Securityadvisory

Security Advisory

Apple’s USB Restricted Mode Exploited in Targeted Attacks 

OEM Apple 
Severity High 
CVSS Not Assigned 
CVEs CVE-2025-24200   
Exploited in Wild No 
Patch/Remediation Available Yes 
Advisory Version 1.0 

Overview 

Apple has issued emergency security patches to mitigate a zero-day vulnerability, CVE-2025-24200, which has been actively exploited in sophisticated attacks targeting specific individuals. The flaw allows attackers to bypass USB Restricted Mode on a locked device, potentially exposing sensitive data. Initially identified by The Citizen Lab, this vulnerability is believed to have been leveraged in real-world scenarios against high-profile targets. Apple has responded by enhancing state management in iOS 18.3.1 and iPadOS 18.3.1 to prevent exploitation. 

Vulnerability Name CVE ID Product Affected Severity 
 USB Restricted Mode Bypass Vulnerability  CVE-2025-24200  Apple  High 

Technical Summary 

The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2025-24200, affects USB Restricted Mode, a security feature introduced in 2018 to prevent data transfer over USB when a device remains locked for seven days. A flaw in the Accessibility framework allows an attacker with physical access to disable USB Restricted Mode, bypassing this protection and potentially accessing sensitive data. 

Apple has mentioned “This issue has been exploited in extremely sophisticated attacks against specific individuals.” The vulnerability was discovered by Bill Marczak, a senior researcher at The Citizen Lab. 

CVE ID System Affected Vulnerability Details Impact 
CVE-2025-24200 iPhone XS and later iPad Pro (13-inch) iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later) iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and later) iPad Air (3rd generation and later) iPad (7th generation and later) iPad mini (5th generation and later) A flaw in the Accessibility framework allows a physical attacker to disable USB Restricted Mode, bypassing protections designed to prevent unauthorized data transfer.   Unauthorized access to sensitive data 

Remediation: 

  1. Users are strongly advised to update their devices to the latest versions: 
  • iOS: Update to version 18.3.1 
  • iPadOS: Update to version 18.3.1 
  1. To update your device, go to Settings > General > Software Update, and follow the on-screen instructions. 

Conclusion 

The CVE-2025-24200 vulnerability poses a serious risk to device security, particularly for individuals targeted in sophisticated cyberattacks. While the exploitation has been limited to specific individuals, all users of affected devices should install the latest updates immediately to mitigate potential risks. Apple remains committed to user security by addressing vulnerabilities promptly and ensuring continuous protection against emerging threats. 

References: 

Security Advisory

macOS Security at Risk: PoC Exploit for CVE-2025-24118 Kernel Flaw 

macOS Security at Risk: PoC Exploit for CVE-2025-24118 Kernel Flaw 

A newly discovered race condition in Apple’s macOS kernel (XNU) could allow attackers to escalate privileges, corrupt memory, and potentially achieve kernel-level code execution.

Tracked as CVE-2025-24118 and assigned a CVSS score of 9.8 (Critical), this vulnerability was patched in macOS Sonoma 14.7.3, macOS Sequoia 15.3, and iPadOS 17.7.4.

This vulnerability can be reliably triggered by an unprivileged local attacker using a multi-threaded attack that forces frequent credential updates. 

OEM Apple 
Severity Critical 
CVSS 9.8 
CVEs CVE-2025-24118 
Exploited in Wild No 
Publicly POC Available Yes 
Patch/Remediation Available Yes 
Advisory Version 1.0 

Overview 

A proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit is publicly available, making it critical for users to apply the patch on priority. The vulnerability arises from a race condition in Apple’s XNU kernel due to improper handling of per-thread credentials in read-only structures.

Vulnerability Name CVE ID Product Affected Severity 
 Race Condition Vulnerability  CVE-2025-24118   Apple  Critical 

Technical Summary 

This issue results from a combination of Safe Memory Reclamation (SMR), per-thread credentials, read-only page mappings and memcpy behavior, leading to unauthorized credential modification. 

CVE ID System Affected Vulnerability Details Impact 
CVE-2025-24118  macOS Sonoma prior to 14.7.3  
macOS Sequoia prior to 15.3 
iPadOS prior to 17.7.4   		A concurrency issue in XNU kernel allows corruption of a thread’s kauth_cred_t credential pointer through a non-atomic memory update. This results in a time-of-check to time-of-use (TOCTOU) race condition. Privilege escalation, memory corruption, potential kernel-level code execution  

Remediation: 

  • Patch Installation: Users should upgrade to macOS Sonoma 14.7.3, macOS Sequoia 15.3, and iPadOS 17.7.4 to mitigate the risk. 

Conclusion: 

CVE-2025-24118 is a critical race condition vulnerability in Apple’s XNU kernel that allows local attackers to escalate privileges and compromise system integrity. Users and organizations are strongly advised to apply the latest patches provided by Apple to protect against potential exploits.

References: 

Security Advisory

Apple Patched Actively Exploited Zero-Day Vulnerability

Summary

CVE-2025-24085 is a zero-day vulnerability in Apple’s “Core Media framework” which enables malicious applications to potentially gain elevated privileges on impacted devices. It falls under the “Memory Corruption vulnerability category”, posing significant security risks such as unauthorized access to sensitive data or potential device control.

OEM Apple Inc
Severity High
CVEs CVE-2025-24085
Exploited in Wild Yes
Patch/Remediation Available Yes
Advisory Version 1.0

 

Vulnerability Name CVE ID Product Affected Severity Affected Version
  Privilege escalation vulnerability   CVE-2025-24085     Apple     High iPhone-XS and later, macOS Sequoia iPad-Pro (3rd generation and later), iPad Air (3rd generation and later), iPad (7th generation and later), iPad mini (5th generation and later) Apple Watch: Series 6 and later Apple TV: All models

Technical Summary

CVE ID System Affected Vulnerability Details Impact
      CVE-2025-24085   iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV CVE-2025-24085 is a memory management vulnerability in Apple’s Core Media framework, responsible for processing audio and video content. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of media data, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. It can be remotely exploited through malicious media files, creating significant security risks.   Arbitrary Code Execution, Privilege Escalation, Sensitive Data Exposure, Remote Exploitation via Media Files  

Remediation:

  • Update: Ensure the latest patches are applied to affected Apple devices as listed below
Affected Version(s) Fixes and Releases
iOS 17.2 and later iOS 18.3
iPadOS 17.2 and later iPadOS 18.3
macOS Sequoia (all previous versions) macOS Sequoia 15.3
watchOS 10.3 and later watchOS 11.3
tvOS 17.2 and later tvOS 18.3
visionOS 1.3 and later visionOS 2.3

Apple has fixed this vulnerability in these software versions. Update devices immediately to mitigate the risk of exploitation.

General Recommendations:

  • Untrusted Media: Avoid opening suspicious media files, emails, or links from unknown sources, as the vulnerability can be exploited remotely via malicious media. 
  • Automatic Updates: Enable automatic updates on all Apple devices to ensure timely installation of future security patches. 

References:

Security Advisory

Privilege Escalation Vulnerability in ComboBlocks Plugin Affects Thousands of Sites

A critical vulnerability in the ComboBlocks WordPress plugin (formerly Post Grid and Gutenberg Blocks) exposes over 40,000 websites to potential complete takeover by unauthenticated attackers. This vulnerability exists due to improper handling of user meta during the registration process, enabling privilege escalation. It affects versions 2.2.85 to 2.3.3 and has been addressed in version 2.3.4.

OEM

WordPress

Severity

Critical

Date of Announcement

2025-01-17

CVSS score

9.8

CVE

CVE-2024-9636

Exploited in Wild

No

Patch/Remediation Available

Yes 

Advisory Version

1.0

Overview

ComboBlocks, a plugin designed to enhance website design and functionality, was found to have a critical security flaw (CVE-2024-9636) that could allow unauthenticated attackers to register as administrators, granting them full control over the affected websites.

Vulnerability Name

CVE ID

Product Affected

Severity

CVSS Score

Unauthenticated Privilege Escalation
Vulnerability

 CVE-2024-9636

ComboBlocks WordPress Plugin

Critical

9.8

Technical Summary

CVE ID

System Affected

Vulnerability Details

Impact

CVE-2024-9636

ComboBlocks plugin (2.2.85 - 2.3.3)

The vulnerability stems from improper restriction of user meta updates during profile registration. This flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to register as administrators, granting them full control over the website.


Complete website takeover and malware injection.

Remediations

  1. Update Plugin: Immediately update the ComboBlocks plugin to version 2.3.4 or later.
  2. Review Administrative Accounts:
  • Audit all user accounts with administrative privileges.
  • Revoke any unauthorized access.
  1. Enhance Security Posture:
  • Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all admin accounts.
  • Restrict user permissions based on the principle of least privilege.
  • Use a web application firewall (WAF) to filter and block malicious traffic.
  1. Monitor and Log Activity:
  • Activate detailed logging for user registration and privilege changes.
  • Configure alerts for unusual activity, such as mass registrations or privilege escalations.
  1. Implement Preventative Measures:
  • Regularly update all plugins and themes.
  • Backup the WordPress site frequently to ensure quick recovery in case of any compromise.

References

Security Advisory

Ivanti Connect Secure VPN Actively Being Exploited in the Wild 

Ivanti announced two critical vulnerabilities impacting its Connect Secure (ICS) VPN appliances: CVE-2025-0282 and CVE-2025-0283. Notably, CVE-2025-0282 has been actively exploited in the wild since mid-December 2024.

As per Ivanti threat actors have attempted to bypass detection by the ICT, Ivanti has provided examples demonstrating the differences between successful scans and unsuccessful ones on compromised devices to help users identify potential compromises.

Summary 

OEM Ivanti  
Severity Critical 
CVSS 9.0 
CVEs CVE-2025-0282, CVE-2025-0283  
Exploited in Wild  Yes 
Patch/Remediation Available Yes 
Advisory Version 1.0 

Overview 

This stack-based buffer overflow flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected devices. Another  Vulnerability, CVE-2025-0283, could allow a local authenticated attacker to escalate privileges. Ivanti has released patches for Connect Secure and recommends immediate updates to mitigate the risk. 

Vulnerability Name CVE ID Product Affected Severity Affected Version 
Stack-Based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability  CVE-2025-0282 Ivanti Critical 22.7R2 through 22.7R2.4  22.7R1 through 22.7R1.2  22.7R2 through 22.7R2.3  
Stack-Based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability CVE-2025-0283  Ivanti High 22.7R2.4 and prior 9.1R18.9 and prior  22.7R1.2 and prior 22.7R2.3 and prior  

Technical Summary 

CVE ID System Affected Vulnerability Details Impact 
CVE-2025-0282  Ivanti Connect Secure, Ivanti Policy Secure, Ivanti Neurons for ZTA gateways  A stack-based buffer overflow in Ivanti Connect Secure before version 22.7R2.5, Ivanti Policy Secure before version 22.7R1.2, and Ivanti Neurons for ZTA gateways before version 22.7R2.3 allows a remote unauthenticated attacker to achieve remote code execution.  RCE, System compromise, Data theft, Network breaches, and Service disruptions.  
CVE-2025-0283  Ivanti Connect Secure, Ivanti Policy Secure, Ivanti Neurons for ZTA gateways  A stack-based buffer overflow in Ivanti Connect Secure before version 22.7R2.5, Ivanti Policy Secure before version 22.7R1.2, and Ivanti Neurons for ZTA gateways before version 22.7R2.3 allows a local authenticated attacker to escalate their privileges Allow Local Authenticated Attackers to Escalate Privileges. 

Remediation: 

  • Ensure that the appropriate patches or updates are applied to the relevant Ivanti 
  • Organizations using ICS appliances are strongly advised to apply these patches and follow Ivanti’s Security Advisory to safeguard their systems.

versions as listed below: 

Affected Version(s) Fixes and Releases 
22.7R2 through 22.7R2.4  22.7R2.5  
22.7R2.4 and prior,  9.1R18.9 and prior  22.7R2.5  
22.7R2 through 22.7R2.3  22.7R2.5, Patch planned availability Jan. 21  
22.7R2.3 and prior  22.7R2.5, Patch planned availability Jan. 21  
22.7R1 through 22.7R1.2  Patch planned availability Jan. 21  
22.7R1.2 and prior  Patch planned availability Jan. 21  
  • Ivanti Connect Secure: Upgrade to version 22.7R2.5, perform a clean ICT scan, and factory reset appliances before putting them into production for added security. 
  • Ivanti Connect Secure (Compromise Detected): Perform a factory reset and upgrade to version 22.7R2.5 to remove malware and ensure continued monitoring with security tools. 
  • Ivanti Policy Secure: Ensure the appliance is not exposed to the internet, as the risk of exploitation is lower, and expect a fix on January 21, 2025. 
  • Ivanti Neurons for ZTA Gateways: Ensure ZTA gateways are connected to a controller for protection, with a fix available on January 21, 2025. 

General Recommendation 

  • Regularly update software and systems to address known vulnerabilities. 
  • Implement continuous monitoring to identify any unauthorized access or suspicious activities. 
  • Use strong authentication and access controls to minimize unauthorized access and reduce attack surfaces. 
  • Create and Maintain an incident response plan to quickly mitigate the impact of any security breach. 

References: 

Security Advisory

Race Condition Vulnerability in OpenSSH (CVE-2024-6387): PoC Exploit Released  

Race Condition Vulnerability in OpenSSH (CVE-2024-6387): PoC Exploit Released  

OpenSSH is a suite of networking utilities based on the Secure Shell (SSH) protocol. It is extensively used for secure remote login, remote server management and administration, and file transfers via SCP and SFTP. OpenSSH server process ‘sshd’ is affected by a signal handler race condition allowing unauthenticated remote code execution with root privileges on glibc-based Linux systems.

Summary 

Application OpenSSH 
Severity High 
CVSS 8.1 
CVEs CVE-2024-6387 
Exploited in Wild Yes 
Patch/Remediation Available Yes 
Advisory Version 1.0 

Overview 

CVE-2024-6387, a high-severity vulnerability in OpenSSH’s server (sshd), has been identified and is currently being exploited in the wild. Known as “regreSSHion,” this flaw involves a sophisticated race condition during the authentication phase, allowing unauthenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary code with root privileges.

A proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit for this critical vulnerability has been released, further raising concerns. 

The vulnerability affects millions of OpenSSH servers globally, with older versions particularly at risk. Rated with a CVSS score of 8.1, the flaw poses a significant security threat. Over 14 million OpenSSH server instances exposed to the Internet have been identified as potentially vulnerable, with around 700,000 instances facing external internet threats. 

Vulnerability Name CVE ID Product Affected Severity Fixed Version 
Race Condition vulnerability   CVE-2024-6387  OpenSSH (8.5p1–9.8p1)  High  OpenSSH 9.8p2 or later 

Technical Summary 

CVE-2024-6387, also known as “regreSSHion,” is a critical vulnerability in OpenSSH’s server (sshd) caused by a signal handler race condition. This issue arises when the SIGALRM handler, triggered during a failed login attempt exceeding LoginGraceTime, invokes non-async-signal-safe functions like syslog(). The Vulnerability allows unauthenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary code with root privileges, primarily affecting glibc-based Linux systems.

Exploitation is technically complex but feasible and has been demonstrated in controlled environments on 32-bit systems. OpenBSD systems are unaffected due to their different signal-handling mechanisms. 

CVE ID System Affected Vulnerability Details Impact 
CVE-2024-6387 OpenSSH v8.5p1 through 9.8p1 on glibc-based Linux systems Signal handler race condition in sshd’s SIGALRM, triggered during login timeout (LoginGraceTime). Remote Code Execution (Root Privileges) 

Impact:

This Vulnerability if exploited could lead to complete system takeover.

Remediation: 

  • Immediate Patch: Upgrade OpenSSH to version 9.8p2 or later, which resolves the issue. 
  • Access Restrictions: Implement firewall rules or TCP wrappers to limit SSH access to trusted IP ranges. 
  • Monitor Activity: Use intrusion detection systems (IDS) to analyze logs for unusual activity, failed login attempts, or exploitation patterns. 

Indicators of Compromise (IOCs): 

IP Address / Hostname File Hash 
209.141.53[.]247 0df799f05c6d97e2b7d4b26c8e7246f7 
108.174.58[.]28 11cc5f00b466d4f9be4e0a46f2eb51ae 
195.85.205[.]47 1f452448cea986aedc88ba50d48691f7 
62.72.191[.]203 207eb58423234306edaecb3ec89935d8 
botbot.ddosvps.cc  

Below are some IOCs associated with the threat. For a complete list of IOCs, refer to the AlienVault Pulse for CVE-2024-6387 

Conclusion: 

The public release of a PoC exploit for CVE-2024-6387 marks a critical moment for organizations relying on OpenSSH. While exploitation requires significant effort, the potential impact of a successful attack—complete system compromise and privilege escalation—is severe.

Swift patching and the adoption of layered security measures are imperative to mitigate the risks. 

Organizations must act promptly to safeguard their systems and monitor for signs of active exploitation. By staying informed and proactive, businesses can minimize the potential fallout from this serious vulnerability. 

References: 

  • https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/cve-2024-6387 
  • https://www.yorku.ca/uit/2025/01/openssh-remote-code-execution-regresshion-cve-2024-6387/

Security Advisory

Critical Windows Privilege Escalation Vulnerability with Public Exploit

Cybersecurity researchers reported a critical Windows privilege escalation vulnerability, identified as CVE-2024-43641 affecting Microsoft Windows. This flaw, which affects various editions of Windows Server 2025, Windows 10, and Windows 11, has been assigned a CVSS v3.1 score of 7.8, indicating high severity.

Summary 

OEM Microsoft 
Severity High 
CVSS 7.8 
CVEs CVE-2024-43641 
Exploited in Wild No 
Patch/Remediation Available Yes 
Advisory Version 1.0 

Overview 

A significant Windows Registry Elevation of Privilege vulnerability, identified as CVE-2024-43641, affects multiple editions of Windows. A recently released Proof-of-Concept (PoC) exploit demonstrates how attackers can exploit this flaw to gain elevated privileges. 

Vulnerability Name CVE ID Product Affected Severity 
Windows Registry Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability  CVE-2024-43641  Windows    High 

Technical Summary 

The vulnerability, CVE-2024-43641, exploits a design flaw in Windows registry hive memory management, specifically during a double-fetch process under memory pressure. This flaw allows malicious SMB servers to respond with differing data for consecutive read requests, breaking kernel assumptions and enabling privilege escalation to SYSTEM level. Key technical details are as follows: 

CVE ID System Affected Vulnerability Details Impact 
CVE-2024-43641 Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows Server 2008–2025 The vulnerability involves improper handling of registry hive memory management under memory pressure. A malicious SMB server can respond with differing data to consecutive read requests, breaking kernel assumptions. Exploitation leverages a “False File Immutability” (FFI) condition. Allows attackers to escalate privileges, execute arbitrary code, and compromise system integrity. 

Remediation: 

  • Apply Patches: Users and system administrators are strongly advised to promptly apply the latest security updates. 
  • Monitor Activity: 
  • Monitor logs for suspicious activity related to registry operations. 
  • The cybersecurity community is actively monitoring the situation for any indications of active exploitation in the wild. 

Conclusion: 

CVE-2024-43641 is a high-severity vulnerability with a publicly available PoC exploit. It is crucial to apply security patches immediately and follow best practices to mitigate the risk of exploitation. Organizations must stay alert and monitor ongoing developments to ensure complete protection against this emerging threat. 

References: 

Security Advisory

Denial of Service Vulnerability in DNS Security Feature of Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS 

Summary 

OEM Palo Alto 
Severity High 
CVSS 8.7 
CVEs CVE-2024-3393 
Exploited in Wild  No 
Patch/Remediation Available Yes 
Advisory Version 1.0 

Overview 

A Denial-of-Service vulnerability in the DNS Security feature of Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS software allows an unauthenticated attacker to send a malicious packet through the data plane of the firewall that reboots the firewall. Repeated attempts to trigger this condition will cause the firewall to enter maintenance mode.  

Vulnerability Name CVE ID Product Affected Severity Affected Version 
(DoS) in DNS Security Using a Specially Crafted Packet CVE-2024-3393   Palo Alto High PAN-OS 11.2 – < 11.2.3* PAN-OS 11.1 – < 11.1.5* PAN-OS 10.2 – >= 10.2.8*, <10.2.14* PAN-OS 10.1 – >= 10.1.14*, <10.1.15* 

Technical Summary 

CVE ID System Affected Vulnerability Details Impact 
CVE-2024-3393   Palo Alto PAN-OS CVE-2024-3393 is a high-severity DoS vulnerability in Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS exists in the DNS Security feature, where malformed DNS packets are improperly parsed and logged. If exploited, this vulnerability enables an unauthenticated attacker to remotely trigger a firewall reboot. Repeated exploitation attempts can cause the firewall to enter maintenance mode. CISA added it to the KEV catalog, with patching required by January 20, 2025.     Dos – Denial-of-Service 

Remediation: 

  • Update: Ensure that the appropriate patches or updates are applied to the relevant PAN-OS versions as listed below 
PAN-OS Version Fixes and Releases 
PAN-OS 11.1 11.1.2-h16, 11.1.3-h13, 11.1.4-h7, 11.1.5 
PAN-OS 10.2 10.2.8-h19, 10.2.9-h19, 10.2.10-h12, 10.2.11-h10, 10.2.12-h4, 10.2.13-h2, 10.2.14 
PAN-OS 10.1 10.1.14-h8, 10.1.15 
PAN-OS 10.2.9-h19 Only applicable to Prisma Access 
PAN-OS 10.2.10-h12 Only applicable to Prisma Access 
PAN-OS 11.0 No fix (reached end-of-life status on November 17, 2024) 

Recommendations: 

  • Avoid Using EOL Versions: 
  • PAN-OS 11.0 is end-of-life (EOL) as of November 17, 2024. Ensure that you are not using this version and upgrade to be supported versions. 
  • Monitoring & Incident Response: 
  • Regularly monitor firewall logs for unusual behavior, especially DoS triggers. 
  • For Prisma Access Users (Workaround): 
  • Disable DNS Security logging across all NGFWs if patching cannot be applied immediately. This can be done by opening a support case with Palo Alto Networks. 

References: 

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