Search: “sable-squirrel”

One Exploit Chain, Two Espionage Campaigns: Chrome and Windows Under Fire

Two China-linked APT groups reused identical Chrome/Windows zero-day chain against NGOs, deploying GRIMWIDGE backdoor and LONGTALE credential-stealing extension.

Volexity reports that China-linked actors UTA0560 and JungleBamboo (APT31/TA412) ran byte-identical Chrome/Windows exploit chains against NGOs starting September 1, 2026, combining Chrome type confusion CVE-2026-85046, WebAssembly sandbox escape CVE-2026-87491, and Windows kernel flaw CVE-2026-85880. The Chrome bug was fixed in Chromium source but not yet shipped to Chrome users, making it an effective zero-day with an unusual patch gap. UTA0560 delivered the in-memory GRIMWEDGE JScript backdoor, while JungleBamboo deployed the SUPERSTOMP loader installing LONGTALE, a malicious Chrome extension disguised as Google Gemini that steals cookies, session tokens, and keystrokes. Volexity assesses with low confidence the exploit chain was sold or shared among different Chinese end-users.

Security Affairs·Sep 15, 10:17 UTC · 1d agoThreat actor in the wild 23 sourcesCVE-2026-85046CVE-2026-87491CVE-2026-858804

PEEP: A Browser RAT Posing as a Chrome Extension

SOCRadar's STRU analyzed PEEP, an emerging Chromium-based RAT disguised as a Chrome extension enabling post-exploitation control of browsers.

SOCRadar's Threat Research Unit (STRU) identified and analyzed PEEP, a Chromium-based post-exploitation toolkit distributed as a browser extension. PEEP provides RAT-style capabilities while posing as a legitimate Chrome extension. It is assessed as an emerging threat worth monitoring by defenders.

SOCRadar·Sep 4, 09:50 UTC · 12d agoMalware

WindRelay Malware Pairs With SpyNote RAT in Live-Call Scam

New WindRelay Android NFC-relay malware paired with SpyNote RAT enables real-time card cloning during live scam calls.

Infosecurity Magazine reports on WindRelay, a new Android NFC relay malware that was used together with the SpyNote RAT. The malware let a fraudster relay a victim's contactless card data in real time during a live social-engineering call, enabling the card to be cloned mid-call. The attack combines mobile RAT infection with near-field-communication relaying to defeat contactless payment protections.

Infosecurity Magazine·Aug 12, 14:30 UTC · Aug 12, 2026Malware in the wild

N-able N-central Pre-Auth RCE Flaw Exploited in the Wild

CISA added CVE-2026-86218 (CVSS 10.0), a pre-auth RCE in N-able N-central, to KEV after N-able confirmed in-the-wild exploitation; patch by September 11.

CISA added CVE-2026-86218, a maximum-severity static code injection flaw enabling pre-authentication remote code execution in N-able N-central, to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog with a September 11, 2026 deadline for federal agencies. The flaw is fixed in N-central 2026.3 Hotfix 4 (released September 5), and N-able told customers it has been observed being exploited in the wild. Separately, Huntress is investigating the compromise of a fully patched customer N-central environment on September 4 and cannot yet confirm which flaw was used, while Rapid7-disclosed CVE-2026-86206 and CVE-2026-86207 can be chained by an unauthenticated attacker to create a rogue System Administrator account.

The Hacker News·Sep 9, 04:27 UTC · 7d agoExploit / PoC in the wildCVE-2026-86218CVE-2026-86206CVE-2026-86207

'Sandworm' Chains Cisco Vulnerabilities to Deploy Cyclops Blink

Russia-linked Sandworm chains Cisco vulnerabilities to deploy an upgraded Cyclops Blink botnet variant the FBI disrupted in 2022.

Dark Reading reports that Sandworm, the notorious Russia-linked threat group, is chaining Cisco vulnerabilities to deploy an upgraded version of the Cyclops Blink botnet malware. The FBI previously disrupted the Cyclops Blink botnet in 2022. The activity signals renewed botnet infrastructure building by the group despite prior law-enforcement action.

Dark Reading·Sep 14, 21:37 UTC · 1d agoThreat actor in the wild

Two Compromised joyfill npm Packages Run RAT When Imported Into Node.js

The Hacker News·Aug 4, 05:21 UTC · Aug 4, 2026Malware1

IT help-desk vishing tricks executives into handing over Microsoft 365 access

Arctic Wolf tracks PREY-0058 (linked to UNC6671), a vishing campaign stealing Microsoft 365 session tokens via AiTM panels for SaaS data theft and extortion.

Arctic Wolf is tracking a campaign, PREY-0058, sharing tradecraft with Google Threat Intelligence Group's UNC6671, in which callers posing as internal IT talk employees through fake passkey/MFA setups. Operator-controlled adversary-in-the-middle pages harvest passwords and MFA approvals to seize session tokens, then actors enumerate and bulk-exfiltrate data from SharePoint, OneDrive, Exchange, and Box. Extortion brands include BlackFile, Pink, Helix, Cinder, and Redact; targets are mostly US-based executives in construction, healthcare, real estate, finance, and professional services, with exfiltration shifting to residential proxies like NodeMaven.

Help Net Security·Sep 8, 11:17 UTC · 8d agoThreat actor in the wild1

Abyssos: Technical Analysis of a New Modular RAT

Zscaler ThreatLabz analyzes Abyssos, a new modular C++ RAT offering credential theft, file exfiltration, and VNC-based remote access.

Zscaler ThreatLabz identified a new malware family tracked as Abyssos in late June 2026. Abyssos is a modular remote administration tool (RAT) written in C++ that supports credential theft, file exfiltration, and remote access via VNC. The malware is under active development, with multiple version numbers and obfuscation passes designed to evade security products. The analysis covers its core features, configuration, obfuscation, and network communication protocol.

Zscaler ThreatLabz·Aug 10, 15:51 UTC · Aug 10, 2026Malware

An untrusted site can freeze a Mac using WebGPU

A security researcher shows an untrusted website can trigger a system-wide freeze of a Mac via the WebGPU API.

A blog post describes how an untrusted website can use the WebGPU API to cause a Mac to freeze, taking down the whole system rather than just the browser tab. The write-up appears to analyze the underlying GPU/browser behavior that leads to the hang. The source text provided is minimal, so technical specifics such as affected browsers, macOS versions, and disclosure status are not stated.

Lobsters · security·Sep 11, 00:04 UTC · 5d agoResearch

Mole Ransomware: How One Malicious Spam Campaign Quickly Increased Complexity and Changed Tactics

Unit 42 tracks the new Mole ransomware (CryptoMix family) spread via USPS-themed malspam, with tactics escalating to JavaScript downloaders dropping multiple malware families.

On April 11, 2017, a malspam campaign began distributing Mole ransomware, a CryptoMix-family strain, through USPS-themed emails linking to fake Microsoft Word Online sites offering a bogus Office plugin. By April 13 the campaign added Nemucod JavaScript downloaders installing Mole alongside Kovter and Miuref, and by April 18 it switched to the KINS banking Trojan before moving to speeding-ticket themes and a fake parking services website. Unit 42 notes the rapid tactic changes are likely intended to evade detection, and CryptoMix variants like Mole are typically repackaged within weeks.

Palo Alto Unit 42·Aug 17, 09:53 UTC · Aug 17, 2026Ransomware in the wild

Sandworm-Linked Cyclops Blink Returns With Network Scanning and Packet-Sniffing Capabilities

Sophos uncovers a 64-bit Cyclops Blink variant on hacked Cisco FMC appliances, adding internal network scanning and selective packet capture; linked to Sandworm.

Sophos CTU analyzed a new 64-bit x86-64 Cyclops Blink implant (timezone_check) deployed on Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center appliances compromised via CVE-2026-20079 authentication bypass and CVE-2026-20316 low-privileged login. The activity is assessed with high confidence as Russian-nexus, with a moderate-confidence link to Sandworm (IRON VIKING, also tracked as Seashell Blizzard). The implant runs a parent controller plus five worker modules, masquerades as [kworker/0:1], persists via SysV init scripts at /lib/tz/timezone_check, and beacons to hard-coded C2 89.34.96.56 over a custom TLS protocol on ports 43856 and 49172. New module 0x11 scans internal IPv4 networks for SSH, SMB, LDAP, VMware, HTTP/HTTPS and VPN services, while module 0x12 performs filtered packet capture that can expose cleartext credentials, cookies and tokens.

GBHackers·Sep 14, 09:27 UTC · 2d agoMalware in the wild 13 sourcesCVE-2026-20079CVE-2026-20316

FrostyGoop’s Zoom-In: A Closer Look into the Malware Artifacts, Behaviors and Network Communications

Unit 42 dissects FrostyGoop OT malware, which sent Modbus TCP commands to disrupt heating for 600+ apartment buildings in Ukraine.

Palo Alto Unit 42 analyzed new FrostyGoop/BUSTLEBERM samples, the ninth known ICS-centric malware, first used against a Ukrainian municipal energy company by sending Modbus TCP commands to ENCO control devices. The attack caused a two-day heating outage affecting over 600 apartment buildings during sub-zero temperatures. The Go-compiled malware accepts Modbus register operations and timing parameters via command-line arguments or a JSON configuration file, uses an obscure open-source Modbus library, and checks the Windows BeingDebugged flag to evade debuggers. Unit 42 telemetry recorded over 1 million Modbus TCP devices exposed to the internet between September and October 2024.

Palo Alto Unit 42·Aug 19, 12:04 UTC · 28d agoMalware in the wild

Cardinal RAT Sins Again, Targets Israeli Fin

Unit 42 documents updated Cardinal RAT attacks against Israeli FinTech firms, using BMP steganography, MD5-hash obfuscation, and process injection to hinder analysis and detection.

Unit 42 tracked a series of attacks using an updated Cardinal RAT (version 1.7.2) targeting the Israeli financial technology sector. The .NET loader hides a second-stage DLL inside an embedded BMP image decrypted with a single-byte XOR key, and the payload renames functions, methods, and variables to MD5 hashes for obfuscation. The malware installs a startup-folder LNK file and injects its final payload into RegSvcs.exe or RegAsm.exe, communicating with affiliatecollective[.]club over port 443. A possible relationship with the EVILNUM JavaScript malware used against similar organizations was also noted.

Palo Alto Unit 42·Aug 17, 12:21 UTC · Aug 17, 2026Malware1

China-linked Fire Ant Hides Inside Trusted Infrastructure

China-linked Fire Ant backdoored Cisco IOS XR routers, injected TACACS libraries to steal credentials, and rewrote logs across infrastructure targets.

Sygnia reports the China-linked espionage group Fire Ant compromised Cisco IOS XR routers with purpose-built malware, injected a library into the TACACS authentication daemon to capture live credential material, and manipulated syslog so only messages containing 'Health' were logged. The group used GRE tunnel interfaces with no commit history, rewrote wtmp/utmp/btmp login records, and deployed dormant deep backdoors on Linux systems — one disguised as a SentinelOne agent, another activated by raw network traffic carrying a magic string. Code-level overlap with UNC3886 tooling suggests evolution of that China-nexus cluster's TACACS credential-collection techniques, and Fire Ant used compromised infrastructure to scan SSH, RDP and web ports toward high-value networks.

Security Affairs·Aug 31, 11:10 UTC · 16d agoThreat actor in the wild

Critical ArangoDB Bugs Expose Entire Databases and Enable Remote Code Execution as Root

Two critical ArangoDB flaws (CVSS 9.8/9.9) allow unauthenticated API access and root-level code execution; fixed in 3.12.11.

Remedio researchers reported two critical ArangoDB flaws on August 23, 2026: an authentication bypass via URL-encoded underscores (%5f) in path parsing (GHSA-rrgq-978q-36mq, CVSS 9.8) and a task-execution flaw where a client-controlled isSystem flag lets JavaScript run in the internal context (GHSA-rvhw-4hpw-9vrx, CVSS 9.9). Chained, they allow unauthenticated database access, theft of root password hashes, and root-level code execution when arangod runs as root, such as in the official container image. Patches shipped August 31 in ArangoDB 3.12.11, with GitHub Security Advisories published September 6; CVE identifiers were pending at disclosure time.

GBHackers·Sep 9, 12:28 UTC · 7d agoVulnerability1

Hackers Deploy New SloppyRAT via ClickFix to Enable Ransomware Lateral Movement

Zscaler discovered SloppyRAT, a ClickFix-delivered RAT that gives ransomware operators reconnaissance, remote execution, and SOCKS proxy pivoting for lateral movement.

Zscaler identified SloppyRAT in June 2026, linked to a ransomware-related threat actor. The infection chain starts with a ClickFix lure abusing finger.exe over TCP port 79, then uses curl.exe, IronPython, CastleLoader, and CastleRAT before reflectively loading SloppyRAT as a DLL in memory. The RAT supports HTTPS command-and-control, system inventory, file operations, Defender tampering, and a reverse SOCKS proxy, with evasion features including runtime code encryption, indirect syscalls, certificate pinning, and a possible EtherHiding blockchain fallback. Its persistence code is buggy and the malware appears under development, but the pre-encryption foothold gives defenders a window to stop intrusions.

Cyber Security News·Sep 11, 09:12 UTC · 5d agoMalware in the wild 3 sources

Google Chrome Zero-day Vulnerability Exploited in the Wild (CVE-2026-85046)

Google patched 12 Chrome flaws including in-the-wild V8 zero-day CVE-2026-85046; CISA added it to the KEV catalog.

Google released Chrome 152.0.7977.82/.83 for Windows and Mac (152.0.7977.82 for Linux) fixing 12 vulnerabilities, including CVE-2026-85046, a type confusion flaw in the V8 JavaScript engine being exploited in the wild. CISA added CVE-2026-85046 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog with a patch deadline of September 18, 2026. This is Chrome's sixth zero-day patched in 2026, following CVE-2026-2441, CVE-2026-3909, CVE-2026-3910, CVE-2026-5281 and CVE-2026-11645. The other 11 fixes include use-after-free, out-of-bounds, race condition and input validation flaws in Skia, WebGL, DevTools, Network, Compositing and other components.

Qualys ThreatPROTECT·Sep 7, 05:35 UTC · 9d agoExploit / PoC in the wildCVE-2026-85046CVE-2026-2441CVE-2026-3909+14 CVEs

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·Sep 9, 12:52 UTC · 7d agoThreat actor in the wild1

Fortinet Code Execution Flaw Exploited in PivotC2 RAT Attacks

Threat actors exploit Fortinet heap-based buffer overflow CVE-2025-25249 to deploy PivotC2 RAT, infecting 178 devices and exfiltrating data from US targets.

SOCRadar reports exploitation of an unauthenticated remote code execution vulnerability, CVE-2025-25249 (CVSS 7.4), patched in January in FortiOS and FortiSwitchManager. Attackers scanned over 30,000 IP addresses, infected 178 devices with PivotC2 RAT, and at least two intrusions resulted in data exfiltration, primarily targeting US entities. SOCRadar attributes attacks to a likely Russian-speaking cybercrime actor and suggests the RAT was AI-assisted, in use since July 2026. CISA added the CVE to the KEV catalog with a three-day BOD 26-04 patch deadline for federal agencies.

SecurityWeek·updated Sep 10, 11:26 UTC · 6d ago·first Sep 10, 06:33 UTC · 6d agoExploit / PoC in the wild 3 sourcesCVE-2025-252491

StyleSmuggler: The Magento Zero-Day Behind New Store Attacks

Sansec reports actively exploited Magento/Adobe Commerce zero-day StyleSmuggler enabling unauthenticated RCE and Rust backdoor installation on fully patched stores since September 4.

Sansec discovered StyleSmuggler, an unpatched zero-day in Magento Open Source and Adobe Commerce, affecting all current versions including 2.4.7, 2.4.8 and 2.4.9, with attacks observed since September 4. The two-stage attack poisons Magento's template system via the styles property and executes the injected PHP during 'Payment Transaction Failed Reminder' email rendering, working even when email delivery fails and when sessions are moved to Redis. Successful compromise installs a lightweight Rust backdoor disguised as fc-cache or chronyd that beacons every 60 seconds with 48-byte UDP packets to NTP port 123 at ntp.timesync.to. A second attacker deployed a PHP web shell in product-image cache directories, hidden behind 404 responses unless a correct X-Cache-Token header is present.

Security Affairs·Sep 7, 17:49 UTC · 8d agoExploit / PoC in the wild

U.S. CISA adds a Ray-Project Ray flaw to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

CISA added actively exploited Ray RCE flaw CVE-2025-62593 (CVSS 9.4) to its KEV catalog, ordering federal agencies to patch by August 20, 2026.

CISA added CVE-2025-62593 (CVSS 9.4), a critical remote code execution flaw in the Ray AI compute engine, to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog with a due date of August 20, 2026. Versions before 2.52.0 relied on a User-Agent header check to guard the dashboard/API, which combined with DNS rebinding allows arbitrary code execution on developers' machines via malicious websites or ads. Aviatrix's analysis describes privilege escalation, lateral movement, command and control, and data exfiltration following exploitation. Federal civilian agencies must remediate under BOD 22-01; the flaw affects Firefox and Safari.

Security Affairs·Aug 18, 08:02 UTC · 29d agoExploit / PoC in the wildCVE-2025-62593

ZDI-26-646: Progress Software Kemp LoadMaster escape_quotes Uninitialized Memory Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

ZDI publishes ZDI-26-646 for CVE-2026-8037, an authenticated uninitialized-memory remote code execution flaw in Progress Kemp LoadMaster, rated CVSS 7.2.

Zero Day Initiative published advisory ZDI-26-646 describing an uninitialized memory flaw in Progress Software Kemp LoadMaster's escape_quotes function. Successful exploitation allows remote authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations. ZDI rated the issue CVSS 7.2 and assigned CVE-2026-8037.

ZDI Published Advisories·Sep 9, 05:00 UTC · 7d agoAdvisoryCVE-2026-8037

⚡ Weekly Recap: Chrome 0-Day, Router Hijacks, Coder Supply Chain Attack and More

Weekly recap: actively exploited Chrome V8 zero-day, MikroTik RouterOS zero-day chain, Magento StyleSmuggler backdoor, and critical N-able N-central flaws.

Google patched an actively exploited Chrome V8 type confusion zero-day, CVE-2026-85046 (CVSS 8.8), the sixth exploited Chrome zero-day of 2026. CERT Polska warned of the MikroTrick exploit chain (CVE-2026-67276 and CVE-2026-86060, CVSS 9.2) giving unauthenticated full control of MikroTik RouterOS devices via SSH, observed since September 2. Sansec disclosed the StyleSmuggler Magento/Adobe Commerce zero-day used since September 4 to inject a Rust backdoor into online stores, while N-able patched three critical N-central flaws (CVE-2026-86206, CVE-2026-86207, and CVE-2026-86218, CVSS 10.0) with Huntress observing likely exploitation. Elastic and Morphisec also detailed RevStealer, an information stealer spread via game cheats and a fake Claude Desktop app.

The Hacker News·Sep 7, 14:36 UTC · 9d agoExploit / PoC in the wildCVE-2026-85046CVE-2026-86206CVE-2026-86207+7 CVEs

Chrome V8 Zero-Day Exploited in the Wild Enables Code Execution Inside Sandbox

Google patches actively exploited Chrome V8 zero-day CVE-2026-87491, an out-of-bounds write enabling sandboxed code execution via crafted HTML pages.

Google released Chrome 153.0.8010.36/.37 fixing 230 vulnerabilities, including CVE-2026-87491, an out-of-bounds write in the V8 engine that allowed remote code execution inside the sandbox via a crafted HTML page and is confirmed to be exploited in the wild. The flaw was reported on August 6, 2026 by Jihyeon Jeong of Compsec Lab, Seoul National University, who received a $2,500 bug bounty. This is the seventh actively exploited Chrome zero-day of 2026. The update also fixes five critical flaws in WebGL and Cast, plus a high WebPackaging use-after-free (CVE-2026-87639) credited to OpenAI Codex Security.

The Hacker News·Sep 9, 09:11 UTC · 7d agoExploit / PoC in the wildCVE-2026-87491CVE-2026-2441CVE-2026-3909+10 CVEs

The Crypto Wallet That Never Opened: Tampered Exodus Installer Hides a Modular RAT

Huntress found tampered Exodus crypto wallet installers delivering a modular RAT that steals credentials rather than wallet funds.

Huntress analysts analyzed tampered installers for the Exodus cryptocurrency wallet that bundle a modular remote access trojan. The implant focuses on harvesting credentials instead of draining wallet balances, suggesting broader access theft. The case highlights installer tampering as a supply-chain-style delivery vector for credential-stealing tooling.

Huntress·Sep 1, 04:00 UTC · 15d agoMalware in the wild