA-themed voice phishing posing as the IT help desk, redirecting victims via SMS to counterfeit Microsoft sign-in pages and adversary-in-the-middle or device-code flows to hijack accounts. Post-compromise activity includes adding attacker-controlled authentication methods, high-volume Microsoft Graph activity, SharePoint and OneDrive downloads, and mailbox collection via REST APIs. Microsoft attributes initial access to Storm-3121 (linked to ShinyHunters and Falcon extortion) and Storm-3032 (UNC6671, a BlackFile splinter operating the Helix extortion brand).

The Hacker News · 3d agoPhishing & fraud in the wild2

Google fixes the seventh actively exploited Chrome zero-day of 2026

Google patched 230 Chrome flaws in version 153.0.8010.36, including actively exploited V8 out-of-bounds write CVE-2026-87491 (CVSS 8.8), the seventh 2026 Chrome zero-day.

Google released Chrome 153.0.8010.36 on Linux and 153.0.8010.36/.37 on Windows and Mac, fixing 230 security vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-87491, an out-of-bounds write in the V8 JavaScript and WebAssembly engine (CVSS 8.8), is being exploited in the wild through specially crafted HTML pages to execute arbitrary code inside Chrome's sandbox. Google says it is the seventh actively exploited Chrome zero-day of 2026, following CVE-2026-2441, CVE-2026-3909, CVE-2026-3910, CVE-2026-5281, CVE-2026-11645, and CVE-2026-85046. Researcher Jihyeon Jeong of Seoul National University reported it on 2026-08-06 and received a $2,500 bounty; Google disclosed no technical details or attribution.

Security Affairs · 7d agoExploit / PoC in the wildCVE-2026-87491CVE-2026-2441CVE-2026-3909+4 CVEs

Apollo discloses data breach from ongoing wave of attacks hitting financial sector

Apollo Global Management confirmed a breach of cloud platforms by BlackFile-linked social engineering attackers, exposing personal data including Social Security numbers.

Apollo Global Management disclosed that attackers accessed some of its cloud platforms between July 6 and July 10, 2026. The company determined on August 12 that compromised data included names, dates of birth, contact information, home addresses, and Social Security numbers. Google attributed the broader campaign against financial sector organizations to BlackFile, a threat group affiliated with The Com that operates extortion brands Redact, Pink, Helix, and Falcon. Apollo, which manages $1.05 trillion in assets, is the first victim to formally confirm sensitive personal data was compromised in this wave, with Blackstone and Bain Capital also reportedly targeted.

CyberScoop · 26d agoData breach in the wild

Sandworm-Linked UAC-0145 Uses Fake Job Interviews to Push VPN That Can Run Commands

CERT-UA says Sandworm-linked UAC-0145 poses as recruiters in fake job interviews to deliver a trojanized WireGuard VPN that runs attacker commands on victims' hosts.

CERT-UA attributes the campaign, ongoing since May 2026, to UAC-0145, a subgroup within GRU-affiliated Sandworm (APT44). Posing as HR staff of firms like ATLAS Business Group and Sopra Steria Bulgaria, attackers lure Ukrainian IT specialists into Zoom interviews, then share failing WireGuard configs and push a custom SopraVPN client from SourceForge. The modified WireGuard build supports a non-standard SymmetricKey option holding AES-256-GCM-encrypted PowerShell, decrypted with the decoded PrivateKey and executed via runScriptCommand. A scheduled task then downloads a second-stage payload on Windows, while the Linux variant fetches it via cURL.

The Hacker News · Aug 12, 2026Threat actor1

Iranian hackers use CHOSEN BRICK Windows malware to spy on targets

Iranian state-linked hackers use CHOSEN BRICK Windows malware, spread via Telegram and WhatsApp social engineering, to spy on dissidents and journalists worldwide.

US, UK, and Dutch cyber agencies with the FBI issued a joint advisory on Iranian state-linked hackers deploying a Windows malware strain called CHOSEN BRICK against dissidents, activists, and journalists, primarily in the US, UK, and Netherlands. Attacks begin with messages on WhatsApp or Telegram impersonating trusted contacts or technical support, tricking victims into running malicious files disguised as apps such as Pictory, RunwayML, Norton Antivirus, Telegram, and KeePass. The malware persists via Registry Run keys, adds Microsoft Defender exclusions, and uses a per-victim Telegram bot for command-and-control while stealing email, Telegram and WhatsApp data, screenshots, and audio. Stolen data is exfiltrated via Telegram or cloud services like VultrObjects and StorjShare, and sometimes appears on pro-Iranian leak sites, increasing physical risk for dissidents abroad.

BleepingComputer · 7h agoThreat actor in the wild 6 sources

CISA Adds Two Known Exploited Vulnerabilities to Catalog

CISA added actively exploited CVE-2026-76460 (Cisco Identity Services Engine) and CVE-2026-87886 (Acronis Backup) to its KEV catalog.

CISA added two vulnerabilities to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog based on evidence of active exploitation: CVE-2026-76460, an incorrect use of privileged APIs flaw in Cisco Identity Services Engine, and CVE-2026-87886, an incorrect default permissions flaw in Acronis Backup. Under Binding Operational Directive 26-04, Federal Civilian Executive Branch agencies must prioritize rapid remediation of KEV vulnerabilities on publicly exposed assets that grant total control post-exploitation, and check whether systems were compromised before patching.

CISA Advisories · 16h agoExploit / PoC in the wildCVE-2026-76460CVE-2026-87886

Passkey-themed phishing attacks lead to Microsoft 365 data theft

Microsoft links ShinyHunters- and Helix-affiliated actors to passkey-themed vishing and device-code phishing that compromises Microsoft 365 accounts and steals cloud data.

Microsoft attributes passkey- and SSO-themed social engineering activity, observed since May 2026, to Storm-3121 (linked to ShinyHunters and Falcon) and Storm-3032 (tied to BlackFile members now operating as Helix). Attackers impersonate corporate IT help desks by phone or SMS, urging fake passkey, MFA, or SSO updates and directing victims to adversary-in-the-middle phishing pages or device-code authentication flows that yield credentials, session tokens, and OAuth tokens. Post-compromise behavior includes Microsoft Graph enumeration of users, SharePoint, and OAuth grants, plus persistence via attacker-controlled MFA methods. Google Threat Intelligence tracks related activity as UNC6671, linked to the BlackFile, Helix, Falcon, Pink, and Redact extortion gangs.

BleepingComputerupdated · 13h agofirst · 5d agoPhishing & fraud in the wild 9 sources2

ShieldCrash PoC: Microsoft Defender Fix Bypass

A ShieldCrash proof-of-concept bypasses Microsoft's patch for CVE-2026-69414, a high-severity elevation-of-privilege flaw in the Microsoft Malware Protection Engine.

Microsoft previously fixed CVE-2026-69414 (ShieldBreak), a high-severity elevation-of-privilege vulnerability in the Microsoft Malware Protection Engine used by Microsoft Defender. SOCRadar now reports a new proof-of-concept dubbed ShieldCrash demonstrating that the published fix can be bypassed. The available source text does not detail affected versions or whether the bypass has been used in real attacks.

SOCRadar · 6d agoExploit / PoC 2 sourcesCVE-2026-69414

4.1 Million Impacted by AdaptHealth Data Breach

AdaptHealth disclosed a breach affecting 4,115,802 people after a socially engineered attacker stole health and insurance data from cloud-based patient systems.

A threat actor used social engineering to hijack a user session at a third-party contractor and gained access to AdaptHealth cloud applications, including patient management and document storage systems, in early June. Names, contact and demographic information, and health and health insurance data were exfiltrated; Social Security numbers and financial information were not affected. AdaptHealth reported 4,115,802 affected individuals to HHS, whose breach portal listed the incident this week; Baylor Genetics separately reported 2,810,878 individuals affected in a related June healthcare breach.

SecurityWeek · 6d agoData breach

$245 million in stolen crypto funded racketeering crew’s lavish lifestyle

Malone Lam pleaded guilty in D.C. federal court to a racketeering conspiracy that stole and laundered over $245 million in cryptocurrency via social engineering.

Malone Lam, a 22-year-old Singapore citizen, pleaded guilty in Washington D.C. federal court to running a racketeering conspiracy that stole and laundered more than $245 million in cryptocurrency. The operation ran from at least October 2023 through May 2025, grew out of online gaming platforms, and relied on social engineering to trick victims into surrendering wallet access, sometimes including break-ins to victims' homes. Lam was arrested on September 18, 2025 in Miami; prosecutors said members spent lavishly on nightclubs, private jets, and exotic cars priced from $100,000 to $3.8 million.

Help Net Security · 7d agoPhishing & fraud

Risky Bulletin: BEC campaign steals €35 million from French notaries

Hackers stole over €35 million from 500+ French notary offices in a four-year BEC campaign; ANSSI spent two years helping evict the attackers.

A business email compromise campaign breached more than 500 French notary offices — about 7% of all French notaries per the Conseil Supérieur du Notariat — over four years, stealing more than €35 million by phishing initial access and silently modifying wire transfer details. France's cybersecurity agency ANSSI worked for two years behind the scenes to help notaries remove the persistent attackers, who had deep access; officials also feared hackers could issue fake notarized acts such as marriage certificates or forged real estate deals. No forged documents have been found so far, but notaries have added two-factor authentication and in-person requirements for banking details, and banks added extra checks in 2024. The newsletter also notes other incidents, including a $320 million Bitcoin extraction from Blockstream's Liquid Network and a JetBrains Cadence breach via TeamCity servers.

Risky Business News · 10d agoPhishing & fraud in the wild1

U.S. CISA adds Google Chromium V8 flaw to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

CISA added actively exploited Chrome V8 type-confusion flaw CVE-2026-85046 (CVSS 8.8) to its KEV catalog; Google patched it in Chrome 152.

CISA added CVE-2026-85046 (CVSS 8.8), a V8 type confusion flaw, to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, requiring US federal agencies to patch by September 18, 2026. Google fixed it in Chrome Stable 152.0.7977.82/.83 for Windows and Mac and 152.0.7977.82 for Linux, alongside 11 other vulnerabilities. The bug lets a remote attacker execute arbitrary code inside the browser sandbox via a crafted HTML page and is the sixth actively exploited Chrome zero-day of 2026. Researcher Salvatore Gulizia (Serotav) reported it on August 4, 2026.

Security Affairs · 12d agoExploit / PoC in the wildCVE-2026-85046CVE-2026-2441CVE-2026-3909+3 CVEs1

Google fixes the sixth actively exploited Chrome zero

Google patched 12 Chrome flaws including actively exploited V8 type confusion zero-day CVE-2026-85046 (CVSS 8.8), enabling sandboxed remote code execution via crafted webpages.

Google released Chrome Stable 152.0.7977.82/.83 for Windows and Mac and 152.0.7977.82 for Linux, fixing 12 vulnerabilities including CVE-2026-85046, a type confusion in V8 with a CVSS score of 8.8. Google says an exploit exists in the wild, making this the sixth actively exploited Chrome zero-day of 2026. The bug affects the JavaScript and WebAssembly engine and allows arbitrary code execution inside the browser sandbox via a specially crafted HTML page. Researcher Salvatore Gulizia (Serotav) reported the flaw on August 4, 2026 and received a $1,000 bounty.

Security Affairs · 12d agoExploit / PoC in the wildCVE-2026-85046CVE-2026-2441CVE-2026-3909+3 CVEs1