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.

07/26/2023-08/02/2023 Recently Patched Critical Ivanti EPMM Vulnerability, New P2PInfect Worm Targets Redis Servers, Two Severe Linux Vulnerabilities Impact 40% of Ubuntu Users And More.

1. Researchers Discover Bypass for Recently Patched Critical Ivanti EPMM Vulnerability

Cybersecurity researchers have discovered a bypass for a recently fixed actively exploited vulnerability in some versions of Ivanti Endpoint Manager Mobile (EPMM). Tracked as CVE-2023-35082 (CVSS score: 10.0) and discovered by Rapid7, the issue “allows unauthenticated attackers to access the API in older unsupported versions of MobileIron Core (11.2 and below).”  If exploited, this vulnerability enables an unauthorized, remote (internet-facing) actor to potentially access users’ personally identifiable information and make limited changes to the server. It also comes as cybersecurity agencies from Norway and the U.S. revealed that CVE-2023-35078 and CVE-2023-35081 have been exploited by unnamed nation-state groups at least since April 2023 to drop web shells and gain persistent remote access to compromised systems.

• CVE-2023-35078 (CVSS score: 10.0) – An authentication bypass vulnerability in Ivanti EPMM allows unauthorized users to access restricted functionality or resources of the application without proper authentication.
• (CVSS score: 7.2) – A path traversal vulnerability is discovered in Ivanti EPMM that allows an attacker to write arbitrary files onto the appliance.
  While there is no evidence of active exploitation of CVE-2023-35082 in the wild, it’s recommended that users upgrade to the latest supported version to secure against potential threats.

2. Researchers Uncover AWS SSM Agent Misuse as a Covert Remote Access Trojan

Researchers have unveiled a new post-exploitation method within Amazon Web Services (AWS) that repurposes the AWS Systems Manager Agent (SSM Agent) as a remote access trojan for Windows and Linux systems. With high privilege access to an endpoint running SSM Agent, attackers can engage in sustained malicious activities. As a legitimate admin tool, SSM Agent can be exploited to perform nefarious actions, leveraging its trusted status to avoid security solution detection and the need for additional malware. The technique allows attackers to remotely control compromised SSM Agents and potentially infiltrate endpoints. While AWS states no immediate action is required, vigilance, removing SSM binaries from antivirus allow lists, and securing EC2 instances are recommended by experts.

3. New P2PInfect Worm Targets Redis Servers with Undocumented Breach Methods

The P2PInfect worm has expanded its tactics to compromise vulnerable Redis servers, using multiple initial access methods. Researchers discovered that the malware infiltrates exposed Redis instances by exploiting the replication feature. Another technique involves registering a malicious cron job on the Redis host to download the malware from a remote server upon execution. The worm is Rust-based and has been observed to alter iptables firewall rules, self-upgrade, and potentially deploy cryptocurrency miners. P2PInfect forms a peer-to-peer botnet, with each infected server as a node connecting to others, allowing it to communicate without a centralized command-and-control server. The identity of the threat actors and the malware’s purpose remain uncertain.

4. Multiple Flaws Found in Ninja Forms Plugin Leave 800,000 Sites Vulnerable

Multiple security vulnerabilities have been disclosed in the Ninja Forms plugin for WordPress that could be exploited by threat actors to escalate privileges and steal sensitive data.
The flaws, tracked as CVE-2023-37979, CVE-2023-38386, and CVE-2023-38393, impact versions 3.6.25 and below, Patchstack said in a report last week. Ninja Forms is installed on over 800,000 sites.
A brief description of each of the vulnerabilities is below:

• CVE-2023-37979 (CVSS score: 7.1) – A POST-based reflected cross-site scripting (XSS) flaw that could allow any unauthenticated user to achieve privilege escalation on a target WordPress site by tricking privileged users to visit a specially crafted website.
• CVE-2023-38386 and CVE-2023-38393 – Broken access control flaws in the form submissions export feature that could enable a bad actor with Subscriber and Contributor roles to export all Ninja Forms submissions on a WordPress site.
  Users of the plugin are recommended to update to version 3.6.26 to mitigate potential threats.

5. Hackers Deploy “SUBMARINE” Backdoor in Barracuda Email Security Gateway Attacks

The U.S. CISA has revealed details about the SUBMARINE backdoor, linked to the Barracuda Email Security Gateway (ESG) appliance hack. This backdoor includes artifacts such as shell scripts, a loaded library for a Linux daemon, and a SQL trigger, enabling root privilege execution, persistence, command and control, and cleanup. The backdoor emerged from an analysis of malware samples acquired from a compromised organization that fell victim to threat actors exploiting the CVE-2023-2868 flaw in ESG devices. The attackers, suspected to have a China nexus, employed SUBMARINE as part of their persistent access strategy, leveraging it to evade remediation efforts and establish control over the compromised environment. Barracuda recommends discontinuing use of compromised ESG appliances and seeking replacements.

6. GameOver(lay): Two Severe Linux Vulnerabilities Impact 40% of Ubuntu Users

Cybersecurity researchers have disclosed two high-severity security flaws in the Ubuntu kernel that could pave the way for local privilege escalation attacks. Cloud security firm Wiz, in a report shared with The Hacker News, said the easy-to-exploit shortcomings have the potential to impact 40% of Ubuntu users. The vulnerabilities – tracked as CVE-2023-2640 and CVE-2023-32629 (CVSS scores: 7.8) and dubbed GameOver(lay) – are present in a module called OverlayFS and arise as a result of inadequate permissions checks in certain scenarios, enabling a local attacker to gain elevated privileges. Overlay Filesystem refers to a union mount file system that makes it possible to combine multiple directory trees or file systems into a single, unified file system. 

A brief description of the two flaws is below

• CVE-2023-2640 – On Ubuntu kernels carrying both c914c0e27eb0 and “UBUNTU: SAUCE: overlayfs: Skip permission checking for trusted.overlayfs.* xattrs,” an unprivileged user may set privileged extended attributes on the mounted files, leading them to be set on the upper files without the appropriate security checks.
• CVE-2023-32629 – Local privilege escalation vulnerability in Ubuntu Kernels overlayfs ovl_copy_up_meta_inode_data skip permission checks when calling ovl_do_setxattr on Ubuntu kernels.
  In a nutshell, GameOver(lay) makes it possible to “craft an executable file with scoped file capabilities and trick the Ubuntu Kernel into copying it to a different location with unscoped capabilities, granting anyone who executes it root-like privileges.”

7. Major Security Flaw Discovered in Metabase BI Software – Urgent Update Required

A critical vulnerability (CVE-2023-38646) in Metabase, a popular business intelligence software, could lead to pre-authenticated remote code execution. Users of versions prior to 0.46.6.1 for open-source editions and Metabase Enterprise versions before 1.46.6.1 are advised to update immediately. The flaw enables unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary commands with the same privileges as the Metabase server. Although no exploitation evidence exists, over 5,000 out of 6,936 instances were found vulnerable as of July 26, 2023. The issue arises from a JDBC connection problem in the API endpoint “/api/setup/validate,” allowing attackers to gain a reverse shell through an SQL injection flaw in the H2 database driver.