Security News

Microsoft fixes Windows 11 issue behind Remote Desktop freezes
2023-01-27 16:42

Microsoft has addressed a known issue causing the Remote Desktop app to freeze on Windows 11 systems after installing the Windows 11 2022 Update. "After installing Windows 11, version 22H2, the Windows Remote Desktop application might stop responding when connecting via a Remote Desktop gateway or Remote Desktop Connection Broker," Redmond explains on the Windows health dashboard entry published in November.

PlugX malware hides on USB devices to infect new Windows hosts
2023-01-27 16:00

Security researchers have analyzed a variant of the PlugX malware that can hide malicious files on removable USB devices and then infect the Windows hosts they connect to. Looking for similar samples, Unit 42 also discovered a PlugX variant on Virus Total that locates sensitive documents on the compromised system and copies them to a hidden folder on the USB drive.

Microsoft starts force upgrading Windows 11 21H2 devices
2023-01-27 00:08

Microsoft has started the forced rollout of Windows 11 22H2 to systems running Windows 11 21H2 that are approaching their end-of-support date on October 10, 2023. The automated feature update rollout phase comes after Windows 11 22H2 has also become available for broad deployment today to users with eligible devices via Windows Update.

Windows 11 KB5022360 preview update released with 15 improvements
2023-01-27 00:05

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New Mimic ransomware abuses ‘Everything’ Windows search tool
2023-01-26 20:22

Security researchers discovered a new ransomware strain they named Mimic that leverages the APIs of the 'Everything' file search tool for Windows to look for files targeted for encryption. Mimic ransomware attacks begin with the victim receiving an executable, presumably via email, which extracts four files on the target system, including the main payload, ancillary files, and tools to disable Windows Defender.

Researchers Release PoC Exploit for Windows CryptoAPI Bug Discovered by NSA
2023-01-26 14:52

Proof-of-concept (Poc) code has been released for a now-patched high-severity security flaw in the Windows CryptoAPI that the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) and the U.K. National Cyber...

Researchers release PoC exploit for critical Windows CryptoAPI bug (CVE-2022-34689)
2023-01-26 14:42

Akamai researchers have published a PoC exploit for a critical vulnerability in Windows CryptoAPI, which validates public key certificates. "An attacker could manipulate an existing public x.509 certificate to spoof their identity and perform actions such as authentication or code signing as the targeted certificate," Microsoft said in October 2022, when they announced fixes for vulnerable Windows and Windows Server versions.

Exploit released for critical Windows CryptoAPI spoofing bug
2023-01-25 23:45

Proof of concept exploit code has been released by Akamai researchers for a critical Windows CryptoAPI vulnerability discovered by the NSA and U.K.'s NCSC allowing MD5-collision certificate spoofing. Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this bug in low-complexity attacks.

Lessons Learned from the Windows Remote Desktop Honeypot Report
2023-01-25 15:06

Over several weeks in October of 2022, Specops collected 4.6 million attempted passwords on their honeypot system. Though the examples given here focused on RDP connections, a honeypot is not limited to that type of connection, and any remote access system is subject to attacks, like SSH. What should an organization do to minimize the potential damage?

New stealthy Python RAT malware targets Windows in attacks
2023-01-25 14:53

A new Python-based malware has been spotted in the wild featuring remote access trojan capabilities to give its operators control over the breached systems. The PY#RATION malware is distributed via a phishing campaign that uses password-protected ZIP file attachments containing two shortcut.