Latest cybersecurity reporting from selected sources.

Unauthenticated Flaw Allows Full Router, Network TakeoverA hidden backdoor, disclosed by CERT/CC and found in multiple firmware versions made by Chinese manufacturer Tenda, bypasses authentication and could grant attackers administrative access. Researchers are reporting exploitation and an Nmap script is making vulnerable devices easier to identify.

Unauthenticated Flaw Allows Full Router, Network TakeoverA hidden backdoor, disclosed by CERT/CC and found in multiple firmware versions made by Chinese manufacturer Tenda, bypasses authentication and could grant attackers administrative access. Researchers are reporting exploitation and an Nmap script is making vulnerable devices easier to identify.

Broken vdaemon Peering Authentication Enables Unauthenticated Admin AccessA maximum-severity vulnerability in Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Controller is being actively exploited, giving attackers administrative privileges without authentication. The authentication bypass vulnerability stems from a broken peering authentication mechanism.

Juniper Tells Customers to Tune Their FirewallA critical vulnerability in Juniper Networks' primary operating system could give threat actors root level privileges to execute code on Juniper’s PTX Series routers. Successful exploitation would give attackers full command and control over devices without the need for authentication.

Sophisticated Voice Phishing Campaigns Don't Exploit Any Software VulnerabilitiesAmidst persistent voice phishing campaigns designed to trick employees and steal sensitive corporate data, security experts recommend organizations deploy phishing-resistant multifactor authentication, monitor for attacks and use "live video verification" to safeguard authentication changes.

Telnet Flaw Allows Unauthenticated Users to Gain Root AccessHackers are on the hunt for open telnet ports in servers after discovering that a version of legacy client-server application protocol is vulnerable to an authentication bypass vulnerability. More than 800,000 servers could be actively targeted in the wild.

Flaw Enabled Remote Code Execution, Say AWS ResearchersResearchers from AWS said they spotted a hacking campaign taking advantage of a zero-day vulnerability in Cisco network access control software before the routing giant patched it earlier this year. The flaw let attackers perform pre-authentication remote code execution.

4 Bugs Affecting at Least 6,500 Camera Servers Enable Pre-Auth Attacks on DevicesResearchers who uncovered four severe flaws in Axis Communications' video management and camera software say thousands of internet-connected surveillance systems are vulnerable to remote attacks. Attackers can execute arbitrary code without authentication.

Microsoft Issuing Emergency Patches to Combat Authentication-Bypassing AttacksHackers have been exploiting a zero-day vulnerability dubbed "ToolShell" in on-premises installations of Microsoft SharePoint to gain remote access, and steal cryptographic keys and data. As Microsoft rolls out patches, experts warn administrators to also rotate keys, to help eject attackers.

Remote Code Execution Flaw Affects More Than 5,000 ServersThreat actors are actively exploiting a critical vulnerability in a server file transfer solution. Researchers say the flaw in Wing FTP Server could allow threat actors to execute system-level commands remotely, using null byte and Lua injection without authentication.

Citrix Issues Patches to Counter Active Attacks Against Two Critical VulnerabilitiesAdministrators of Citrix Netscaler devices are being urged to immediately patch their devices to fix two actively exploited vulnerabilities. One, dubbed Citrix Bleed 2, can be abused by hackers to bypass multifactor authentication, hijack user sessions and gain unauthorized access to the equipment.

Flaws in Solar Inverters Threaten Power Grid StabilityResearchers from Forescout's Vedere Labs detected security shortcomings in the world’s leading solar inverters that could enable hackers to hijack solar energy production and destabilize power grids. Flaws include unauthorized remote access, insecure authentication and remote code execution.

AICD's Figueroa on Business-Focused Communication for Authentication ProgressModern phishing tactics now leverage voice, SMS and AI-powered impersonation, yet many Asia-Pacific organizations continue relying on vulnerable single-factor authentication, said Marco Figueroa, senior manager of cyber security, risk and compliance at the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Code of Practice for Software Vendors Sets Baseline Security ExpectationsA British government proposal to strengthen software supply chain security received positive feedback from vendors who said voluntary best practices could strengthen cyber defenses. The guidelines suggest requiring multifactor authentication for developers and timely vulnerability patching.

Surge in Attack Attempts Spotted After Palo Alto Networks Details and Patches FlawAttackers have stepped up efforts to exploit a vulnerability in the software that runs Palo Alto Networks firewall appliances that could give them direct access to the underlying software. Unauthenticated hackers could use PHP scripts to bypass the PAN-OS management web interface.

Critical Authentication Flaw Impacts Both Free and Pro UsersA widely deployed five-in-one security plug-in for WordPress websites contained a flaw that hackers could automate into a large-scale takeover campaign. The critical authentication bypass vulnerability takes advantage of a now-patched flaw in the Really Simple Security plug-in.

Critical Authentication Flaw Impacts Both Free and Pro UsersA widely deployed five-in-one security plugin for WordPress websites contained a flaw that hackers could automate into a large-scale takeover campaign. The critical authentication bypass vulnerability takes advantage of a now-patched flaw in the Really Simple Security plugin.

Authentication requiring stored credentials is not only vulnerable to phishing and other compromises, but using these credentials can also be cumbersome for busy clinicians, said Tina Srivastava, co-founder of Badge, a provider of deviceless, tokenless authentication technology.

Security Researcher Uncovered the Flaw, Which Allowed System TakeoverMicrosoft says it fixed a security flaw in artificial intelligence chatbot Copilot that enabled attackers to steal multifactor authentication code using a prompt injection attack. Security researcher Johann Rehberger said he discovered a way to invisibly force Copilot to send data.

Vulnerability Can Allow Authentication Bypass; No Evidence of Exploitation YetJuniper Networks released an out-of-band fix for a maximum-severity vulnerability that can allow hackers to bypass authentication in three Juniper products. The CVSS 10-rated bug could allow an attacker to take full control of a compromised system.