Stay informed on the latest exploit trends and vulnerabilities. Get expert insights and updates on information security exploits with our dedicated tag.
Search across headline titles and summaries.
Background for this topic.
An exploit is code, data, or a sequence of actions that uses a software, hardware, or configuration vulnerability to produce unintended behavior. Depending on the flaw and the attacker’s access, it may enable unauthorized code execution, privilege escalation, information disclosure, or denial of service. Exploitation can occur remotely through exposed services, web applications, or client software, or locally after an attacker gains limited access.
Exploitation matters because a vulnerability becomes an active attack path when the required conditions are reachable and exploitable. Defenders should inventory affected assets, prioritize remediation when exploitation is known or credible, apply patches or vendor mitigations, and reduce exposure through access controls, segmentation, and secure configuration. Monitoring for exploit-specific indicators—such as abnormal requests, unexpected processes, or privilege changes—supports detection; systems suspected of successful exploitation require containment and investigation for follow-on access.
Researchers from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam have disclosed a new side-channel attack called SLAM that could be exploited to leak sensitive information from kernel memory on current and upcoming CPUs from Intel, AMD, and Arm
Microsoft spots surge in pro-Russia exploits of video platform to spread propaganda An unknown pro-Russia influence group spent time recruiting unwitting Hollywood actors to assist in smear campaigns against Ukraine and its president Volodymyr Zelensky.…
RAT Is Tailored to Exploit Vulnerabilities in Linux Kernel VersionsHackers targeted telecommunications companies in Thailand with a Linux remote access Trojan designed to attack different versions of the open-source kernel, researchers say. Dubbed "Krasue," the malware poses a "severe risk to critical systems and sensitive data," says Group-IB researchers.
Elevation of privilege flaws are the most common vulnerability leveraged by corporate insiders when conducting unauthorized activities on networks, whether for malicious purposes or by downloading risky tools in a dangerous manner. [...]
State-sponsored actors continue to exploit CVE-2023-23397, a dangerous no-interaction vulnerability in Microsoft's Outlook email client that was patched in March, in a widespread global campaign.
Russian APT28 military hackers used Microsoft Outlook zero-day exploits to target multiple European NATO member countries, including a NATO Rapid Deployable Corps. [...]
Academic researchers developed a new side-channel attack called SLAM that exploits hardware features designed to improve security in upcoming CPUs from Intel, AMD, and Arm to obtain the root password hash from the kernel memory. [...]
Researchers Find Way to Hack Apple's Most Extreme Security Feature for iPhonesResearchers from Jamf Threat Labs said they have managed to manipulate the code in a compromised iPhone to effectively make it appear as if the device is entering Lockdown Mode - but "without any of the protections that would normally be implemented by the service."
Adobe patched CVE-2023-26360 in March amid active exploit activity targeting the flaw.
TA422 Is Targeting Organizations in Europe and North America, Proofpoint SaysA Russian military hacking intelligence group is winning the race to exploit known vulnerabilities before system administrators can apply patches, warns Proofpoint. The firm has seen a spike in activity from TA422, also known as APT28, Fancy Bear and Forest Blizzard.
Urgent Action Needed to Prevent Ransomware Attacks Involving Vulnerability ExploitA recent spike in ransomware attacks has prompted federal regulators and the American Hospital Association to issue urgent warnings to hospitals and other healthcare firms to prevent potential exploitation of the Citrix Bleed software flaw affecting some NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway devices.
The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is warning about hackers actively exploiting a critical vulnerability in Adobe ColdFusion identified as CVE-2023-26360 to gain initial access to government servers. [...]
Notorious Russian APT28 group is actively exploiting CVE-2023-23397 to hijack Exchange email accounts
Military Intelligence Exploits Microsoft Flaw Patched In MarchRussian military intelligence hackers active in Poland are exploiting a patched flaw in Microsoft Outlook, say cyber defenders from Redmond and Warsaw. Microsoft in a Monday post identifies the hackers as Forest Blizzard, also known as APT28 and Fancy Bear.