12/04/2024-12/11/2024 Active Exploitation of Flaws in Zyxel, ProjectSend, and CyberPanel, Cleo File Transfer Vulnerability, CLFS Driver Flaw And More.

1. CISA Warns of Active Exploitation of Flaws in Zyxel, ProjectSend, and CyberPanel

CISA has added vulnerabilities affecting Zyxel, North Grid Proself, ProjectSend, and CyberPanel products to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog due to active exploitation. These include CVE-2024-51378 (CVSS: 10.0), a critical flaw enabling command execution via authentication bypass; CVE-2023-45727, tied to a China-linked espionage group; CVE-2024-11680, exploited for web shell deployments; and CVE-2024-11667, abused in ransomware campaigns like PSAUX and Helldown. Agencies must address these issues by December 25, 2024. Separately, JPCERT/CC reports three exploited vulnerabilities in I-O DATA routers, including CVE-2024-52564 (CVSS: 7.5), allowing attackers to disable firewalls. While some fixes are available, others are expected by December 18, 2024. Users should restrict remote management, secure credentials, and update firmware promptly.

2. Cleo File Transfer Vulnerability Under Exploitation 

Huntress warned that an improperly patched vulnerability (CVE-2024-50623) in Cleo’s file transfer products—Harmony, VLTrader, and LexiCom—has been exploited in the wild since early December. The flaw, meant to be fixed in version 5.8.0.21, allows remote code execution. Threat actors have used it to establish persistence, perform reconnaissance, and conduct stealthy post-exploitation activities. At least 10 businesses, primarily in the consumer goods, food, trucking, and shipping sectors, have been compromised, with attack attempts targeting 1,700 servers. Exploitation surged on December 8. The incident resembles the MOVEit hack, where a zero-day was used to steal vast data from numerous organizations.Huntress and Rapid7 have observed active attacks, shared indicators of compromise, and provided mitigation guidance. Cleo is preparing a new patch, expected mid-week, and updating its advisory.

3. CISA Adds Microsoft Windows CLFS Driver Flaw To Its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog

CISA has added CVE-2024-49138, a Microsoft Windows Common Log File System (CLFS) driver vulnerability (CVSS: 7.8), to its KEV catalog. This flaw, addressed in Microsoft’s December 2024 Patch Tuesday updates, allows local attackers to escalate privileges to SYSTEM via a heap-based buffer overflow. While Microsoft has not disclosed details of the attacks exploiting this zero-day, federal agencies are required to remediate the vulnerability by December 31, 2024, under Binding Operational Directive 22-01. Private organizations are also urged to review the KEV catalog and mitigate listed vulnerabilities to secure their systems. The flaw is part of 71 vulnerabilities patched this month, highlighting the importance of timely updates to prevent potential exploitation.

4. Ivanti Issues Critical Security Updates for CSA and Connect Secure Vulnerabilities

Ivanti has issued security updates to fix critical vulnerabilities in its Cloud Services Application (CSA) and Connect Secure products, which could lead to privilege escalation and remote code execution. Key flaws include CVE-2024-11639 (CVSS: 10.0), an authentication bypass allowing remote attackers to gain admin access, and CVE-2024-11772, a command injection issue enabling code execution. Other vulnerabilities, such as CVE-2024-11773, CVE-2024-11633, and CVE-2024-11634, involve SQL injection and argument injection attacks. CVE-2024-8540 (CVSS: 8.8) addresses insecure permissions in Ivanti Sentry, allowing local attackers to modify components. Fixes are available in Ivanti CSA 5.0.3, Connect Secure 22.7R2.4, Policy Secure 22.7R1.2, and Sentry versions 9.20.2, 10.0.2, and 10.1.0. While no active exploitation has been reported, users are urged to update promptly, as Ivanti products have previously been targeted by state-sponsored attackers.

5. Researchers Uncover Flaws in Popular Open-Source Machine Learning Frameworks

Cybersecurity researchers have uncovered security flaws in open-source machine learning (ML) tools like MLflow, H2O, PyTorch, and MLeap, potentially allowing code execution. Discovered by JFrog, these issues target ML clients and libraries handling safe model formats like Safetensors.Key vulnerabilities include CVE-2024-27132 (XSS in MLflow, enabling client-side remote code execution), CVE-2024-6960 (unsafe deserialization in H2O, leading to code execution), and path traversal flaws in PyTorch and MLeap, allowing arbitrary file overwrite and potential code execution. Attackers exploiting these flaws could gain access to ML services like model registries or MLOps pipelines, enabling lateral movement, exposure of credentials, and backdooring of ML models.

JFrog warns against loading untrusted ML models, even from safe formats, as they may lead to remote code execution. Organizations must scrutinize their ML models to prevent significant damage from these vulnerabilities.

11/27/2024-12/04/2024 RCE Vulnerability, Critical SailPoint IdentityIQ Vulnerability, ProjectSend, North Grid Proself, and Zyxel Firewalls Bugs.

1. XML-RPC npm Library Turns Malicious, Steals Data, Deploys Crypto Miner

Researchers uncovered a year-long software supply chain attack on the npm registry involving the package @0xengine/xmlrpc, initially published as a JavaScript XML-RPC library. Malicious code was introduced in version 1.3.4, enabling the theft of SSH keys, bash history, system metadata, and environment variables every 12 hours. It also installed the XMRig cryptocurrency miner, compromising at least 68 systems. The attack spread through npm installations and a GitHub project named yawpp, which listed the malicious package as a dependency, causing automatic downloads during setup. The malware established persistence using systemd, monitored processes to evade detection, and suspended mining when user activity was detected.

This incident highlights the risks of supply chain attacks. “Even well-maintained packages can become malicious,” warned security researcher Yehuda Gelb. Additionally, Datadog Security Labs reported another campaign using fake npm and PyPI packages to deploy malware targeting Roblox developers.

2. Veeam Service Provider RCE Vulnerability Let Attackers Execute Arbitrary Code

Veeam has disclosed two major vulnerabilities in its Service Provider Console (VSPC), including a critical remote code execution (RCE) flaw. The most severe issue, CVE-2024-42448, has a CVSS score of 9.9, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code on unpatched VSPC servers if the management agent is authorized. Another vulnerability, CVE-2024-42449, rated at 7.1, enables attackers to steal NTLM hashes and potentially delete files. Both flaws affect VSPC version 8.1.0.21377 and earlier. Veeam urges users to upgrade to the patched version (8.1.0.21999) immediately, as no mitigation methods are available. These vulnerabilities underscore the need for timely updates, especially after incidents like ransomware attacks exploiting prior Veeam flaws. Organizations must act quickly to secure their systems and safeguard data from potential threats.

3. Critical SailPoint IdentityIQ Vulnerability Exposes Files to Unauthorized Access

A critical vulnerability in SailPoint’s IdentityIQ software (CVE-2024-10905) has been disclosed, earning a maximum CVSS score of 10.0. This flaw affects IdentityIQ versions 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, and earlier. The issue stems from improper handling of virtual resource file names (CWE-66), enabling unauthorized HTTP access to static content in the application directory, potentially exposing sensitive files. Impacted versions include all 8.4 patch levels before 8.4p2, 8.3 versions before 8.3p5, 8.2 versions before 8.2p8, and all prior releases.

SailPoint has not yet issued a security advisory or additional details about the flaw. Organizations using affected versions should upgrade to patched levels immediately to mitigate risks.

4. Decade-Old Cisco Vulnerability Under Active Exploit 

Cisco has issued a warning about active exploitation of a decade-old vulnerability (CVE-2014-2120) in its Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA). The flaw, found in ASA’s WebVPN login page, allows unauthenticated attackers to launch cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks by tricking users into clicking malicious links. Cisco first identified the vulnerability in 2014, citing insufficient input validation. Recent in-the-wild exploitation attempts were reported in November 2024. The company urges users to upgrade to a fixed software release, as no workarounds are available.

5. CISA Adds to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog.

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added three vulnerabilities to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog:

• CVE-2023-45727 (Proself): XXE flaw in versions before Ver5.62, Ver1.65, and Ver1.08 allows unauthenticated attackers to read server files.
• CVE-2024-11680 (ProjectSend): Improper authentication in versions before r1720 enables attackers to modify configurations, upload webshells, and embed malicious JavaScript.
• CVE-2024-11667 (Zyxel): Directory traversal flaw in firmware V5.00–V5.38 allows file upload/download via crafted URLs.

The ProjectSend flaw (CVSS 9.8) has been exploited in the wild since September 2024 using tools like Metasploit. Attackers enable user registration, modify configurations, and store webshells in predictable locations. CISA urges FCEB agencies to patch these flaws under BOD 22-01, and private organizations are advised to review and address the vulnerabilities to secure their systems.

11/20/2024-11/27/2024 Critical “Array Networks” Flaw, PyPI Attack, Palo Alto Networks Firewalls Compromised And More.

1. CISA Urges Agencies to Patch Critical “Array Networks” Flaw Amid Active

AttacksCISA has added a critical vulnerability in Array Networks AG and vxAG secure access gateways (CVE-2023-28461) to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog after reports of active exploitation. This flaw (CVSS score: 9.8) allows remote code execution without authentication via a vulnerable URL and was patched in March 2023 (version 9.4.0.484). Trend Micro linked the vulnerability to China-based cyber espionage group Earth Kasha, which targets Japanese entities and, increasingly, Taiwan, India, and Europe. Earth Kasha has exploited flaws in Array AG, Proself, and Fortinet FortiOS for initial access. ESET recently exposed a campaign by the group using the upcoming World Expo 2025 as a lure to deliver malware. CISA advises agencies to apply patches by December 16, 2024. Over 440,000 internet-exposed systems remain at risk.

2. PyPI Attack: ChatGPT, Claude Impersonators Deliver JarkaStealer via Python Libraries

Researchers have identified two malicious packages on the Python Package Index (PyPI), gptplus and claudeai-eng, impersonating popular AI models OpenAI ChatGPT and Anthropic Claude to distribute the information stealer JarkaStealer. Uploaded by “Xeroline” in November 2023, the packages attracted over 3,500 downloads before being removed. Marketed as tools to access GPT-4 Turbo and Claude AI APIs, they concealed malicious code that deployed malware upon installation. The packages’ __init__.py file contained encoded code to download a Java-based stealer, JavaUpdater.jar, from GitHub and install Java Runtime Environment if needed. Once executed, JarkaStealer harvested sensitive data, including browser data, screenshots, and app session tokens (Telegram, Discord, Steam). The stolen data was archived, sent to the attacker’s server, and deleted from the victim’s system. Sold as malware-as-a-service (MaaS) for $20–$50 on Telegram, JarkaStealer’s source code has also leaked online. 

3. 2,000 Palo Alto Networks Firewalls Compromised

A recent campaign exploiting two vulnerabilities has compromised around 2,000 Palo Alto Networks firewalls, according to Shadowserver researchers. The flaws include a critical authentication bypass (CVE-2024-0012, severity 9.3) and a medium-severity privilege escalation bug (CVE-2024-9474, severity 6.9), which can be chained for attacks. CVE-2024-0012 allows unauthenticated attackers with access to the management interface to gain admin privileges, tamper with configurations, or exploit CVE-2024-9474. The flaws, disclosed earlier in November, affect certain PAN-OS 10.2–11.2 deployments on PA-Series, VM-Series, CN-Series, and Panorama devices but not Cloud NGFW or Prisma Access.

Palo Alto Networks disputes Shadowserver’s numbers, stating fewer than 0.5% of customer firewalls have internet-exposed interfaces and that the impact is “limited.” The company emphasizes securing management interfaces to reduce risks. 

4. Decades-Old Security Vulnerabilities Found in Ubuntu’s Needrestart Package

The Qualys Threat Research Unit (TRU) has uncovered five Local Privilege Escalation (LPE) vulnerabilities in Ubuntu’s needrestart package, enabling local attackers to gain root privileges without user interaction. The flaws, introduced in version 0.8 (April 2014), affect Ubuntu Server systems with needrestart installed by default since version 21.04.

The vulnerabilities are tracked as CVE-2024-48990, CVE-2024-48991, CVE-2024-48992, CVE-2024-10224, and CVE-2024-11003. They allow attackers to execute arbitrary code as root by exploiting issues with interpreter environment variables (Python/Ruby) or race conditions.

Qualys warns that these vulnerabilities, with CVSS scores up to 7.8, are highly exploitable and could soon see public exploits, posing severe risks like unauthorized access, malware, and system compromise.

Mitigation includes disabling interpreter scanning by adding $nrconf{interpscan} = 0; to /etc/needrestart/needrestart.conf. Enterprises should update needrestart immediately to avoid operational disruptions and data breaches.