08/16/2023-08/23/2023 Critical Adobe ColdFusion Flaw, Malicious npm Packages, Critical Zero-Day Flaw Being Actively Exploited And More.

1. Over a Dozen Malicious npm Packages Target Roblox Game Developers

More than a dozen malicious packages have been discovered on the npm package repository since the start of August 2023 with capabilities to deploy an open-source information stealer called Luna Token Grabber. The malicious packages [...] reproduce code from the legitimate noblox.js package but add malicious, information-stealing functions. 

The packages were cumulatively downloaded 963 times before they were taken down. The names of the rogue packages are as follows:

• noblox.js-vps (versions 4.14.0 to 4.23.0)
• noblox.js-ssh (versions 4.2.3 to 4.2.5)
• noblox.js-secure (versions 4.1.0, 4.2.0 to 4.2.3)

This is not the first time Luna Token Grabber has been spotted in the wild. Earlier this June, Trellix disclosed details of a new Go-based information stealer called Skuld that overlaps with the malware strain.

2. Ivanti Warns of Critical Zero-Day Flaw Being Actively Exploited in Sentry Software

Software services provider Ivanti has issued a warning about a critical zero-day vulnerability affecting Ivanti Sentry (formerly MobileIron Sentry), currently being exploited in the wild. Tracked as CVE-2023-38035, the flaw allows unauthenticated access to sensitive APIs, enabling unauthorized users to change configurations, execute system commands, and write files onto the system. Although the vulnerability has a high CVSS score of 9.8, the risk of exploitation is low for clients not exposing port 8443 to the internet. Mnemonic, a Norwegian cybersecurity firm, discovered and reported the flaw, which can be weaponized in conjunction with other recently disclosed vulnerabilities if port 8443 is inaccessible. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has added the flaw to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

3. Critical Adobe ColdFusion Flaw Added to CISA’s Exploited Vulnerability Catalog

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has added a critical security flaw in Adobe ColdFusion to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, based on evidence of active exploitation. The vulnerability, cataloged as CVE-2023-26359 (CVSS score: 9.8), relates to a deserialization flaw present in Adobe ColdFusion 2018 (Update 15 and earlier) and ColdFusion 2021 (Update 5 and earlier) that could result in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user without requiring any interaction. Deserialization  refers to the process of reconstructing a data structure or an object from a byte stream. But when it’s performed without validating its source or sanitizing its contents, it can lead to unexpected consequences such as code execution or denial-of-service (DoS). It was patched by Adobe as part of updates issued in March 2023. As of writing, it’s immediately not clear how the flaw is being abused in the wild.

4. New WinRAR Vulnerability Could Allow Hackers to Take Control of Your PC

A significant security flaw in WinRAR has been revealed, allowing potential remote code execution on Windows systems. Tracked as CVE-2023-40477 with a CVSS score of 7.8, the vulnerability arises from improper validation when processing recovery volumes. This could lead to memory access beyond allocated buffers, permitting an attacker to execute code within the current process. Exploiting the flaw necessitates user interaction, luring them to a malicious page or an infected archive file. Discovered by security researcher “goodbyeselene” on June 8, 2023, the issue was resolved in WinRAR 6.23, released on August 2, 2023. Users should update to the latest version to mitigate potential risks.

5. New LABRAT Campaign Exploits GitLab Flaw for Cryptojacking and Proxyjacking Activities

A new financially-driven operation named LABRAT has exploited a patched critical vulnerability in GitLab for cryptojacking and proxyjacking. This campaign employs stealthy cross-platform malware, kernel-based rootkits, and legitimate services like TryCloudflare to obfuscate its presence. The attackers also use compiled binaries in Go and .NET to remain hidden while providing backdoor access to compromised systems, potentially leading to further attacks, data theft, and ransomware. The attack chain exploits CVE-2021-22205 for remote code execution, followed by retrieving a dropper shell script from a C2 server. The attackers utilize TryCloudflare and a Solr server for covert communication and privilege escalation. Payloads include utilities for remote access and cryptojacking, all aimed at financial gain. GitLab has patched the vulnerability, urging affected users to follow security protocols.

6. CISA Adds Citrix ShareFile Flaw to KEV Catalog Due to In-the-Wild Attacks

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has added a critical security flaw in Citrix ShareFile storage zones controller to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, based on evidence of active in-the-wild exploitation. Tracked as CVE-2023-24489 (CVSS score: 9.8), the shortcoming has been described as an improper access control bug that, if successfully exploited, could allow an unauthenticated attacker to compromise vulnerable instances remotely. The problem is rooted in ShareFile’s handling of cryptographic operations, enabling adversaries to upload arbitrary files, resulting in remote code execution. This vulnerability affects all currently supported versions of customer-managed ShareFile storage zones controller before version 5.11.24. The incident affected less than 3% of its install base (2,800 customers), that there was no data theft observed.

08/09/2023-08/16/2023 New Python URL Parsing Flaw, 16 New CODESYS SDK Flaws, .NET Vulnerability And More.

1. Nearly 2,000 Citrix NetScaler Instances Hacked via Critical Vulnerability

Nearly 2,000 Citrix NetScaler instances have been compromised with a backdoor by weaponizing a recently disclosed critical security vulnerability as part of a large-scale attack. An adversary appears to have exploited CVE-2023-3519 in an automated fashion, placing web shells on vulnerable NetScalers to gain persistent access. CVE-2023-3519 refers to a critical code injection vulnerability impacting NetScaler ADC and Gateway servers that could lead to unauthenticated remote code execution. It was patched by Citrix last month. The development comes a week after the Shadowserver Foundation said it identified close to 7,000 vulnerable, unpatched NetScaler ADC and Gateway instances online and the flaw is being abused to drop PHP web shells on vulnerable servers for remote access. 

2. New Python URL Parsing Flaw Could Enable Command Execution Attacks

A high-severity security flaw has been disclosed in the Python URL parsing function that could be exploited to bypass domain or protocol filtering methods implemented with a blocklist, ultimately resulting in arbitrary file reads and command execution.
urlparse has a parsing problem when the entire URL starts with blank characters. This problem affects both the parsing of hostname and scheme, and eventually causes any blocklisting methods to fail.

The flaw has been assigned the identifier CVE-2023-24329 and carries a CVSS score of 7.5. CVE-2023-24329 arises as a result of a lack of input validation, thereby leading to a scenario where it’s possible to get around blocklisting methods by supplying a URL that starts with blank characters (e. g., “ https://youtube[.]com‘).

3. North Korean Hackers Suspected in New Wave of Malicious npm Packages

The npm package registry faces a new targeted attack campaign, mirroring a previous North Korean-linked incident. Around nine malicious packages were uploaded between August 9 and 12, 2023, suggesting a sophisticated and socially engineered attack. Initial execution is triggered by a postinstall hook in the package.json file, launching a pm2-dependent daemon process to run a spoofed RustDesk domain, initiating encrypted communication with a remote server. The malware awaits further instructions every 45 seconds, controlled by monitoring machine GUIDs. This development coincides with a typosquat Ethereum package, GDPR issues from the Moq NuGet package’s recent versions, and a rising susceptibility to dependency confusion attacks, highlighting increased supply chain vulnerabilities.
As mitigations against dependency confusion attacks, it’s recommended to publish internal packages under organization scopes and reserve internal package names in the public registry as placeholders to prevent misuse.

4. Multiple Flaws in CyberPower and Dataprobe Products Put Data Centers at Risk

CyberPower’s PowerPanel Enterprise DCIM and Dataprobe’s iBoot PDU exhibit serious vulnerabilities (CVE-2023-3259 through CVE-2023-3267) with scores ranging from 6.7 to 9.8. These flaws enable unauthorized entry, allowing attackers to shut down data centers, breach data, and launch large-scale attacks. Exploiting these could cause catastrophic damage and grant complete system access. These vulnerabilities have been fixed in PowerPanel Enterprise 2.6.9 and Dataprobe iBoot PDU 1.44.08042023 versions. Threat actors could employ these issues to cripple critical infrastructure, perpetrate ransomware, DDoS, or wiper attacks, and engage in cyber espionage. The interconnected nature of modern systems makes prompt security measures crucial to prevent potential breaches and attacks.

5. Ongoing Xurum Attacks on E-commerce Sites Exploiting Critical Magento 2 Vulnerability

E-commerce websites utilizing Adobe’s Magento 2 software are under an ongoing attack named Xurum by Akamai, traced back to Russian actors. Leveraging a patched security flaw (CVE-2022-24086), the attackers aim for arbitrary code execution. The campaign’s scale is uncertain, but it focuses on recent payment data from the past 10 days. Compromised sites host a web shell called wso-ng, activated by a specific cookie, exfiltrating sales order payment methods. A rogue admin user “mageworx” or “mageplaza” is added to disguise their actions. This meticulous attack exhibits expertise in Magento, indicating a deliberate and targeted effort, distinct from widespread exploits.

6. 16 New CODESYS SDK Flaws Expose OT Environments to Remote Attacks

A set of 16 high-severity security flaws have been disclosed in the CODESYS V3 software development kit (SDK) that could result in remote code execution and denial-of-service under specific conditions, posing risks to operational technology (OT) environments.

The flaws, tracked from CVE-2022-47378 through CVE-2022-47393 and dubbed CoDe16, carry a CVSS score of 8.8 with the exception of CVE-2022-47391, which has a severity rating of 7.5. Twelve of the flaws are buffer overflow vulnerabilities. Exploitation of the discovered vulnerabilities, which affect all versions of CODESYS V3 prior to version 3.5.19.0, could put operational technology (OT) infrastructure at risk of attacks, such as remote code execution (RCE) and denial-of-service (DoS). The remote code execution bugs  could be abused to backdoor OT devices and interfere with the functioning of programmable logic controllers (PLCs) in a manner that could pave the way for information theft. To get past the user authentication barrier, a known vulnerability (CVE-2019-9013, CVSS score: 8.8) is employed to steal credentials by means of a replay attack against the PLC, followed by leveraging the flaws to trigger a buffer overflow and gain control of the device.

7. CISA Adds Microsoft .NET Vulnerability to KEV Catalog Due to Active Exploitation

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has added a recently patched security flaw in Microsoft’s .NET and Visual Studio products to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, citing evidence of active exploitation.Tracked as CVE-2023-38180 (CVSS score: 7.5), the high-severity flaw relates to a case denial-of-service (DoS) impacting .NET and Visual Studio. While exact details surrounding the nature of exploitation are unclear, the Windows maker has acknowledged the existence of a proof-of-concept (PoC) in its advisory. It also said that attacks leveraging the flaw can be pulled off without any additional privileges or user interaction. Affected versions of the software include ASP.NET Core 2.1, .NET 6.0, .NET 7.0, Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 version 17.2, Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 version 17.4, and Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 version 17.6.

08/02/2023-08/09/2023 Citrix NetScaler ADC and Gateway Servers Hacked, Microsoft Releases Patches for 74 New Vulnerabilities, New SkidMap Linux Malware Variant And More.

1. Microsoft Releases Patches for 74 New Vulnerabilities in August Update

Microsoft has addressed 74 software flaws in its August 2023 Patch Tuesday, down from 132 last month. The update includes six Critical, 67 Important, and one Moderate severity vulnerabilities. Also released are defense-in-depth updates for Microsoft Office and the Memory Integrity System Readiness Scan Tool. Notably, the update addresses CVE-2023-36884, an actively exploited remote code execution flaw by the RomCom threat actor in attacks on Ukraine and pro-Ukraine targets. Additionally, Microsoft patched remote code execution and spoofing vulnerabilities in various services including Microsoft Message Queuing, Microsoft Teams, and Azure components. The update also covers denial-of-service and information disclosure flaws, alongside Exchange Server vulnerabilities, requiring adjacent attack vectors for exploitation.

2. Malicious Campaigns Exploit Weak Kubernetes Clusters for Crypto Mining

Malicious actors are exploiting exposed Kubernetes (K8s) clusters for crypto mining and backdoor deployment. Cloud security firm Aqua’s report reveals these attacks, primarily targeting small to medium-sized organizations and some larger companies in finance, aerospace, and more. Over 350 Kubernetes clusters were found, with 60% hit by active crypto mining. Misconfigurations, like granting anonymous high privileges and improper kubectl proxy settings, allow unauthorized access. These clusters can hold sensitive data, making them enticing targets. Security researchers identified ongoing campaigns, including Dero cryptojacking, RBAC Buster, and TeamTNT’s Silentbob. Despite the risk, these misconfigurations persist, underlining a broader Kubernetes security understanding and management gap.

3. New SkidMap Linux Malware Variant Targeting Vulnerable Redis Servers

Vulnerable Redis services are under attack by an evolved malware named SkidMap, targeting various Linux distributions including Alibaba, CentOS, RedHat, and more. The malware adapts to the system it infects, making detection difficult. Originally a crypto mining botnet, SkidMap deploys kernel modules to obscure its actions, conceals its C2 IP address in the Bitcoin blockchain, and fetches real-time data for rapid pivoting. Trustwave details the latest attack chain, beginning with breaching Redis servers to distribute an ELF binary posing as a GIF image. This binary adds SSH keys, establishes reverse shells, downloads distribution-specific packages, deploys rootkits, and launches a botnet for further attacks. The malware’s sophistication makes detection challenging, primarily noticeable through increased fan activity or case temperature.

4. Researchers Uncover New High-Severity Vulnerability in PaperCut Software

A significant security flaw (CVE-2023-39143, CVSS score: 8.4) has been found in PaperCut print management software for Windows. It can lead to remote code execution when combined with path traversal and file upload vulnerabilities. The flaw affects PaperCut NG/MF versions earlier than 22.1.3. Attackers, particularly when the external device integration setting is enabled, could upload files and execute code. This exploit is more intricate than previous vulnerabilities (CVE-2023-27350) and doesn’t demand prior privileges. Iranian state actors have been involved in exploiting related vulnerabilities. PaperCut version 22.1.3 also fixes another flaw allowing unauthorized file uploads and potential denial-of-service (CVE-2023-3486, CVSS score: 7.4).

5. Malicious npm Packages Found Exfiltrating Sensitive Data from Developers

Researchers have identified malicious npm packages aimed at extracting sensitive developer information. Software supply chain company Phylum discovered these “test” packages on the npm registry and noted they were quickly removed and re-uploaded under different names. Although the motive behind this campaign isn’t fully clear, the references to modules like “rocketrefer” and “binarium” suggest a possible focus on the cryptocurrency sector. Published by the npm user “malikrukd4732,” these modules execute JavaScript code to exfiltrate data to a remote server during installation. This approach allows for potential theft of credentials and intellectual property. This incident joins the growing trend of open-source repositories being used to propagate malicious code.

6. Hundreds of Citrix NetScaler ADC and Gateway Servers Hacked in Major Cyber Attack

Hundreds of Citrix NetScaler ADC and Gateway servers have been breached by malicious actors to deploy web shells, according to the Shadowserver Foundation. The non-profit said the attacks take advantage of CVE-2023-3519, a critical code injection vulnerability that could lead to unauthenticated remote code execution. The flaw, patched by Citrix last month, carries a CVSS score of 9.8. The exploitation of CVE-2023-3519 to deploy web shells was previously disclosed by the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), which said the attack was directed against an unnamed critical infrastructure organization in June 2023. The disclosure comes as GreyNoise said it detected three IP addresses attempting to exploit CVE-2023-24489 (CVSS score: 9.1), another critical flaw in Citrix ShareFile software that allows for unauthenticated arbitrary file upload and remote code execution. The issue has been addressed in ShareFile storage zones controller version 5.11.24 and later.The Shadowserver Foundation, in an update said it identified close to 7,000 vulnerable, unpatched NetScaler ADC and Gateway instances online and that CVE-2023-3519 is being exploited to drop PHP web shells on vulnerable servers for remote access.