The Rising Threat of ToolShell: Unpacking the July 2025 SharePoint Zero-Day Exploits

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Anatomy of the ToolShell Exploit Chain Beginning around July 7, 2025, adversaries exploited a deserialization flaw in SharePoint’s on-premises service (CVE-2025-53770) to upload a malicious spinstall0.aspx payload, triggering code execution within the w3wp.exe process. A secondary path-traversal flaw (CVE-2025-53771) then enabled privilege escalation and lateral movement across corporate networks . Security researchers at Eye Security and Palo Alto Networks’ Unit 42 observed attackers bypassing identity controls – MFA and SSO – to exfiltrate machine keys, deploy persistent backdoors, and chain ransomware operations within hours of initial compromise . State-Backed Actor Involvement Microsoft attributes the campaign primarily to Storm-2603, assessed with moderate confidence to be China-based, alongside historically linked groups Linen Typhoon and Violet Typhoon . These actors have a track record of blending cyber-espionage with financially motivated ransomware like Warlock and Lo...
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection Confirms Use of Compromised Communication App

 


The recent breach of TeleMessage, a communication app used by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), has exposed significant vulnerabilities in government communication systems. The app, designed to clone popular messaging platforms like Signal and WhatsApp with added record-retention features, was suspended after a cyber incident revealed critical flaws in its Android code. This incident has prompted calls for a Department of Justice investigation into the app's security practices and its approval for federal use.

The breach underscores the urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures and thorough vetting of communication tools used by government agencies. As the investigation unfolds, it is imperative to reassess the protocols for adopting such technologies to safeguard sensitive information and maintain national security.


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