Tag Microsoft

Researcher Reveals Yet Another Unpatched Vulnerability in Windows Printer Spooler

Date: July 19, 2021

Just days after Microsoft raised alarms about an unpatched security flaw in the Windows Print Spooler service, yet another potential zero-day vulnerability has surfaced, marking the fourth printer-related issue identified in recent weeks. Will Dormann from the CERT Coordination Center noted in an advisory on Sunday that “Microsoft Windows allows non-admin users to install printer drivers through Point and Print.” He highlighted that printers installed this way can load arbitrary libraries by the privileged Windows Print Spooler process. Security researcher Benjamin Delpy, known for creating Mimikatz, has disclosed an exploit for this vulnerability. #printnightmare – Episode 4

New Unpatched Vulnerability Found in Windows Print Spooler Service On July 19, 2021, researchers revealed yet another unaddressed security flaw within Microsoft’s Windows Print Spooler service. This recent discovery surfaces only days after Microsoft issued a warning regarding a previously identified vulnerability in the same service, marking the fourth significant…

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Researcher Reveals Yet Another Unpatched Vulnerability in Windows Printer Spooler

Date: July 19, 2021

Just days after Microsoft raised alarms about an unpatched security flaw in the Windows Print Spooler service, yet another potential zero-day vulnerability has surfaced, marking the fourth printer-related issue identified in recent weeks. Will Dormann from the CERT Coordination Center noted in an advisory on Sunday that “Microsoft Windows allows non-admin users to install printer drivers through Point and Print.” He highlighted that printers installed this way can load arbitrary libraries by the privileged Windows Print Spooler process. Security researcher Benjamin Delpy, known for creating Mimikatz, has disclosed an exploit for this vulnerability. #printnightmare – Episode 4

TotalRecall Reloaded: New Tool Accesses Windows 11’s Recall Database via Side Entrance

Security Flaw Discovered in TotalRecall Could Compromise User Data Recent findings by security researcher Alex Hagenah have exposed a critical vulnerability in Microsoft’s TotalRecall application, highlighting potential risks in user data protection. According to Hagenah, while the security surrounding the Recall database itself is robust, the process that handles data…

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Silver Fox Exploits Microsoft-Signed WatchDog Driver to Distribute ValleyRAT Malware

Date: September 2, 2025
Categories: Financial Fraud / Endpoint Protection

The threat actor known as Silver Fox has been linked to the exploitation of a previously undetected vulnerable driver associated with WatchDog Anti-malware. This attack, classified as a Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver (BYOVD) incident, aims to neutralize security solutions on compromised systems.

The specific driver involved, “amsdk.sys” (version 1.0.600), is a 64-bit, validly signed Windows kernel device driver believed to be based on the Zemana Anti-Malware SDK. According to an analysis by Check Point, “This driver, created using the Zemana Anti-Malware SDK, was Microsoft-signed, not included in the Microsoft Vulnerable Driver Blocklist, and evaded detection by community initiatives such as LOLDrivers.”

The attack employs a dual-driver approach, utilizing a known vulnerable Zemana driver (“zam.exe”) for Windows 7 systems, while leveraging the undetected WatchDog driver for Windows 10 and 11 environments. The WatchDog Anti-malware driver has been identified as containing multiple vulnerabilities.

Silver Fox Exploits Microsoft-Signed WatchDog Driver for ValleyRAT Malware Deployment In a concerning development within the cybersecurity landscape, the threat actor operating under the alias Silver Fox has been linked to the exploitation of an undisclosed vulnerable driver associated with WatchDog Anti-malware. This activity represents a sophisticated Bring Your Own…

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Silver Fox Exploits Microsoft-Signed WatchDog Driver to Distribute ValleyRAT Malware

Date: September 2, 2025
Categories: Financial Fraud / Endpoint Protection

The threat actor known as Silver Fox has been linked to the exploitation of a previously undetected vulnerable driver associated with WatchDog Anti-malware. This attack, classified as a Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver (BYOVD) incident, aims to neutralize security solutions on compromised systems.

The specific driver involved, “amsdk.sys” (version 1.0.600), is a 64-bit, validly signed Windows kernel device driver believed to be based on the Zemana Anti-Malware SDK. According to an analysis by Check Point, “This driver, created using the Zemana Anti-Malware SDK, was Microsoft-signed, not included in the Microsoft Vulnerable Driver Blocklist, and evaded detection by community initiatives such as LOLDrivers.”

The attack employs a dual-driver approach, utilizing a known vulnerable Zemana driver (“zam.exe”) for Windows 7 systems, while leveraging the undetected WatchDog driver for Windows 10 and 11 environments. The WatchDog Anti-malware driver has been identified as containing multiple vulnerabilities.

New Vulnerabilities in Windows and Linux Grant Attackers Elevated System Privileges

July 21, 2021

Recent findings have uncovered a local privilege escalation vulnerability in Microsoft’s Windows 10 and the soon-to-be-released Windows 11, enabling users with limited permissions to access critical system files. This loophole, referred to as “SeriousSAM,” allows unauthorized individuals to potentially reveal the operating system installation password and decrypt private keys.

According to a vulnerability note from the CERT Coordination Center (CERT/CC), since Windows 10 build 1809, non-administrative users have had access to the SAM, SYSTEM, and SECURITY registry hive files, which could lead to local privilege escalation (LPE). The affected operating system configuration files include:

  • c:\Windows\System32\config\sam
  • c:\Windows\System32\config\system
  • c:\Windows\System32\config\security

Microsoft, which has assigned the identifier CVE-2021-36934 to this vulnerability, has acknowledged the issue but has not yet released a patch.

New Windows and Linux Vulnerabilities Grant Attackers Elevated System Privileges July 21, 2021 Recent discoveries have unveiled significant local privilege escalation vulnerabilities affecting Microsoft’s Windows 10 and the soon-to-be-released Windows 11. These flaws allow users with limited permissions to gain access to critical system files, creating avenues for attackers to…

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New Vulnerabilities in Windows and Linux Grant Attackers Elevated System Privileges

July 21, 2021

Recent findings have uncovered a local privilege escalation vulnerability in Microsoft’s Windows 10 and the soon-to-be-released Windows 11, enabling users with limited permissions to access critical system files. This loophole, referred to as “SeriousSAM,” allows unauthorized individuals to potentially reveal the operating system installation password and decrypt private keys.

According to a vulnerability note from the CERT Coordination Center (CERT/CC), since Windows 10 build 1809, non-administrative users have had access to the SAM, SYSTEM, and SECURITY registry hive files, which could lead to local privilege escalation (LPE). The affected operating system configuration files include:

  • c:\Windows\System32\config\sam
  • c:\Windows\System32\config\system
  • c:\Windows\System32\config\security

Microsoft, which has assigned the identifier CVE-2021-36934 to this vulnerability, has acknowledged the issue but has not yet released a patch.

Significant Cyber Espionage Campaign Targeting Pakistan Linked to India

May 20, 2013

Cybersecurity researchers have uncovered a series of information-stealing malware attacks aimed at Pakistan that are believed to originate from India. Norman Shark, a leader in malware analysis solutions for enterprises, service providers, and government agencies, has released a report detailing a complex cyber-attack infrastructure traced back to India.

This ongoing campaign, attributed to private threat actors over three years, shows no direct evidence of state involvement. The primary aim of the extensive command-and-control network appears to be intelligence gathering from both national security targets and private sector companies.

Attackers exploited vulnerabilities in Microsoft software, deploying malware known as HangOver onto their targets, the majority of which were located in Pakistan. A total of 511 infections related to this campaign have been identified. HangOver is capable of installing keyloggers and capturing screenshots, among other functionalities.

Significant Cyber Espionage Campaign Targeting Pakistan Linked to India May 20, 2013 Cybersecurity experts have uncovered a sophisticated family of malware designed for information theft, predominantly targeting Pakistan, and traced its origins to India. In a comprehensive report released by Norman Shark, a global leader in malware analysis for enterprises,…

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Significant Cyber Espionage Campaign Targeting Pakistan Linked to India

May 20, 2013

Cybersecurity researchers have uncovered a series of information-stealing malware attacks aimed at Pakistan that are believed to originate from India. Norman Shark, a leader in malware analysis solutions for enterprises, service providers, and government agencies, has released a report detailing a complex cyber-attack infrastructure traced back to India.

This ongoing campaign, attributed to private threat actors over three years, shows no direct evidence of state involvement. The primary aim of the extensive command-and-control network appears to be intelligence gathering from both national security targets and private sector companies.

Attackers exploited vulnerabilities in Microsoft software, deploying malware known as HangOver onto their targets, the majority of which were located in Pakistan. A total of 511 infections related to this campaign have been identified. HangOver is capable of installing keyloggers and capturing screenshots, among other functionalities.

Microsoft Alerts Users to New Unresolved Windows Print Spooler RCE Vulnerability

August 12, 2021

Following the release of its Patch Tuesday updates, Microsoft has revealed yet another remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability in the Windows Print Spooler component. The company is actively working on a fix for this issue, scheduled for an upcoming security update. Identified as CVE-2021-36958 (CVSS score: 7.3), this unaddressed vulnerability adds to the ongoing list of issues collectively referred to as PrintNightmare, which have affected the printing service in recent months. Victor Mata from FusionX, Accenture Security, credited with reporting the flaw, noted that the issue was disclosed to Microsoft back in December 2020. “A remote code execution vulnerability occurs when the Windows Print Spooler service improperly handles privileged file operations,” the company stated in its out-of-band bulletin, while reiterating the details of CVE-2021-34481. “An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could execute arbitrary code with system-level privileges…

Microsoft Issues Warning Over New Unpatched Windows Print Spooler RCE Vulnerability On August 12, 2021, Microsoft publicly acknowledged a newly discovered remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability affecting the Windows Print Spooler service. This announcement came just a day after the company’s Patch Tuesday updates, which typically address various security flaws…

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Microsoft Alerts Users to New Unresolved Windows Print Spooler RCE Vulnerability

August 12, 2021

Following the release of its Patch Tuesday updates, Microsoft has revealed yet another remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability in the Windows Print Spooler component. The company is actively working on a fix for this issue, scheduled for an upcoming security update. Identified as CVE-2021-36958 (CVSS score: 7.3), this unaddressed vulnerability adds to the ongoing list of issues collectively referred to as PrintNightmare, which have affected the printing service in recent months. Victor Mata from FusionX, Accenture Security, credited with reporting the flaw, noted that the issue was disclosed to Microsoft back in December 2020. “A remote code execution vulnerability occurs when the Windows Print Spooler service improperly handles privileged file operations,” the company stated in its out-of-band bulletin, while reiterating the details of CVE-2021-34481. “An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could execute arbitrary code with system-level privileges…

Google Researcher Uncovers Internet Explorer Vulnerability Now Exploited in Targeted Attacks

July 11, 2013

Tensions are rising between Google and Microsoft once again. Recently, Microsoft announced that hackers have been actively taking advantage of a vulnerability disclosed by Google researcher Tavis Ormandy. This flaw, affecting Windows 7 and 8, allows local users to gain escalated privileges, facilitating system compromise.

Microsoft has addressed the vulnerability in its July “Patch Tuesday” updates. However, Ormandy has faced criticism from Microsoft and parts of the security community for publicly revealing the flaw before it was patched—an approach some believe undermines the opportunity for the software developer to respond. Ormandy, in turn, expressed frustrations with Microsoft’s hostile treatment of vulnerability researchers, suggesting that they are often difficult to collaborate with. He advised fellow researchers to consider using pseudonyms when interacting with major tech companies.

Targeted Exploitation of Internet Explorer Vulnerability by Google Researcher On July 11, 2013, a significant vulnerability within Internet Explorer was brought to light by Google researcher Tavis Ormandy, prompting a rapid response from Microsoft. Reports indicate that this specific flaw is being actively exploited by cybercriminals in targeted attacks against…

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Google Researcher Uncovers Internet Explorer Vulnerability Now Exploited in Targeted Attacks

July 11, 2013

Tensions are rising between Google and Microsoft once again. Recently, Microsoft announced that hackers have been actively taking advantage of a vulnerability disclosed by Google researcher Tavis Ormandy. This flaw, affecting Windows 7 and 8, allows local users to gain escalated privileges, facilitating system compromise.

Microsoft has addressed the vulnerability in its July “Patch Tuesday” updates. However, Ormandy has faced criticism from Microsoft and parts of the security community for publicly revealing the flaw before it was patched—an approach some believe undermines the opportunity for the software developer to respond. Ormandy, in turn, expressed frustrations with Microsoft’s hostile treatment of vulnerability researchers, suggesting that they are often difficult to collaborate with. He advised fellow researchers to consider using pseudonyms when interacting with major tech companies.

Critical BadAlloc Vulnerability Impacts BlackBerry QNX in Millions of Vehicles and Medical Devices

August 18, 2021

A significant security flaw in older versions of BlackBerry’s QNX Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) poses a risk of enabling malicious actors to take control of various devices, including cars and medical equipment. This issue, identified as CVE-2021-22156 with a CVSS score of 9.0, is part of a larger series of vulnerabilities dubbed BadAlloc that was first revealed by Microsoft in April 2021. The flaw could potentially serve as a backdoor for attackers, allowing them to disrupt operations or commandeer devices. According to a bulletin from the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), “A remote attacker could exploit CVE-2021-22156 to cause a denial-of-service condition or execute arbitrary code on affected devices.” As of now, there are no indications that this vulnerability has been actively exploited. BlackBerry QNX technology serves over 195 million vehicles and embedded systems globally.

Critical Vulnerability in BlackBerry QNX Poses Risk to Millions of Devices August 18, 2021 A significant security vulnerability has been identified in older versions of BlackBerry’s QNX Real-Time Operating System (RTOS), which underpins a vast array of products, including automotive systems, medical equipment, and industrial machinery. This flaw, officially designated…

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Critical BadAlloc Vulnerability Impacts BlackBerry QNX in Millions of Vehicles and Medical Devices

August 18, 2021

A significant security flaw in older versions of BlackBerry’s QNX Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) poses a risk of enabling malicious actors to take control of various devices, including cars and medical equipment. This issue, identified as CVE-2021-22156 with a CVSS score of 9.0, is part of a larger series of vulnerabilities dubbed BadAlloc that was first revealed by Microsoft in April 2021. The flaw could potentially serve as a backdoor for attackers, allowing them to disrupt operations or commandeer devices. According to a bulletin from the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), “A remote attacker could exploit CVE-2021-22156 to cause a denial-of-service condition or execute arbitrary code on affected devices.” As of now, there are no indications that this vulnerability has been actively exploited. BlackBerry QNX technology serves over 195 million vehicles and embedded systems globally.