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Showing posts with the label CISA

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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The Dire Consequences of Weakening United States Cybersecurity Safeguards

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The Trump administration's proposed $491 million cut to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) budget, amounting to a 17% reduction, has raised significant concerns about the future of U.S. and global cybersecurity. This move aims to refocus CISA on its core mission of federal network defense and critical infrastructure protection while eliminating programs deemed redundant or non-essential, such as those addressing misinformation and international engagement. CISA plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the nation's cyber infrastructure. The proposed budget cuts could eliminate key offices and reduce support for healthcare cybersecurity and physical threat resilience, including guidance on bomb threats and counter-IED measures . These initiatives directly impact warfighter safety and the safety of US clandestine operatives around the world.  The agency's workforce is also facing significant reductions, with plans to cut up to one-third of its staff, in...
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The 2024 National Cyber Incident Response Plan: Strengthening America's Digital Defenses

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As the digital world becomes increasingly integral to our daily lives, the risks of cyber threats have risen exponentially. The newly updated National Cyber Incident Response Plan (NCIRP) aims to fortify the United States' ability to handle significant cyber incidents. This comprehensive strategy integrates federal agencies, state and local governments, private sector partners, and international stakeholders into a cohesive response framework. Let’s explore what this landmark document entails and how it prepares the nation to combat growing cyber threats. Why the NCIRP Update Matters Cybersecurity is no longer a niche concern but a national security imperative. From ransomware attacks crippling hospitals to state-sponsored hackers targeting critical infrastructure, the risks are diverse and dynamic. For example, the infamous 2021 Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack disrupted fuel supplies across the Eastern United States, underscoring how a single cyber incident can escalate ...
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