AT&T Agrees to $177 Million Settlement for Data Breach, Offering Customers Potential Compensation of Up to $7,500 In a significant development for data privacy, telecommunications giant AT&T has consented to a settlement of $177 million following a massive data breach…
On June 26, 2025, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added three security vulnerabilities to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, all of which are subject to active exploitation. These vulnerabilities affect AMI MegaRAC, D-Link DIR-859 routers, and Fortinet FortiOS. The details of the vulnerabilities are as follows:
CISA Updates KEV Catalog with Three Critical Vulnerabilities Affecting AMI MegaRAC, D-Link, and Fortinet On June 26, 2025, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) expanded its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog to include three significant security flaws. These…
New HTML Smuggling Scheme Distributes DCRat Malware to Russian-Speaking Users
On September 27, 2024
GenAI / Cybercrime
A recent campaign is specifically targeting Russian-speaking users by spreading the DCRat malware (also known as DarkCrystal RAT) through a method known as HTML smuggling. This marks the first instance of this malware being delivered via this technique, shifting away from traditional methods such as compromised websites or phishing emails that included malicious PDF attachments or Excel documents with macros. “HTML smuggling serves primarily as a means of delivering the payload,” explained Netskope researcher Nikhil Hegde in an analysis released Thursday. “The payload can either be embedded directly within the HTML or fetched from an external source.” The HTML files can be distributed via fake websites or malicious spam emails. When victims open the file in their web browser, the hidden payload is decoded and downloaded to their system. The success of this attack relies significantly on social engineering tactics to persuade the victim to execute the file.
New HTML Smuggling Campaign Targets Russian-Speaking Users with DCRat Malware September 27, 2024 GenAI / Cybercrime A recent cybersecurity development highlights a targeted campaign aimed at Russian-speaking users, delivering the commodity trojan known as DCRat, also referred to as DarkCrystal…
A recent collaborative investigation by WIRED, The Markup, and CalMatters has unveiled that numerous data brokers are purposefully obscuring their opt-out and data deletion tools from Google Search results. This tactic complicates the ability of consumers to locate and utilize…
Explore topics in Governance & Risk Management, Operational Technology (OT), and Video. Insights from Space Policy and Technology Director Paul Liias on Satellite Security Challenges By Tony Morbin (@tonymorbin) • August 15, 2025 Paul Liias, Head of Space Policy and…
Date: May 28, 2025
Category: Ransomware / Data Breach
An Iranian national has acknowledged his involvement in a major ransomware and extortion operation linked to the Robbinhood ransomware in the U.S. Sina Gholinejad (also known as Sina Ghaaf), 37, along with his accomplices, infiltrated the computer networks of multiple U.S. organizations, encrypting files and demanding Bitcoin ransoms. Arrested in North Carolina in early January, Gholinejad pleaded guilty to charges of computer fraud and abuse, as well as conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He faces up to 30 years in prison, with his sentencing set for August 2025. The U.S. Department of Justice reported that these cyberattacks led to significant disruptions and financial losses exceeding $19 million for cities like Greenville, North Carolina, and Baltimore, Maryland.
Iranian Hacker Pleads Guilty in $19 Million Robbinhood Ransomware Attack on Baltimore May 28, 2025 In a significant development in the realm of cybersecurity, an Iranian national, Sina Gholinejad, has entered a guilty plea in the United States for his…
Data Breach Exposes Personal Information of Afghan Resettlement Applicants in UK A recent data breach involving a subcontractor for the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has resulted in the exposure of sensitive personal information of several thousand Afghan resettlement applicants.…
Severe RCE Vulnerabilities in Cisco ISE and ISE-PIC Enable Unauthenticated Attackers to Obtain Root Access
Jun 26, 2025
Vulnerability, Network Security
Cisco has issued updates to resolve two critical security vulnerabilities in the Identity Services Engine (ISE) and ISE Passive Identity Connector (ISE-PIC) that may allow unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges. These vulnerabilities, identified as CVE-2025-20281 and CVE-2025-20282, both carry a maximum CVSS score of 10.0. Here’s a detailed overview of the vulnerabilities:
CVE-2025-20281: A remote code execution flaw impacting Cisco ISE and ISE-PIC versions 3.3 and later, enabling an unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code on the system as root.
CVE-2025-20282: A remote code execution vulnerability in Cisco ISE and ISE-PIC version 3.4 that allows an unauthenticated attacker to upload arbitrary files to the device and execute them as root.
Cisco has indicated that CVE-2025-20281 stems from inadequate…
Cisco Addresses Critical RCE Vulnerabilities in ISE and ISE-PIC On June 26, 2025, Cisco issued urgent updates to mitigate two severe vulnerabilities in its Identity Services Engine (ISE) and ISE Passive Identity Connector (ISE-PIC). These flaws could allow unauthenticated remote…
Microsoft Flags Storm-0501 as a Significant Threat in Hybrid Cloud Ransomware Operations
September 27, 2024
Ransomware / Cloud Security
Microsoft has identified the cyber group Storm-0501 as a noteworthy threat, targeting key sectors such as government, manufacturing, transportation, and law enforcement in the United States. Their sophisticated, multi-stage attack strategy is designed to infiltrate hybrid cloud environments, allowing attackers to move laterally from on-premises systems to the cloud. This approach leads to data exfiltration, credential theft, tampering, persistent backdoor access, and ransomware deployment. According to Microsoft’s threat intelligence team, Storm-0501 operates as a financially driven cybercriminal organization, utilizing both commodity and open-source tools for their ransomware activities. Active since 2021, they initially focused on educational institutions with the Sabbath ransomware before transitioning to a ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) model, distributing various ransomware variants including Hive, BlackCat (ALPHV), Hunters International, LockBit, and Embargo ransomware.
Microsoft Flags Storm-0501 as Significant Threat in Hybrid Cloud Ransomware Incidents On September 27, 2024, Microsoft announced a notable increase in ransomware attacks orchestrated by the threat actor known as Storm-0501, which has predominantly targeted integral sectors such as government,…
Black Hat, Events, Video Cyfinoid’s Shrivastava Advocates for Enhanced Transparency in Software Security Risks Tom Field (SecurityEditor) • August 15, 2025 Anant Shrivastava, Founder & Chief Researcher, Cyfinoid Research Despite the crucial importance of software supply chain security, many organizations…
