Security Advisory

Critical Flaw in WordPress Hunk Companion Plugin Enables Unauthorized Plugin Installation

Summary

OEM	WordPress
Severity	Critical
Date of Announcement	2024-12-13
CVSS score	9.8
CVE	CVE-2024-11972
Exploited in Wild	Yes
Patch/Remediation Available	Yes
Advisory Version	1.0

Overview

A Critical flaw in the WordPress Hunk Companion plugin has been actively exploited to enable unauthorized installation and activation of plugins. This vulnerability stems from insufficient authorization checks on a REST API endpoint. Exploited sites may see attackers silently install malicious or outdated plugins, leading to severe security risks, including remote code execution (RCE), unauthorized access, and website compromise.

Vulnerability Name	CVE ID	Product Affected	Severity	CVSS Score
Hunk Companion Plugin Vulnerability	CVE-2024-11972	Hunk Companion Plugin for WordPress	Critical	9.8

Technical Summary

CVE ID	System Affected	Vulnerability Details	Impact
CVE-2024-11972	Hunk Companion plugin versions prior to 1.8.4	This vulnerability is caused by improper validation mechanisms in the file hunk-companion/import/app/app.php, a script responsible for handling plugin import and installation processes. At its core, the bug permits unauthenticated requests to bypass critical permission checks intended to ensure that only authorized users can install plugins.	This vulnerability potentially leads to remote code execution, unauthorized access, and full website compromise.

Remediations

“Hunk Companion” WordPress plugin, should update to version 9.0 or later.

General Recommendations

Regularly inspect your WordPress site for unknown plugins or modifications.
Reducing the risk of delayed patching can be achieved by enabling automatic updates for all plugins
Review server and WordPress logs for unauthorized login attempts to detect possible compromise.
Keep all plugins, themes, and WordPress core updated. Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication for admin accounts.

References

Zero-Day Vulnerability in Windows Exposes NTLM Credentials

Summary

OEM	Microsoft
Severity	Critical
Date of Announcement	2024-12-12
CVE	Not yet assigned
Exploited in Wild	No
Patch/Remediation Available	Yes (No official patch)
Advisory Version	1.0
Vulnerability Name	NTLM Zero-Day

Overview

A recently discovered zero-day vulnerability in Windows, enables attackers to steal user credentials through a malicious file viewed in File Explorer. This “clickless” exploit bypasses the need for user interaction, creating significant security risks. While Microsoft investigates, 0patch has released an unofficial micropatch to mitigate the threat. Users are advised to apply the patch or implement mitigations to reduce exposure.

Vulnerability Name	CVE ID	Product Affected	Severity
NTLM zero-day	Not Yet Assigned	Microsoft Windows	Critical

Technical Summary

CVE ID	System Affected	Vulnerability Details	Impact
Not Yet Assigned	Windows 7 to 11 (24H2), Server 2008 R2 to 2022	A zero-day vulnerability that allows NTLM credential theft by viewing a malicious file in File Explorer. The flaw forces an outbound NTLM connection, leaking NTLM hashes. Exploitation requires no user interaction beyond viewing a malicious file, which can be delivered through shared folders, USB drives, or malicious downloads in the browser's default folder.	Enables attackers to steal NTLM credentials and gain unauthorized access of the affected systems.

Remediations

Apply the 0patch Micropatch:
- Register for a free account at 0patch Central.
- Install the 0patch agent to automatically receive the micropatch.
Disable NTLM Authentication:
- Navigate to Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options in Group Policy.
- Configure “Network security: Restrict NTLM” policies to limit NTLM usage.

General Recommendations

Only enable patches or configurations after testing them on non-critical devices to ensure minimal impact.
Stay updated on Microsoft’s response and the availability of an official patch through trusted news sources or Microsoft’s advisories.
Inform users about the risks of handling unfamiliar files and downloading content from untrusted sources.
Monitor systems for suspicious NTLM-related activity.

References

Microsoft December 2024 Patch Tuesday: Critical Fixes for Zero-Day and Remote Code Execution

Summary

OEM	Microsoft
Severity	High
Date of Announcement	2024-12-12
NO. of Vulnerabilities Patched	71
Actively Exploited	01
Exploited in Wild	Yes
Advisory Version	1.0

Overview

Microsoft released updates addressing 71 vulnerabilities across its product suite, including 1 actively exploited zero-day vulnerability. Critical patches include fixes for remote code execution (RCE) flaws in Windows TCP/IP and Windows Common Log File System (CLFS). Immediate attention is required for systems running Windows Server, Microsoft Exchange, and other affected components. The patch targets a range of critical issues across Microsoft products, categorized as follows:

30 Remote Code Execution (RCE) Vulnerabilities
27 Elevation of Privilege (EoP) Vulnerabilities
7 Information Disclosure Vulnerabilities
4 Denial of Service (DoS) Vulnerabilities
1Defense-in-depth improvement
1 Spoofing Vulnerabilities

The highlighted vulnerabilities include one zero-day flaw and critical RCE vulnerabilities, one of which is currently being actively exploited.

Vulnerability Name	CVE ID	Product Affected	Impact	CVSS Score
Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution in Windows LDAP	CVE-2024-49112	Windows	Critical	9.8
Remote Code Execution in Windows Hyper-V	CVE-2024-49117	Windows	High	8.8
Remote Code Execution via Use-After-Free in Remote Desktop Services	CVE-2024-49132	Windows	High	8.1
Windows Common Log File System Driver Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability	CVE-2024-49138	Windows	High	7.8

Technical Summary

CVE ID	System Affected	Vulnerability Details	Impact
CVE-2024-49112	Microsoft Windows Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP)	This vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code at the LDAP service level by sending specially crafted LDAP calls to a Windows Domain Controller. While Microsoft recommends disconnecting Domain Controllers from the Internet as a mitigation, applying the patch is the best course of action.	Remote Code Execution
CVE-2024-49117	Microsoft Windows Hyper-V	This vulnerability can be exploited by an authenticated attacker to execute code on the host operating system from a guest virtual machine. Cross-VM attacks are also possible. Although the attacker must have basic authentication, the vulnerability poses significant risks to virtualized environments.	Remote Code Execution
CVE-2024-49132	Microsoft Windows Remote Desktop Services	An attacker can exploit a use-after-free memory condition in Remote Desktop Gateway, allowing RCE. Exploitation requires precise timing, which makes this an advanced attack. Successful exploitation grants attackers control over the affected system.	Allows an attacker to execute remote code on systems using Remote Desktop Gateway
CVE-2024-49138	Windows Common Log File System Driver	This critical security flaw affects the Windows Common Log File System Driver and is classified as an Elevation of Privilege vulnerability.	It allows attackers to gain SYSTEM privileges on Windows devices, potentially giving them full control over the affected system.

Additional Critical Patches Address High-Severity Vulnerabilities

These are the eight other critical vulnerabilities that are rated 8.1 on the CVSS scale in Remote Desktop Services (CVE-2024-49116, CVE-2024-49108, CVE-2024-49106, CVE-2024-49115, CVE-2024-49128, CVE-2024-49123, CVE-2024-49120, CVE-2024-49119).
Windows Mobile Broadband Driver Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability (CVE-2024-49077).
Windows Mobile Broadband Driver Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability (CVE-2024-49132).

Remediation

Ensure all December 2024 Patch Tuesday updates are applied promptly.
Implement a routine patch management process to regularly check for and apply the latest Microsoft security updates and patches for all affected products.
Create and test an incident response plan with defined communication channels and responsibilities to ensure readiness for any security breaches.

References

https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/releaseNote/2024-Dec

Advisory on MUT-8694: Threat Actors Exploiting Developer Trust in Open-Source Libraries

MUT-8694: Threat Actors Exploiting Developer Trust in Open-Source Libraries

Overview

In November 2024, a supply chain attack designated as MUT-8694 was identified, targeting developers relying on npm and PyPI package repositories. This campaign exploits trust in open-source ecosystems, utilizing typosquatting to distribute malicious packages. The malware predominantly affects Windows users, delivering advanced infostealer payloads.

MUT-8694 Campaign Details

The threat actors behind MUT-8694 use malicious packages that mimic legitimate libraries to infiltrate developer environments. The campaign employs techniques such as:

Typosquatting: Using package names that closely resemble popular or legitimate libraries.
Payload Delivery: Embedded scripts download malware such as Blank Grabber and Skuld Stealer hosted on GitHub and repl.it.
Targeted Ecosystems: npm and PyPI, critical platforms for developers.

Source: Datadog

Key Findings

One identified package, larpexodus (version 0.1), executed a PowerShell command to download and run a Windows PE32 binary from github[.]com/holdthaw/main/CBLines.exe. Analysis revealed the binary was an infostealer malware, Blank Grabber, compiled from an open-source project hosted on GitHub. Further inspection of the repository exposed another stealer, Skuld Stealer, indicating the involvement of multiple commodity malware samples.

Capabilities of Malware

The deployed malware variants include advanced features that allow:

Credential Harvesting: Exfiltrating usernames, passwords, and sensitive data.
Cryptocurrency Wallet Theft: Targeting and compromising crypto assets.
Application Data Exfiltration: Stealing configuration files from popular applications

Affected Packages

Some known malicious packages include:

larpexodus (PyPI): Executes a PowerShell script to download malware.
Impersonations of npm libraries: Host binaries leading to infostealer deployment.

Remediation:

To mitigate the risks associated with this attack, users should:

Audit Installed Packages: Use tools like npm audit or pip audit to identify vulnerabilities.
Validate Package Sources: Verify package publishers and cross-check names carefully before installation.
Monitor Network Activity: Look for unusual connections to GitHub or repl.it domains.
Use Security Tools: Implement solutions that detect malicious dependencies.

General Recommendations:

Avoid downloading software from unofficial or unverified sources.
Regularly update packages and dependencies to the latest versions.
Conduct periodic security awareness training for developers and IT teams.

References:

https://securitylabs.datadoghq.com/articles/mut-8964-an-npm-and-pypi-malicious-campaign-targeting-windows-users/

RCE and File Deletion Vulnerabilities in Veeam Service Provider Console

Summary

OEM	Veeam
Severity	Critical
Date of Announcement	2024-12-05
CVSS Score	9.9
CVE	CVE-2024-42448, CVE-2024-42449
Exploited in Wild	No
Patch/Remediation Available	Yes
Advisory Version	1.0

Overview

Two critical vulnerabilities in the Veeam Service Provider Console (VSPC) enable attackers to perform unauthenticated remote code execution (RCE) and arbitrary file deletion. These flaws present severe threats to the infrastructure of managed service providers that depend on VSPC for their operations.

Vulnerability Name	CVE ID	Product Affected	Severity	CVSS Score
Veeam Service Provider Console RCE	CVE-2024-42448	Veeam Service Provider Console	Critical	9.9
NTLM Hash Leak and Arbitrary File Deletion on Server	CVE-2024-42449	Veeam Service Provider Console	High	7.1

Technical Summary

CVE ID	System Affected	Vulnerability Details	Impact
CVE-2024-42448	VSPC v8.1.0.21377 and all earlier versions.	This critical remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary code on the Veeam Service Provider Console server. It exploits a flaw in the server's handling of input, enabling attackers to compromise the entire system.	Allows attackers to execute arbitrary code on the server remotely.
CVE-2024-42449	VSPC v8.1.0.21377 and all earlier versions.	This vulnerability allows attackers, via an authorized VSPC management agent, to leak the NTLM hash of the VSPC server service account and delete arbitrary files on the server. Exploitation requires valid credentials for an agent authorized by the VSPC server.	Permits authorized management agents to delete arbitrary files from the VSPC server.

Remediations

Update Veeam Service Provider Console to version 8.1.0.21999 or later version, which addresses this vulnerability.
Limit network exposure of VSPC and allow access only to trusted management agents.

General Recommendations

Monitor VSPC logs to detect suspicious activities and respond promptly.
Use strong, unique passwords for service accounts and enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) where possible.

References

Security Update for NVIDIA Base Command & Bright Cluster Managers

NVIDIA has issued a security advisory addressing a critical vulnerability (CVE-2024-0138) discovered in its Base Command Manager software. This flaw, located within the CMDaemon component, poses significant risks, including the potential for remote code execution, denial of service, privilege escalation, information disclosure, and data tampering.

What does the Vulnerability mean

The source of the vulnerability was from insecure temporary file handling, which could lead to a denial of service (DoS) condition on affected systems.

NVIDIA has released patches to address the issue and prevent potential exploitation. This critical flaw can be exploited remotely without any prerequisites, such as user interaction or special privileges, making it highly dangerous.

Vulnerability Name	CVE ID	Product Affected	Impact	Fixed Version
Insecure Temporary File Vulnerability	CVE-2024-0139	NVIDIA Base Command Manager, Bright Cluster Manager	Medium	Base Command Manager: 10.24.09a; Bright Cluster Manager: 9.0-22, 9.1-19, 9.2-17

Technical Summary

NVIDIA confirmed earlier versions, including 10.24.07 and earlier, are not impacted by this vulnerability.

To mitigate the issue, NVIDIA recommends updating the CMDaemon component on all head nodes and software images.

Remediation:

1. Base Command Manager

Update to version 10.24.09a to address the vulnerability.

2. Bright Cluster Manager

Depending on your version, update to one of the following:

9.0-22

9.1-19

9.2-17

3. CMdaemon Update

Ensure the most recent version of CMdaemon is installed on the head nodes and in all software images.

4. Node Update .

After applying the update, systems should be rebooted or resynchronized with the updated software image to ensure the fix is fully implemented. These measures are essential to eliminate the root cause that created vulnerability and protect systems from potential exploitation.

References:

For additional details on the vulnerability and patch instructions, visit NVIDIA’s security bulletin.

CVE ID	System Affected	Platform	Vulnerability Details	Impact
CVE-2024-0139	NVIDIA Base Command Manager (Versions 3, 10) NVIDIA Bright Cluster Manager (Versions 9.0-9.2)	Linux	The vulnerability stems from insecure handling of temporary files in both Base Command Manager and Bright Cluster Manager. Exploiting this flaw could disrupt system availability, potentially causing a denial of service.	Potential denial of service on affected systems.

Re-release of November 2024 Exchange Server Security Updates

Microsoft users had a tough time to send or load attachments to emails when using Outlook, were unable to connect to the server, and in some cases could not log into their accounts.

Microsoft Exchange Online is a platform for business communication that has a mail server and cloud apps for email, contacts, and calendars.

Microsoft mitigated the issue after identification were able to determine the cause of the outages and is rolling out a fix for the issue. That rollout is gradual, however, as outage reports continue to come in at DownDetector.

Impact

The outage left many users unable to communicate with colleagues, particularly as it coincided with the start of the workday in Europe. Frustration quickly spread across social media, with users reporting issues accessing emails and participating in Teams calls

Re-release of November 2024 Exchange Server Security Updates

Summary

OEM	Microsoft
Severity	High
Date of Announcement	27/11/2024
Product	Microsoft Exchange Server
CVE ID	CVE-2024-49040
CVSS Score	7.5
Exploited in Wild	No
Patch/Remediation Available	Yes
Advisory Version	1.0

Overview

On November 27, 2024, Microsoft re-released the November 2024 Security Updates (SUs) for Exchange Server to resolve an issue introduced in the initial release on November 12, 2024. The original update (SUv1) caused Exchange Server transport rules to intermittently stop functioning, particularly in environments using transport or Data Loss Protection (DLP) rules. The updated version (SUv2) addresses this issue.

Table of Actions for Admins:

Scenario	Action Required
SUv1 installed manually, and transport/DLP rules are not used	Install SUv2 to regain control over the X-MS-Exchange-P2FromRegexMatch header.
SUv1 installed via Windows/Microsoft Update, no transport/DLP rules used	No immediate action needed; SUv2 will be installed automatically in December 2024.
SUv1 installed and then uninstalled due to transport rule issues	Install SUv2 immediately.
SUv1 never installed	Install SUv2 immediately.

Remediation Steps

1. Immediate Actions

Use the Health Checker script to inventory your Exchange Servers and assess update needs.

Install the latest Cumulative Update (CU) followed by the November 2024 SUv2.

2. Monitor System Performance

After enabling AMSI integration for message bodies, monitor for any performance issues such as delays in mail flow or server responsiveness.

3. Run SetupAssist Script for Issues

Use the SetupAssist script to troubleshoot issues with failed installations or update issues, and check logs for specific error details.

References:

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/exchange/re-release-of-november-2024-exchange-server-security-update-packages/4341892

Analysis of WezRat Malware; Check point Findings

New CheckPoint research discovered a new remote access trojan and information stealer used by Iranian state-sponsored actors to conduct reconnaissance of compromised endpoints and execute malicious commands.

November 2024 Microsoft Patches: Addressing Zero-Day Exploits and High-Priority Vulnerabilities

Summary

OEM	Microsoft
Severity	High
Date of Announcement	2024-11-13
NO. of Vulnerabilities Patched	89
Actively Exploited	02
Exploited in Wild	Yes
Advisory Version	1.0

Overview

Microsoft’s November 2024 Patch Tuesday release addresses 89 security vulnerabilities across various products, including critical updates for Windows, Microsoft Edge, SQL Server, and more. Four zero-day vulnerabilities are part of this release, with two actively exploited in the wild. The patch targets a range of critical issues across Microsoft products, categorized as follows:

51 Remote Code Execution (RCE) Vulnerabilities
28 Elevation of Privilege (EoP) Vulnerabilities
4 Denial of Service (DoS) Vulnerabilities
2 Security Feature Bypass Vulnerabilities
3 Spoofing Vulnerabilities
1 Information Disclosure Vulnerabilities

The highlighted vulnerabilities include four zero-day flaws, two of which are currently being actively exploited.

Vulnerability Name	CVE ID	Product Affected	Impact	CVSS Score
Microsoft Management Console Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (Exploitation detected)	CVE-2024-43572	Windows Servers and Windows 10&11	High	7.8
Winlogon Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability	CVE-2024-43583	Windows systems using Winlogon	High	7.8
Windows Hyper-V Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability	CVE-2024-20659	Windows Hyper-V	High	7.1
Windows MSHTML Platform Spoofing Vulnerability (Exploitation Detected)	CVE-2024-43573	Windows Servers and Windows 10&11	Medium	6.5

Technical Summary

CVE ID	System Affected	Vulnerability Details	Impact
CVE-2024-49039	Windows Servers and Windows 10&11	This zero-day allows attackers to escalate privileges within Windows environments. Exploited actively, it is particularly concerning for its ability to grant attackers elevated access.	Elevation of privilege potentially leading to full system control.
CVE-2024-49019	Windows Servers	A flaw in Active Directory Certificate Services allows attackers to gain domain administrator privileges by exploiting misconfigured version 1 certificate templates with overly broad enrollment permissions. This can be triggered by an attacker crafting a certificate request that bypasses security controls.	Elevate privileges to domain administrator, compromising the entire Active Directory environment and enabling full network control.
CVE-2024-49040	Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 and 2019	A vulnerability in Microsoft Exchange Server allows attackers to spoof the sender’s email address in emails to local recipients by exploiting improper verification of the P2 FROM header. This flaw can be used to launch email-based phishing and social engineering attacks.	Attackers can impersonate trusted senders, deceiving recipients into trusting malicious emails, potentially leading to data compromise or malware infections.
CVE-2024-43451	Windows Servers and Windows 10&11	A zero-day that exposes NTLMv2 hashes, enabling “pass-the-hash” attacks for unauthorized network access. This is the third NTLM-related zero-day discovered in 2024.	High risk in network environments; attackers may impersonate users and compromise critical systems.

Additional Critical Patches Address High-Severity Vulnerabilities

Azure CycleCloud: Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (CVE-2024-43602).
.NET and Visual Studio: Remote Code Execution vulnerability (CVE-2024-43498).
Microsoft Windows VMSwitch: Elevation of Privilege vulnerability (CVE-2024-43625).
Windows Kerberos: Remote Code Execution vulnerability (CVE-2024-43639).
SQL Server: Multiple updates targeting memory vulnerabilities, each with a CVSS score of 8.8, affecting database security.

Remediation

Implement a routine patch management process to regularly check for and apply the latest Microsoft security updates and patches for all affected products.
Regularly audit Active Directory and Exchange Server configurations to close potential security gaps.
Awareness of download files from the internet & regularly review and monitor your security setup, staying updated on new advisories to secure against emerging threats and vulnerabilities.
Create and test an incident response plan with defined communication channels and responsibilities to ensure readiness for any security breaches.

References

https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/releaseNote/2024-Nov

Palo Alto Account Takeover Vulnerability Actively Exploited

Summary

OEM	Palo Alto
Severity	Critical
Date of Announcement	2024-07-10
CVSS Score	9.3
CVE	CVE-2024-5910
CWE	CWE-306
Exploited in Wild	Yes
Patch/Remediation Available	Yes
Advisory Version	1.0

Overview

CISA has included the Palo Alto Networks Expedition tool Missing Authentication Vulnerability in its catalog of actively exploited vulnerabilities. Palo Alto’s Expedition is a migration tool designed to simplify the process of transferring configurations from other vendors to Palo Alto Networks. The issue is tracked under CVE-2024-5910. The vulnerability, which involves missing authentication for a critical function in Expedition, could allow attackers with network access to take over an admin account. This poses a risk to imported configuration secrets, credentials, and other sensitive data within Expedition.

Vulnerability Name	CVE ID	Product Affected	Severity	Fixed Version
Palo Alto Networks Expedition Missing Authentication Vulnerability	CVE-2024-5910	Expedition	Critical	Expedition 1.2.92 and all later versions

Technical Summary

CVE ID	System Affected	Vulnerability Details	Impact
CVE-2024-5910	Expedition from 1.2 before 1.2.92	The vulnerability, caused by missing authentication for an important function in Expedition, could allow attackers with network access to take over an admin account.	Account Takeover

Recommendations

Update Expedition to 1.2.92 and the latest versions to mitigate the issue.

General Recommendations

Restrict Network Access: Limit network access to Expedition to only trusted and authorized users, hosts, and networks.
Enable Strong Authentication: Implement strong authentication for all critical functions in Expedition, including multi-factor authentication (MFA) where possible.
Monitor Access Logs: Regularly monitor and review access logs to detect any unusual or unauthorized access attempts.
Stay Updated: Stay informed about the latest cybersecurity news and updates to keep track of emerging threats and vulnerabilities.

Summary

Overview

Technical Summary

Remediations

General Recommendations

References

Summary

Overview

Technical Summary

Remediations

General Recommendations

References

Summary

Overview

Technical Summary

Additional Critical Patches Address High-Severity Vulnerabilities

Remediation

References

Summary

Overview

Technical Summary

Remediations

General Recommendations

References

What does the Vulnerability mean

Summary

Overview

Technical Summary

Additional Critical Patches Address High-Severity Vulnerabilities

Remediation

References

Summary

Overview

Technical Summary

Recommendations

General Recommendations

References

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