Cisco Urges Immediate Action After Discovering Backdoor in Unified Communications Manager

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Cisco has removed a hardcoded "root" SSH credential from its flagship Unified Communications Manager (Unified CM) platform. Left unpatched, this oversight could have allowed threat actors to gain unauthorized system control and compromise sensitive communications data. Administrators are urged to assess and update their deployments without delay. Understanding the Vulnerability in Depth The vulnerability arises from a root-level account credential embedded directly into Unified CM software images during development and testing. Unlike typical administrative accounts, this credential was immutable by standard configuration interfaces, effectively creating an undetectable entry point once the system was in production. Attackers exploiting this flaw could log in over SSH as root, granting full read, write, and execution privileges across the operating system, application services, and all stored voice data. While Cisco safeguards its commercial releases with extensive pre...
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Berkeley Research Group Data Breach Exposes Sensitive Information

 



The recent cyberattack on Berkeley Research Group (BRG) has exposed sensitive data related to Catholic Church bankruptcy filings, potentially compromising information on sexual abuse victims. The breach occurred when a hacker posed as IT staff on Microsoft Teams, deploying Chaos ransomware. BRG paid a ransom and received a "destruction log," but the U.S. Justice Department has raised concerns about delays in public notification and potential conflicts of interest.

This incident underscores the need for robust cybersecurity measures and transparent communication, especially when handling sensitive information. It also highlights the importance of holding organizations accountable for protecting data privacy.

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