Last updated: August 21, 2026 at 10:03 AM UTC
All 747 Vulnerability 290 Breach 129 Threat 321 Defense 7

North Korea's ScarCruft uses fake Microsoft alerts to plant NarwhalRAT spyware

South Korea's Genians Security Center reports that the North Korean group ScarCruft (APT37) is sending spear-phishing emails dressed up as Microsoft Account security alerts to deliver a Python-based spy tool called NarwhalRAT. The emails warn of suspicious one-time-code activity and urge the recipient to open an attached advisory, which is actually a ZIP holding a malicious shortcut. Opening it kicks off a multi-stage, in-memory infection that leaves little on disk and gains persistence through a scheduled task. NarwhalRAT can log keystrokes, capture screenshots, record audio, and steal files from USB drives, and it disguises itself as the Korean browser Naver Whale while targeting South Korean users.

Check
Train staff to treat unexpected Microsoft account-security or OTP-alert emails with caution, verify the real sender domain, and never open attached archives or shortcut files from such messages.
Affected
Targets of North Korean espionage, with this campaign focused on South Korean users; victims are lured by fake Microsoft account-security emails carrying a ZIP with a malicious shortcut file.
Fix
Block or quarantine inbound archives containing shortcut files, enforce phishing-resistant MFA so OTP-themed lures lose value, and alert on scheduled tasks that launch scripts fetching payloads into memory.

Cisco patches exploited SD-WAN Manager flaw that gives root access

Cisco has patched a flaw in Catalyst SD-WAN Manager (formerly vManage), the console used to manage thousands of SD-WAN devices, that attackers were already exploiting as a zero-day to gain root. The bug (CVE-2026-20262) stems from weak validation of file uploads in the web interface, letting an authenticated low-privilege remote attacker create or overwrite any file on the system by sending crafted HTTP requests, and from there run commands as root. It affects every deployment type, including on-premises, Cisco-managed cloud, and the FedRAMP government edition, regardless of configuration. It is the latest in a run of exploited Cisco SD-WAN Manager zero-days this year.

Check
Identify Catalyst SD-WAN Manager instances and versions, and before upgrading run the request admin-tech command on each control component to preserve evidence, then review file-upload and web UI logs.
Affected
Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager (formerly vManage) across all deployment types, including on-premises, Cloud-Pro, Cisco-managed cloud, and the FedRAMP government edition (CVE-2026-20262), regardless of device configuration.
Fix
Upgrade to the fixed Catalyst SD-WAN Manager release now, restrict management-interface access to trusted administrators and networks, and audit for unauthorized files or configuration changes pushed to edge devices.

SimpleHelp flaw lets unauthenticated attackers create rogue admin technicians

A critical flaw in SimpleHelp, a remote support and management tool used by IT teams and managed service providers, lets an unauthenticated attacker create a privileged technician account and skip multi-factor authentication. The bug (CVE-2026-48558) only affects servers configured to use OpenID Connect (OIDC) single sign-on, including Azure AD, and stems from how the server validates identity assertions from the login provider. A rogue technician can then remote into managed machines and run scripts, giving attackers a foothold across every connected endpoint. Researchers found roughly 14,000 SimpleHelp servers exposed online, with about 7 percent using the vulnerable OIDC setup. The flaw affects versions 5.5.15 and earlier.

Check
Determine whether your SimpleHelp servers use OIDC single sign-on (generic or Azure AD) and are running 5.5.15 or earlier, then review the technician account list for unfamiliar or recently created accounts.
Affected
SimpleHelp servers version 5.5.15 and earlier and 6.0 pre-release builds configured for OpenID Connect authentication (CVE-2026-48558), especially those exposed to the internet with group-authenticated logins allowed.
Fix
Update SimpleHelp to the latest patched release immediately. Until then, restrict server access to trusted networks and remove any unrecognized technician accounts found during review.

One-click Microsoft 365 Copilot flaw could silently steal emails and codes

Researchers at Varonis disclosed SearchLeak, a flaw chain in Microsoft 365 Copilot Enterprise Search that let a single click on a legitimate microsoft.com link silently pull a victim's emails, calendar, and indexed files, including security and MFA codes, with no password or further interaction. It worked by smuggling instructions into the search URL's query parameter, which Copilot obeyed as commands, then exfiltrating the data through a Bing image request that bypassed content protections. Because the link used a real Microsoft domain, anti-phishing filters were unlikely to flag it. Microsoft assigned CVE-2026-42824, rated it critical, and fixed it on its backend, so no customer action is required.

Check
No patching is needed since Microsoft fixed this server-side; instead review what data Microsoft 365 Copilot can access and whether broad permissions would amplify a similar AI-assistant flaw.
Affected
Microsoft 365 Copilot Enterprise Search users were exposed (CVE-2026-42824) before Microsoft's server-side fix; the broader risk is any AI assistant that mixes untrusted input with access to internal data.
Fix
No customer action is required, as Microsoft has remediated the flaw. To reduce future AI-assistant risk, tighten Copilot data permissions, apply least privilege to identities, and monitor assistant activity.

WordPress plugin supply-chain attack backdoors sites via Awesome Motive CDN

Attackers compromised the content-delivery network of Awesome Motive, one of the biggest WordPress plugin makers, and injected malicious JavaScript into files served for OptinMonster, TrustPulse, and PushEngage, plugins running on more than 1.2 million sites. Discovered by Sansec, the code only triggered when a logged-in WordPress administrator viewed an affected site, at which point it stole authentication tokens, created a hidden rogue admin account, and installed a self-concealing backdoor plugin that exposed a web shell. The bad files were served on June 12 to 14. Awesome Motive says attackers stole a CDN API key after breaching its marketing site, and has since rotated credentials.

Check
If your site runs OptinMonster, TrustPulse, or PushEngage, check for rogue admin accounts like developer_api1 or dev_xxxxxx and inspect wp-content/plugins for hidden backdoor plugins.
Affected
WordPress sites running OptinMonster, TrustPulse, or PushEngage where an administrator was logged in during the June 12 to 14 injection window; other Awesome Motive plugins should be treated cautiously.
Fix
Remove rogue admin accounts and backdoor plugins, then rotate administrator passwords, API keys, database credentials, and WordPress security salts. Update affected plugins and scan the site for further tampering.

China-linked group hid in research networks, stealing email via Workspace rules

Google's Threat Intelligence Group has detailed a China-linked espionage cluster, tracked as UNC6508, that lurked inside North American medical, academic, and military research networks for more than a year. The attackers got in by planting a backdoor on victims' REDCap research-data servers to steal login credentials. The clever part was exfiltration: instead of using malware to ship data out, they quietly rewrote victims' own Google Workspace mail rules to auto-forward any message matching their target keywords to an attacker-controlled inbox, blending in with normal email behavior. The campaign focused on stealing sensitive research and defense-related communications, and went undetected for an unusually long time.

Check
Audit Google Workspace mail forwarding and filter rules for unauthorized auto-forwarding to external addresses, and review REDCap and other research servers for unexpected accounts, credential theft, or backdoor activity.
Affected
Medical, academic, and defense research organizations running REDCap servers and Google Workspace; long-dwell, low-noise espionage groups target their sensitive research and defense communications.
Fix
Remove malicious mail rules, reset exposed credentials, and enforce phishing-resistant MFA. Patch and monitor REDCap servers, restrict who can create auto-forwarding rules, and alert on new external forwarding.

North Korean hackers poison npm packages to hit developers and steal crypto

The North Korean campaign known as Contagious Interview is still expanding its assault on software developers, now leaning on poisoned developer tools and fake job offers. Researchers at Proofpoint and Expel describe obfuscated malicious npm packages, published from throwaway accounts, that install the OtterCookie infostealer through a post-install script, alongside recruitment and code-review phishing lures. The group is using generative AI to build its malware loaders and to set up fake companies and LinkedIn profiles for social engineering. Expel says the operation stole $12 million in cryptocurrency in the first three months of 2026, draining more than 26,000 wallets from over 2,700 infected developer machines.

Check
Audit developer machines and CI pipelines for recently installed npm packages with post-install scripts from unfamiliar publishers, and review whether staff engaged with unsolicited recruiters or take-home coding tests.
Affected
Software developers, especially in cryptocurrency, Web3, and blockchain, targeted through malicious npm packages and fake job interviews; their machines, wallets, and source code are the goal.
Fix
Vet dependencies before installing, block install-time scripts in CI, isolate untrusted coding tests in disposable sandboxes, and train developers to treat unsolicited recruiter outreach and test assignments as suspect.

56 million accounts surface in latest infostealer log compilation

Breach-tracking service Have I Been Pwned has added a fresh batch of stealer logs covering 56,278,397 accounts, harvested by infostealer malware from infected computers. Unlike a single company breach, stealer logs are credentials and session data scraped directly from victims' devices, often capturing the exact website-and-password pairs a person types, plus browser cookies that can let attackers skip login entirely. Because the data comes from malware on individual machines, exposure cuts across countless unrelated services. The scale is a reminder that infostealer infections, frequently spread through cracked software, malicious ads, and fake downloads, remain one of the biggest sources of credential theft.

Check
Check whether your email or your organization's domains appear in Have I Been Pwned's stealer-log dataset, and look for signs of infostealer infection such as unexpected logins or browser-session anomalies.
Affected
Anyone whose device was infected by infostealer malware; exposed data includes saved website passwords and browser session cookies that can bypass logins across many unrelated services.
Fix
Reset passwords for exposed accounts from a clean device, invalidate active sessions, enable phishing-resistant MFA, and run endpoint malware scans to find and remove the underlying infostealer.

ShinyHunters breach of Berkadia exposes 305,000 in real estate finance

Breach-tracking service Have I Been Pwned has confirmed that 305,216 accounts were exposed in the March attack on Berkadia, a large US commercial real estate finance firm that handles mortgage banking and investment sales. The extortion group ShinyHunters claimed the intrusion, saying it stole millions of Salesforce records containing personal and internal corporate data, around 27GB compressed, and threatened to leak them after the company did not meet its deadline. The breach is part of a broad ShinyHunters campaign this year against companies' Salesforce environments, typically entered by socially engineering employees or help desks rather than exploiting a software flaw.

Check
If you work with or for Berkadia, check whether your email appears in Have I Been Pwned and watch for targeted phishing referencing mortgage, loan, or real estate dealings.
Affected
Berkadia clients, partners, and staff whose personal and business data sat in the breached Salesforce records (305,216 accounts confirmed); the broader ShinyHunters campaign targets corporate Salesforce tenants.
Fix
Reset and stop reusing any passwords tied to Berkadia dealings and enable phishing-resistant MFA. Organizations should lock down Salesforce access, restrict bulk exports, and harden help-desk identity verification.

K-12 platform Infinite Campus breach confirmed, 137,000 student-linked accounts

Have I Been Pwned has confirmed 137,123 accounts exposed in a breach of Infinite Campus, a widely used K-12 student information system in the US. The extortion group ShinyHunters claimed the attack back in March, posting that it had stolen personal data and internal corporate information. Because student information systems hold sensitive records on minors and their families, exposed data raises the risk of identity theft and highly targeted phishing aimed at parents, students, and school staff. The incident fits the same ShinyHunters data-theft pattern seen across the education sector this year, including the much larger Canvas breach.

Check
School districts using Infinite Campus should confirm whether their tenant was affected and notify families; individuals should watch for phishing or fraud referencing schools, student accounts, or enrollment.
Affected
Students, parents, and school staff whose data is held in affected Infinite Campus deployments (137,123 accounts confirmed); minors' records carry long-term identity-theft risk.
Fix
Reset exposed credentials, enable MFA on school and family accounts, and brief parents and staff to verify any school-related message before clicking. Districts should review SaaS access controls and export limits.