Intrucept

Security Advisory

Chrome Update Released, Fixes RCE & Multiple Vulnerabilities

Summary 

OEM Google Chrome 
Severity High 
CVSS Score 8.8 
CVEs CVE-2025-9864, CVE-2025-9865, CVE-2025-9866, CVE-2025-9867 
POC Available No 
Actively Exploited No 
Exploited in Wild No 
Advisory Version 1.0 

Overview 

Several security vulnerabilities were recently identified in Chromium-based browsers, affecting components such as the V8 JavaScript engine, Toolbar, Extensions and Downloads. The high severity vulnerability, use-after-free issue, could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code.

Additional medium-severity bugs were found in the Toolbar, Extensions, and Downloads components. The Chrome team has started rolling out Chrome 140 to the stable channel, and users are urged to update their browsers to stay protected. 

Vulnerability Name CVE ID Product Affected Severity Fixed Version 
​Use-after-free vulnerability in V8  CVE-2025-9864 Chrome  High  v140.0.7339.80/81 
​Inappropriate implementation vulnerability in Toolbar  CVE-2025-9865 Chrome  Medium  v140.0.7339.80/81 
Inappropriate implementation vulnerability in Extensions  CVE-2025-9866 Chrome  Medium  v140.0.7339.80/81 
Inappropriate implementation vulnerability in Downloads  CVE-2025-9867 Chrome  Medium  v140.0.7339.80/81 

Technical Summary 

Multiple vulnerabilities were addressed in Google Chrome prior to version 140.0.7339.80. The most critical, CVE-2025-9864, is a use-after-free issue in the V8 JavaScript engine that allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.

Other medium-severity issues include a Toolbar vulnerability on Android that could be exploited via specific user gestures to spoof domains, a security gap in Extensions allowing attackers to bypass content security policies, and a Downloads flaw on Android that enabled UI spoofing through manipulated web pages.

These could allow attackers to misuse Chrome’s features or gain higher system privileges.  

CVE ID System Affected  Vulnerability Details Impact 
 CVE-2025-9864  Chrome v139 and prior Use-after-free in V8 engine could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code via malicious webpage  Remote Code Execution 
 CVE-2025-9865  Chrome v139 and prior Improper handling Chrome’s Toolbar component could allow attackers misuse browser functions or gain privilege access  Domain Spoofing / UI Spoofing
 CVE-2025-9866  Chrome v139 and prior Inappropriate implementation in Chrome’s Extensions system, could allow attackers misuse or bypass content security policy  Content Security Policy Bypass
 CVE-2025-9867  Chrome v139 and prior Improper validation in Chrome’s Downloads could allow attackers to perform UI spoofing via crafted HTML   UI Spoofing 

Remediation: 

References: 

  • https://gbhackers.com/chrome-140-release/

Security Advisory

Fake Govt & Banking Apps Spreading Android Droppers Evolved as Malware

Security Advisory:  

Cybersecurity researchers have discovered a major shift in how Android malware is being delivered. Dropper apps, which were earlier used mainly to distribute banking trojans.

The Malware’s being used to deliver simpler threats like SMS stealers and basic spyware as official government or banking apps, primarily targeting users in India, Southeast Asia, and some parts of Europe. 

ThreatFabric researchers warn of a shift in Android malware: dropper apps now deliver not just banking trojans, but also SMS stealers and spyware, mainly in Asia.

Vulnerability Details 

The recent surge in Android dropper apps introduces a critical security vulnerability affecting mobile users globally. These droppers are impersonating as banking apps, government services, or trading platforms,, bypass Google Play

Pilot Program by initially requesting minimal permissions to avoid detection, making them appear as legitimate applications.

Once installed, they fetch malicious payloads like spyware, SMS stealers, cryptocurrency miners, and banking trojans from remote servers. Attackers also exploit malvertising campaigns on social media to spread fake apps widely. This evolving tactic enables cybercriminals to switch payloads dynamically, making traditional security measures less effective and increasing the risk of data theft and device compromise. 

Source: cybersecuritynews 

Attack Flow 

Step Description 
1. Craft Attackers create malicious dropper apps disguised as government schemes, banking apps, or trading tools. These apps are designed to look harmless and request only minimal permissions initially. 
2. Send The droppers are distributed through third-party APK sites, malicious ads (e.g., Facebook), or fake update prompts, bypassing initial detection. 
3. Trigger The victim downloads and installs the dropper app, often believing it’s legitimate due to its official-looking design and branding. 
4. Execution When the user clicks “Update” or interacts with the app, the dropper fetches the real malicious payload (spyware, SMS stealer, or banking trojan) from a remote server. 
5. Exploit The installed malware requests high-risk permissions, such as SMS access or notification access, allowing attackers to steal data, track activities, or control the device remotely. 

Proof-of-Concept 

Once the user interacts, the dropper initiates an HTTPS request to a remote server 

Source: cybersecurity news 

Why It’s Effective 

Dynamic Payload Delivery – Attackers hide the real malicious file inside a harmless-looking dropper app. The payload is only downloaded after user interaction, making it harder to detect. 

Permission Evasion – Droppers initially request minimal or safe permissions and only ask for high-risk permissions (like SMS or accessibility access) after installation, bypassing Google Play Protest’sProtects initial scans. 

Fake Update Screens – Many droppers display legitimate looking “Update Required” prompts to trick users into downloading malware, increasing their success rate. 

Recommendations: 

Download Apps Safely  

  • Install apps only from trusted sources like Google Play Store, Apple store etc. 
  • Avoid third-party APKs, unknown links, or apps promoted through social media ads. 

Check Permissions Carefully  

  • Do not grant unnecessary permissions like SMS, notifications, or accessibility dependent on the app services. 
  • Always review requested permissions before installing or updating an app. 

Keep Devices Secure  

  • Enable Google Play Protect and keep your Android security patches up to date. 
  • Use a reliable mobile security solution for real-time malware detection. 

Stay Alert and Aware  

  • Be aware of fake update prompts; apps, and malicious sites. 
  • Stay updated on the latest tactics used by Android malware 

Conclusion: 

  • Android droppers are evolving fast, making them more flexible and harder to detect, increasing risks for both individuals and organizations.
  • Droppers started as tools for advanced banking malware, but now they’re used to install all kinds of harmful apps and sneak past local security.  
  • It is always recommended to stay vigilant, keep your phone and software updated from the original source  and avoid unverified apps installation to minimize the risk of infection. 

References: 

Security Advisory

MediaTek Patches Critical Modem Vulnerabilities  

Security Advisory: MediaTek disclosed critical vulnerabilities along with remediation for its modem and system components. Since the vulnerabilities affected thousands of devices, amounting to both multiple high- and medium vulnerabilities that affected, 60 chipsets used in smartphones, routers and IoT devices.

OEM MediaTek 
Severity High 
CVSS Score 8.3 (NOA) 
CVEs CVE-2025-20708, CVE-2025-20703, CVE-2025-20704, CVE-2025-20705, CVE-2025-20706, CVE-2025-20707 
POC Available No 
Actively Exploited No 
Exploited in Wild No 
Advisory Version 1.0 

Overview 

MediaTek issued a critical security update in September 2025 and key issues include modem-related flaws such as remote code execution, denial of service via rogue base stations and local privilege escalation.

Other vulnerabilities include WLAN buffer overflows, bootloader logic flaws and keymaster information leaks impacting Android devices and OpenWRT/Yocto platforms. There has been no active exploitation noticed and MediaTek began distributing patches to OEMs from July 2025 and urges immediate firmware updates to mitigate the issues. 

                Vulnerability Name CVE ID Product Affected Severity 
​Out-of-bounds write in Modem  CVE-2025-20708 Affected chipsets – 60 chipsets 
Modem NR15,16,17,17R software versions. 		 High 
Out-of-bounds read in Modem CVE-2025-20703 Affected chipsets – 57 chipsets 
Modem NR15,16,17,17R software versions. 		High 
Out-of-bounds write in Modem CVE-2025-20704 Affected chipsets – 14 chipsets 
Modem NR17,17R software versions. 		High 
Use after free in monitor_hang CVE-2025-20705 Affected chipsets – 39 chipsets 
Android 13 – 16,   openWRT 19.07, 21.02 / Yocto 2.6 software versions. 		Medium 
Use after free in mbrain CVE-2025-20706 Affected chipsets – 5 chipsets 
Android 14 – 15 software versions. 		Medium 
Use after free in geniezone CVE-2025-20707 Affected chipsets – 60 chipsets 
Android 13 – 15 software versions. 		Medium 

Technical Summary 

These vulnerabilities primarily include out-of-bounds read and write errors (CWE-125, CWE-787) and use-after-free issues (CWE-416), resulting from improper bounds checking and memory management flaws. 

An attacker controlling a rogue base station can exploit these flaws remotely without requiring user interaction, potentially causing remote denial of service, unauthorized privilege escalation, or local privilege escalation if system privileges are already obtained. The exploitation of these vulnerabilities could compromise device stability, security and confidentiality by corrupting memory or executing arbitrary code. Affected devices use modem firmware versions NR15 through NR17R, and a wide spectrum of chipsets, highlighting the broad attack surface. 

CVE ID Vulnerability Details Impact 
CVE-2025-20708 An out-of-bounds write flaw exists in the Modem due to incorrect bounds checking. This vulnerability allows remote escalation of privilege when a UE connects to a rogue base station, without requiring additional execution privileges or user interaction. Unauthorized access, data interception, disruption of cellular services 
CVE-2025-20703 The Modem is affected by an out-of-bounds read issue caused by improper bounds validation. This can result in remote denial of service if connected to a malicious base station, and exploitation requires no user interaction or extra privileges. Denial of Service (DoS), modem or device crash, freeze, unresponsiveness 
CVE-2025-20704 Due to a missing bounds check, the Modem is vulnerable to an out-of-bounds write. Exploiting this flaw can lead to remote escalation of privilege when connected to a rogue base station, though user interaction is necessary. Remote privilege escalation, unauthorized elevated access 
CVE-2025-20705 A use-after-free condition in the monitor_hang module can cause memory corruption, potentially leading to local escalation of privilege if the attacker already has System-level access. Exploitation does not require user interaction. Local privilege escalation, memory corruption 
CVE-2025-20706 The mbrain component suffers from a use-after-free vulnerability that can result in memory corruption. This may allow local privilege escalation for an attacker with System privileges, without needing user interaction. Local privilege escalation, memory corruption 
CVE-2025-20707 In the geniezone module, a use-after-free vulnerability can cause memory corruption and permit local privilege escalation if the attacker has System privileges, with no user interaction needed. Local privilege escalation, memory corruption 

Recommendations: 

Here are some recommendations below 

  • Once OEM updates are available, make sure to update your device promptly to apply the latest security patches addressing these vulnerabilities. 
  • Avoid connecting to unknown networks to reduce the risk of remote exploitation. 
  • Keep your device’s operating system and apps updated to the latest version. 

Conclusion: 
MediaTek’s recent security update addresses critical vulnerabilities, especially in modem firmware, that could allow remote attacks without user interaction. Although no active exploits have been found, the severity and scope of these flaws make it vital for manufacturers and users to promptly apply patches to protect devices and data. 

The company reassures end users that proactive notification and remediation precede public disclosure, underscoring MediaTek’s commitment to chipset and product security.

References: 

Security Advisory

Threat Actors Exploiting Microsoft Teams to Gain Remote Access & Transfer Malware 

Security Advisory:

A new wave of social engineering attacks is exploiting Microsoft Teams, one of the most trusted enterprise collaboration platforms as a malware delivery channel.

Threat actors are impersonating IT support staff to trick employees into installing remote access tools and running malicious PowerShell scripts, enabling full compromise of victim environments. 

This campaign represents an evolution beyond traditional phishing, weaponizing corporate communication channels that employees inherently trust. Once access is established, attackers deploy multifunctional malware loaders such as DarkGate and Matanbuchus, with capabilities for credential theft, persistence, lateral movement and ransomware deployment. 

Technical Summary 

Security researchers have observed financially motivated threat groups abusing Microsoft Teams chats and calls to impersonate IT administrators. Attackers create malicious or compromised Teams accounts often using convincing display names like “IT SUPPORT ” or “Help Desk Specialist” as looking like legitimate and verified account to initiate direct conversations with employees. The social engineering process typically follows this chain 

Attack Process                                                                             Source: permiso.io 

It included the malware features 

  • Credential theft via GUI-based Windows prompts. 
  • Persistence using Scheduled Tasks (e.g. Google LLC Updater) or Registry Run keys. 
  • Encrypted C2 communications with hardcoded AES keys & IVs. 
  • Process protection via RtlSetProcessIsCritical, making malware harder to remove. 
  • Harvesting system info for reconnaissance and follow-on payloads. 

The campaigns have been linked to threat actor groups such as Water Gamayun (aka EncryptHub), known for blending social engineering, custom malware and ransomware operations. 

Element Detail 
Initial Access Direct messages/calls via Microsoft Teams impersonating IT staff 
Social Engineering Fake IT accounts with display names like “IT SUPPORT ✅” and onmicrosoft.com domains 
Malicious Tools QuickAssist, AnyDesk, PowerShell-based loaders (DarkGate, Matanbuchus) 
Persistence Scheduled Tasks (Google LLC Updater), Registry autoruns 
Payload Features Credential theft, system profiling, encrypted C2, remote execution 
Target Enterprise employees, IT professionals, developers 
Objective Credential theft, long-term access, ransomware deployment 

IOCs 

Organizations are urged to block the following indicators immediately: 

Indicator Type 
https://audiorealteak[.]com/payload/build.ps1 URL 
https://cjhsbam[.]com/payload/runner.ps1 URL 
104.21.40[.]219 IPv4 
193.5.65[.]199 IPv4 
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT; Windows NT 10.0; en-US) AppleWebKit/534.6 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/7.0.500.0 Safari/534.6 UA 
&9*zS7LY%ZN1thfI Initialization Vector 
123456789012345678901234r0hollah Encryption Key 
62088a7b-ae9f-2333-77a-6e9c921cb48e Mutex 
Help Desk Specialist  User Display Name 
IT SUPPORT User Display Name 
Marco DaSilva IT Support  User Display Name 
IT SUPPORT  User Display Name 
Help Desk User Display Name 
@cybersecurityadm.onmicrosoft.com User Principal Name 
@updateteamis.onmicrosoft.com User Principal Name 
@supportbotit.onmicrosoft.com User Principal Name 
@replysupport.onmicrosoft.com User Principal Name 
@administratoritdep.onmicrosoft.com User Principal Name 
@luxadmln.onmicrosoft.com User Principal Name 
@firewalloverview.onmicrosoft.com User Principal Name 

Remediation: 

  1. Strengthen Microsoft Teams Security 
  • Restrict external tenants and enforce strict access control on Teams. 
  • Implement anomaly detection for suspicious Teams account activity. 
  • Block installation of unauthorized remote access tools (QuickAssist, AnyDesk). 

2. Enhance Endpoint & Network Defenses 

  • Monitor PowerShell execution with EDR/XDR solutions. 
  • Detect persistence artifacts (scheduled tasks, autorun keys, rundll32 activity). 
  • Block known IoCs at DNS/firewall levels. 

 3. Employee Awareness & MFA Security 

  • Train employees to verify IT support requests through independent channels. 
  • Warn staff against installing software via unsolicited Teams messages. 
  • Enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all accounts. 

Conclusion: 
By shifting malware delivery into Microsoft Teams, attackers are exploiting a platform that enterprises inherently trust. The blending of social engineering with technical abuse of PowerShell and remote access tools makes this campaign particularly dangerous, enabling attackers to infiltrate organizations without relying on traditional email phishing. 

Organizations must treat collaboration platforms as high-value attack surfaces not just communication tools. Strengthening monitoring, restricting external interactions and training employees to validate IT requests are critical to defending against this evolving threat.  

References: 

Blogs

Deep Dive into AI Ransomware ‘PromptLock’ Malware

AI Ransomware ‘PromptLock’ uses OpenAI gpt-oss-20b Model for Encryption has been identified by ESET research team, is believed to be the first-ever ransomware strain that leverages a local AI model to generate its malicious components. As we Deep dive into AI Ransomware we discover the intricacies and challenges organizations face dure to AI ransomware.

The malware uses OpenAI’s gpt-oss:20b model via the Ollama API to create custom, cross-platform Lua scripts for its attack.

PromptLock is written in Golang and has been identified in both Windows and Linux variants on the VirusTotal repository and uses the gpt-oss:20b model from OpenAI locally via the Ollama API to generate malicious Lua scripts in real-time.

ESET researchers have discovered the first known AI-powered ransomware. The malware, which ESET has named PromptLock, has the ability to exfiltrate, encrypt and possibly even destroy data, though this last functionality appears not to have been implemented in the malware yet.

PromptLock was not spotted in actual attacks and is instead thought to be a proof-of-concept (PoC) or a work in progress, ESET’s discovery shows how malicious use of publicly-available AI tools could supercharge ransomware and other pervasive cyberthreats.

“The PromptLock malware uses the gpt-oss-20b model from OpenAI locally via the Ollama API to generate malicious Lua scripts on the fly, which it then executes. PromptLock leverages Lua scripts generated from hard-coded prompts to enumerate the local filesystem, inspect target files, exfiltrate selected data, and perform encryption,” said ESET researchers.

New Era of AI Generated Ransomware

A tool can be used to automate various stages of ransomware attacks and the same can be said as AI-powered malware are able to adapt to the environment and change its tactics on the fly and warns of a new frontier in cyberattacks.

Its core functionality is different then traditional ransomware, which typically contains pre-compiled malicious logic. Instead, PromptLock carries hard-coded prompts that it feeds to a locally running gpt-oss:20b model.

As per researchers for its encryption payload, PromptLock utilizes the SPECK 128-bit block cipher, a lightweight algorithm suitable for this flexible attack model.

ESET researchers emphasize that multiple indicators suggest PromptLock is still in a developmental stage. For instance, a function intended for data destruction appears to be defined but not yet implemented.

Indicators of Compromise (IoCs)

Malware Family: Filecoder.PromptLock.A

SHA1 Hashes:

  • 24BF7B72F54AA5B93C6681B4F69E579A47D7C102
  • AD223FE2BB4563446AEE5227357BBFDC8ADA3797
  • BB8FB75285BCD151132A3287F2786D4D91DA58B8
  • F3F4C40C344695388E10CBF29DDB18EF3B61F7EF
  • 639DBC9B365096D6347142FCAE64725BD9F73270
  • 161CDCDB46FB8A348AEC609A86FF5823752065D2

Given LLMs’ success, many companies and academic groups are currently creating all kinds of models and constantly developing variants and improvements to LLM. In the context of LLMs, a “prompt” is an input text given to the model to generate a response. 

The success rate is high so threat actors are leveraging these models for illicit purposes, making it easier to create sophisticated attacks like ransomware and evade traditional defenses. sale of models Now

By automating the creation of phishing emails, ransomware scripts, and malware payloads, LLMs allow less skilled attackers to conduct sophisticated campaigns.

For AI-powered ransomware

AI-powered ransomware is a challenging threat to organizations far and above older attack tactics adopted by cyber criminals. If organization’s basic defensive methods such as ensuring critical vulnerabilities are patched as soon as possible, network traffic is monitored and implementing offline backups applied on time.

How Intrucept helps Defend Against AI-Powered Ransomware

Analyzing threat by behavior allows for early detection and response to malware threats and alert generation,. This reduces the risk of data exfiltration.

Intru360

Intru360 gives security analysts and SOC managers a clear view across the organization, helping them fully understand the extent and context of an attack. It also simplifies workflows by automatically handling alerts, allowing for faster detection of both known and unknown threats.

Identify latest threats without having to purchase, implement, and oversee several solutions or find, hire, and manage a team security analyst.

Unify latest threat intelligence and security technologies to prioritize the threats that pose the greatest risk to your company.

Here are some features we offer:

  • Over 400 third-party and cloud integrations.
  • More than 1,100 preconfigured correlation rules.
  • Ready-to-use threat analytics, threat intelligence service feeds, and prioritization based on risk.
  • Prebuilt playbooks and automated response capabilities.

Source of above graphics : Courtesy: First AI Ransomware ‘PromptLock’ Uses OpenAI gpt-oss-20b Model for Encryption

Security Advisory

Critical Chrome Use-After-Free Vulnerability in ANGLE Graphics Library 

Security Advisory: A critical use-after-free vulnerability has been identified in the ANGLE graphics library used by Google Chrome which enables applications designed for OpenGL ES (OpenGL used on mobile and embedded devices) or WebGL (a web-based 3D graphics API) to run on platforms that primarily use other graphics APIs, such as DirectX on Windows or Vulkan on Android.

OEM Google Chrome 
Severity High 
CVSS Score 8.8 
CVEs CVE-2025-9478 
POC Available No 
Actively Exploited No 
Exploited in Wild No 
Advisory Version 1.0 

Overview 

This vulnerability could allow attackers to take control of your device simply by visiting a harmful website using HTML or WebGL which is just opening the wrong page could let hackers run their own code on our system. 

Google has already fixed this problem in the latest Chrome update (version 139.0.7258.154/.155 for Windows & macOS and 139.0.7258.154 for Linux). Users and administrators are strongly advised to apply the latest updates immediately. 

Vulnerability Name CVE ID Product Affected Severity Fixed Version 
​ Use-After-Free Vulnerability in ANGLE  CVE-2025- 9478 Google Chrome  High  v139.0.7258.154/.155 (Win/Mac), v139.0.7258.154 (Linux) 

Technical Summary 

This security issue happens when Chrome accidentally reuses computer memory that should no longer be in use. This is exploited by the attacker, if we visit a harmful website designed by cybercriminals, it can secretly run special graphics commands (through WebGL or Canvas). This could corrupt our system’s memory, crash our browser, or allow hackers to run their own code on our device remotely. 

CVE ID System Affected  Vulnerability Details Impact 
 CVE-2025- 9478 Chrome < 139.0.7258.154 A Vulnerability in Chrome’s graphics engine lets attackers reuse cleared memory through specially designed HTML/WebGL input. Remote code execution,  
Data theft  
 

Remediation: 

  • Update to Chrome latest versions 139.0.7258.154/.155 on Windows/macOS or 139.0.7258.154 on Linux or the later one. 

Here are some recommendations below 

  • Keep monitoring the logs for suspicious activities unusual WebGL or graphics API call. 
  • Conduct user awareness training to educate users about the risks of malicious websites, avoiding unknown links. 

Conclusion: 
This is a high-severity Chrome vulnerability that could allow remote code execution via malicious WebGL content. Although not yet exploited in the wild but immediate patching is essential. Users should update Chrome, monitor unusual graphics activity and stay informed about malicious website risks to ensure strong browser security. 

References: 

Cybersecurity News

ENISA to operate the EU Cybersecurity Reserve with EUR 36 million

ENISA to operate the EU Cybersecurity Reserve with EUR 36 million

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Security Advisory

Multiple Critical Vulnerabilities in Citrix NetScaler ADC/Gateway 

Security Advisory: Multiple vulnerabilities have been discovered in NetScaler ADC (formerly Citrix ADC) and NetScaler Gateway One Actively Exploited in Wild .

Citrix credited Jimi Sebree of Horizon3.ai, Jonathan Hetzer of Schramm & Partnerfor and Francois Hammerli for discovering and reporting the vulnerabilities.

Severity Critical 
CVSS Score 9.2 
CVEs CVE-2025-7775, CVE-2025-7776, CVE-2025-8424 
POC Available No 
Actively Exploited Yes 
Exploited in Wild Yes 
Advisory Version 1.0 

Overview 
A critical zero-day vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2025-7775, puts over 28,200 Citrix instances at risk worldwide.

This flaw allows attackers to run malicious code on affected systems without authentication. The issue is actively being exploited in the wild and immediate action is needed to secure systems.  Another two flaws were fixed in the latest updates.  

Vulnerability Name CVE ID Product Affected Severity 
Memory overflow vulnerability leading to RCE CVE-2025-7775 NetScaler ADC & Gateway 9.2 
Memory overflow vulnerability leading to unpredictable behavior CVE-2025-7776 NetScaler ADC & Gateway 8.8 
Improper access control on the NetScaler Management Interface CVE-2025-8424 NetScaler ADC & Gateway 8.7 

Technical Summary 

The NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway appliances are affected by multiple critical vulnerabilities that pose significant risks ranging from Remote Code Execution (RCE) and Denial of Service (DoS) to improper access control.

These include memory overflow flaws in configurations such as VPN virtual servers, load balancing virtual servers using IPv6 or DBS IPv6 services, and misconfigurations involving PCoIP profiles. Additionally, the management interface is exposed due to weak access control mechanisms, which could allow unauthorized administrative access if attackers reach key management IP addresses like NSIP or SNIP. CISA has added one vulnerability (CVE-2025-7775) to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) Catalog and strongly urges organizations to apply patches immediately to prevent active exploitation. 

CVE ID System Affected  Vulnerability Details Impact 
CVE-2025-7775  NetScaler ADC & Gateway  A critical memory overflow vulnerability in NetScaler ADC and Gateway that can lead to Remote Code Execution or DoS when configured as a Gateway (e.g., VPN, ICA Proxy, CVPN, RDP Proxy), AAA virtual server, or LB virtual server using IPv6 or DBS IPv6 services including CR virtual servers of type HDX. Remote Code Execution or DoS  
CVE-2025-7776  NetScaler ADC & Gateway A memory overflow vulnerability under analysis, currently known to cause unpredictable system behavior and potential DoS when a PCoIP Profile is bound to a Gateway-configured NetScaler instance (VPN, ICA Proxy, CVPN, RDP Proxy), Erroneous behavior and DoS 
CVE-2025-8424 NetScaler ADC & Gateway An improper access control vulnerability on the NetScaler Management Interface, allowing unauthorized access when attackers can reach management IPs (NSIP, Cluster Management IP, local GSLB Site IP, or SNIP with Management Access), affecting NetScaler ADC and Gateway appliances. Unauthorized access 

Recommendations 

NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway to install the relevant updated versions as soon as possible.  

  • NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway 14.1-47.48 and later releases 
  • NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway 13.1-59.22 and later releases of 13.1 
  • NetScaler ADC 13.1-FIPS and 13.1-NDcPP 13.1-37.241 and later releases of 13.1-FIPS and 13.1-NDcPP 
  • NetScaler ADC 12.1-FIPS and 12.1-NDcPP 12.1-55.330 and later releases of 12.1-FIPS and 12.1-NDcPP 

Here are some other recommendations below 

  • Monitor systems for unusual activity or unauthorized changes. 
  • Limit access to Citrix instances from untrusted networks. 
  • Use firewalls to block suspicious traffic targeting Citrix instances. 

Conclusion: 

Combined with additional high-severity vulnerabilities the overall threat landscape demands immediate attention. Organizations are strongly urged to apply the latest patches, restrict access to management interfaces and closely monitor for signs of compromise. Delayed action could result in significant operational and security impacts. 

The active exploitation of CVE-2025-7775 highlights a critical security threat affecting multiple NetScaler ADC and Gateway instances globally. This zero-day confirmed exploitation in the wild poses a severe risk of Remote Code Execution and service disruption.

References: 

  

'Lightweight cryptography' standard to protect small devices finalized
Blogs

NIST Wrapped Up ‘Lightweight Cryptography’ Algorithm to protect small devices, as IoT & Embedded Devices being prime Target of cybercriminals

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has finalized four lightweight cryptographic algorithms designed to safeguard data generated and transmitted by the Internet of Things (IoT) and other small-scale technologies.

The four lightweight cryptographic algorithms that NIST has finalized the standard after a multiyear public review process followed by extensive interaction with the design community.

In the wake of  IoT and embedded devices increasingly targeted by cybercriminals, the lightweight cryptography standard ensures strong security without overburdening limited hardware, paving the way for safer adoption in critical sectors like healthcare, transportation, and smart infrastructure.

There are many connected device such as smart home systems, fitness tracker and other IoT applications that lack the processing power and memory to run conventional encryption methods.

NIST’s new lightweight cryptography standard addresses this challenge by offering algorithms that require significantly less computing power and time, while still providing strong protection against cyberattacks.

The new framework, Ascon-Based Lightweight Cryptography Standards for Constrained Devices (NIST SP 800-232), provides tools for authenticated encryption and hashing while minimizing energy, time, and memory usage.

Selected in 2023 after a global review, the Ascon algorithm family forms the core of the standard. Originally developed in 2014 by researchers at Graz University of Technology, Infineon Technologies, and Radboud University, Ascon has already proven its resilience through the CAESAR competition, where it was recognized as a leading lightweight encryption solution.

Key Features of the Standard

The standard is the result of a multiyear public review and extensive collaboration with the cryptographic design community. Its adoption will help ensure that even resource-constrained devices can securely protect sensitive information.

As NIST emphasizes, “it’s the little things that matter most.” With this new standard in place, even the smallest of networked electronics now have robust defenses against cyber threats.

Four related algorithms are now ready for use to protect data created and transmitted by the Internet of Things and other electronics.

Many networked devices do not possess the electronic resources that larger computers do, but they still need protection from cyberattacks. NIST’s lightweight cryptography standard will help. 

The four algorithms in the standard require less computing power and time than more conventional cryptographic methods do, making them useful for securing data from resource-constrained devices such as those making up the Internet of Things. 

In the standard are four variants from the Ascon family that give designers different options for different use cases. The variants focus on two of the main tasks of lightweight cryptography: authenticated encryption with associated data (AEAD) and hashing. 

ASCON-128 AEAD – Enables secure data encryption and integrity checks while resisting side-channel attacks.

ASCON-Hash 256 – Provides lightweight integrity verification for firmware updates, passwords, and digital signatures.

ASCON-XOF 128 / ASCON-CXOF 128 – Flexible hash functions with customizable lengths for efficiency and collision resistance.

The CXOF variant also adds the ability to attach a customized “label” a few characters long to the hash. If many small devices perform the same encryption operation, there is a small but significant chance that two of them could output the same hash, which would offer attackers a clue about how to defeat the encryption. Adding customized labels would allow users to sidestep this potential problem.

McKay said the NIST team intends the standard not only to be of immediate use, but also to be expandable to meet future needs.

NIST researchers emphasize the standard’s immediate applicability across industries, from smart appliances to healthcare. Future updates may expand functionalities, including a dedicated message authentication code.

In India, regulatory bodies have issued frameworks such as TEC’s Code of Practice for Securing Consumer IoT Devices and the IoT System Certification Scheme to enforce baseline security.

These measures focus on secure boot, encrypted communications, and safe software updates for connected devices.

Sources: ‘Lightweight cryptography’ standard to protect small devices finalized

Security Advisory

Docker Desktop Vulnerability Allows Full Host Compromise via Exposed API 

A critical vulnerability has been discovered in Docker Desktop for Windows, macOS and Linux distributions.

The vulnerability allows malicious containers to gain full access to the host system by misusing an exposed Docker Engine API endpoint.

Docker Desktop

Docker a must to have in modern enterprise infrastructure, as a strong foundation pillar that powers cloud-native applications including CI/CD pipelines and microservices at massive scale. Any vulnerabilities in Docker images and runtimes are particularly dangerous as they can open the door to severe supply-chain attacks, container escapes, data leaks, and even full host compromise. 

OEM Docker 
Severity Critical 
CVSS Score 9.3 
CVEs CVE-2025-9074 
POC Available No 
Actively Exploited No 
Exploited in Wild No 
Advisory Version 1.0 

The vulnerability, considered as CVE-2025-9074, which affects Docker Desktop versions prior to 4.44.3. This exploitation requires no special configuration and can be triggered with minimal interaction. Docker has addressed this issue in version 4.44.3, administrator or user are suggested to upgrade to the latest version. 

Vulnerability Name CVE ID Product Affected Severity Fixed Version 
Docker Engine API Exposure / Container Escape  CVE-2025-9074 Docker Desktop 
(Windows, macOS, Linux) 		 Critical  v4.44.3 

Technical Summary 

The vulnerability comes from Docker Desktop’s internal API endpoint (http://192.168.65.7:2375) being accessible from any container running locally. The endpoint with lack of authentication allows privileged API commands such as creating new containers, mounting host directories, and controlling images. 

On Windows with WSL, this becomes riskier because attackers could mount your C: drive with the same rights, giving them full access to the machine. With the safety settings like Enhanced Container Isolation (ECI) or disabling TCP exposure, don’t fully block this problem. 

CVE ID System Affected  Vulnerability Details Impact 
 CVE-2025-9074  v4.25 before v4.44.3  An internal HTTP API is automatically open to containers on the default network. This could allow us to run powerful commands – creating containers, managing images or accessing the host system  Full host compromise, including file system and resource access 

Remediation: 

  • Upgrade to Docker Desktop version 4.44.3 or later across all supported platforms. 

Recommendations: 

Here are some recommendations below  

  • Don’t depend only on container isolation, treat development tools as part of the security perimeter. 
  • Use network segmentation and zero-trust controls to protect container workloads. 
  • Monitor container traffic for unauthorized API access attempts. 
  • Apply strict IAM rules and give users only the permissions they really need on Docker hosts. 

Conclusion: 
CVE-2025-9074 is a critical container escape vulnerability exposing host systems to complete compromise. While no active exploitation has been reported, the weakness is easy to exploit. Immediate patching and environment hardening are strongly recommended for all Docker Desktop users. 

References: 

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