Introducing Sulla: Praetorian's Open-Source SMB Secret ScannerIntroducing Sulla: Praetorian's Open-Source SMB Secret Scanner
In June 2026, Praetorian released Sulla, an open-source tool designed to scan SMB shares for exposed credentials across enterprise networks. Sulla automates the discovery of readable SMB shares, traverses their file structures, and scans contents for sensitive information using the Titus detection library. This tool addresses the challenge of manually reviewing numerous network shares, which is often tedious and inefficient. By integrating Sulla into their Continuous Threat Exposure Management platform, Guard, Praetorian ensures that SMB secrets are identified promptly as they appear in environments.
The release of Sulla highlights the growing need for automated tools to detect and mitigate the risks associated with exposed credentials in network shares. As organizations increasingly rely on complex network infrastructures, tools like Sulla become essential in proactively identifying and addressing security vulnerabilities, thereby enhancing overall cybersecurity posture.
Medium impact
Kill Chain
ICInitial Compromise(high)
PEPrivilege Escalation(medium)
LMLateral Movement(high)
C&CCommand & Control(medium)
EExfiltration(medium)
IImpact(high)
Critical Vulnerability in SolarWinds Serv-U: CVE-2026-28318
In early June 2026, a high-severity vulnerability (CVE-2026-28318) was identified in SolarWinds Serv-U, a widely used file transfer server. This flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to crash the Serv-U service by sending specially crafted POST requests with the 'Content-Encoding: deflate' header, leading to a denial-of-service (DoS) condition. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) confirmed active exploitation of this vulnerability and added it to their Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on June 5, 2026. Organizations are urged to apply the available patch or implement recommended mitigations promptly to prevent service disruptions. ([helpnetsecurity.com](https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2026/06/08/cisa-patch-actively-exploited-solarwinds-serv-u-dos-vulnerability-cve-2026-28318/?utm_source=openai))
The exploitation of CVE-2026-28318 underscores the persistent targeting of file transfer services by threat actors. Given the critical role of such services in business operations, this incident highlights the necessity for organizations to maintain vigilant patch management practices and to monitor for emerging threats to ensure operational resilience.
Medium impact
Kill Chain
ICInitial Compromise(high)
PEPrivilege Escalation(high)
LMLateral Movement(high)
C&CCommand & Control(high)
EExfiltration(high)
IImpact(high)
Earth Lusca's Advanced Windows Malware Targets Government Entities
Between 2023 and 2024, the Chinese state-sponsored threat group Earth Lusca, also known as FishMonger, expanded its cyber espionage operations by deploying Windows variants of the previously Linux-based SprySOCKS malware. These sophisticated backdoors targeted government organizations in Taiwan, Thailand, Pakistan, and Honduras, focusing on sectors such as foreign affairs, technology, and telecommunications. The Windows versions, identified as WIN_DRV and WIN_PLUS, introduced advanced capabilities including kernel-level stealth mechanisms, enabling the malware to hide processes, network connections, and files, thereby evading detection. Both variants support over 30 command-and-control commands, facilitate communication over multiple protocols, and possess functionalities like keystroke logging and SOCKS proxy support.
The emergence of these Windows variants underscores a significant evolution in Earth Lusca's tactics, highlighting the group's commitment to enhancing its toolset for broader and more effective cyber espionage campaigns. This development reflects a broader trend among nation-state actors to adapt and refine their malware to target diverse operating systems, emphasizing the need for organizations to implement comprehensive, cross-platform cybersecurity measures.
Medium impact
Kill Chain
ICInitial Compromise(high)
PEPrivilege Escalation(high)
LMLateral Movement(high)
C&CCommand & Control(high)
EExfiltration(high)
IImpact(high)
DragonForce Ransomware's Innovative Exploitation of Microsoft Teams in 2025
In December 2025, the DragonForce ransomware group executed a sophisticated attack against a major U.S. services company. They exploited an unknown vulnerability in an SQL or MSSQL server to gain initial access. Subsequently, they deployed a custom Go-based malware named 'Backdoor.Turn,' which abused Microsoft Teams' Traversal Using Relays around NAT (TURN) protocol to conceal command-and-control (C2) communications within legitimate Teams traffic. This allowed the attackers to evade detection while exfiltrating data and deploying ransomware to encrypt the victim's systems.
This incident underscores a concerning trend where threat actors leverage trusted cloud-based collaboration platforms to mask malicious activities. The abuse of Microsoft Teams' infrastructure for C2 communications highlights the need for organizations to scrutinize even legitimate traffic and implement robust monitoring mechanisms to detect anomalies within trusted services.
High impact
Kill Chain
ICInitial Compromise(medium)
PEPrivilege Escalation(high)
LMLateral Movement(high)
C&CCommand & Control(high)
EExfiltration(medium)
IImpact(high)
Fortinet FortiSandbox Vulnerabilities Under Active Exploitation
In June 2026, multiple critical vulnerabilities in Fortinet's FortiSandbox platform—specifically CVE-2026-39813, CVE-2026-39808, and CVE-2026-25089—were actively exploited by threat actors. These flaws allowed unauthenticated attackers to escalate privileges and execute unauthorized code remotely through low-complexity command injection attacks that required no user interaction. Fortinet had released patches for these vulnerabilities in April 2026, but unpatched systems remained at significant risk.
The exploitation of these vulnerabilities underscores the persistent targeting of security appliances by cyber adversaries. Organizations relying on FortiSandbox for threat detection must ensure timely application of security updates to mitigate potential breaches and maintain the integrity of their security infrastructure.
Critical impact
Kill Chain
ICInitial Compromise(high)
PEPrivilege Escalation(medium)
LMLateral Movement(medium)
C&CCommand & Control(medium)
EExfiltration(medium)
IImpact(medium)
GhostTree Attack: Exploiting NTFS Junctions to Evade Detection
In May 2026, Varonis Threat Labs identified a novel evasion technique named 'GhostTree' that exploits NTFS junctions in Windows systems. By creating recursive directory loops, attackers can generate an effectively infinite number of file paths, causing Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) tools to hang during recursive scans. This manipulation allows malicious files to remain undetected, as the scanning process becomes trapped in the loop and fails to complete. The technique requires only standard user permissions, making it accessible without administrative rights. ([varonis.com](https://www.varonis.com/blog/ghosttree-ntfs-trick?utm_source=openai))
The discovery of GhostTree underscores the evolving sophistication of malware evasion tactics. As attackers increasingly exploit legitimate system features to bypass security measures, organizations must enhance their detection capabilities and adopt comprehensive monitoring strategies to identify and mitigate such advanced threats.
Medium impact
Kill Chain
ICInitial Compromise(medium)
PEPrivilege Escalation(low)
LMLateral Movement(low)
C&CCommand & Control(low)
EExfiltration(low)
IImpact(low)
SprySOCKS Windows Variant: A New Threat to Government Cybersecurity
In 2023 and 2024, the China-linked cyber-espionage group FishMonger, also known as Earth Lusca and Aquatic Panda, deployed a Windows variant of the SprySOCKS backdoor against government organizations in Honduras, Taiwan, Thailand, and Pakistan. This variant utilizes malicious kernel drivers to evade detection, allowing the backdoor to conceal its processes and files by intercepting system calls and modifying outputs. The attackers likely gained initial access through exploiting vulnerabilities in public-facing servers.
The emergence of this Windows variant underscores the evolving tactics of nation-state actors in enhancing malware stealth capabilities. Organizations should be vigilant about the use of kernel drivers in malware, as they pose significant challenges to detection and mitigation efforts.
High impact
Kill Chain
ICInitial Compromise(medium)
PEPrivilege Escalation(high)
LMLateral Movement(high)
C&CCommand & Control(high)
EExfiltration(high)
IImpact(high)
Hazy Hawk's 2026 Subdomain Takeover: A Wake-Up Call for DNS Security
In April 2026, the threat actor group known as Hazy Hawk executed a coordinated subdomain takeover campaign targeting 34 major U.S. universities, including MIT, Harvard, and Stanford. By exploiting abandoned DNS records pointing to decommissioned cloud services, they hijacked these subdomains to host explicit content, which was subsequently indexed by search engines under the universities' trusted .edu domains. This incident underscores the critical need for organizations to maintain rigorous DNS hygiene and promptly remove or update DNS entries associated with decommissioned services to prevent unauthorized subdomain takeovers.
Medium impact
Kill Chain
ICInitial Compromise(high)
PEPrivilege Escalation(medium)
LMLateral Movement(medium)
C&CCommand & Control(medium)
EExfiltration(medium)
IImpact(medium)
China-Linked SprySOCKS Backdoor Expands to Windows with Advanced Stealth Techniques
In June 2026, cybersecurity researchers identified two new Windows variants of the previously Linux-exclusive backdoor, SprySOCKS. These variants, named WIN_DRV and WIN_PLUS, are equipped with hard-coded command-and-control configurations and support communication over TCP, UDP, and WebSocket protocols. Notably, WIN_DRV employs kernel drivers to conceal its network connections, processes, files, and registry keys, enhancing its stealth capabilities. The initial access method remains undetermined, but the group has a history of exploiting known vulnerabilities in public-facing applications to gain entry.
This development underscores the evolving tactics of state-sponsored threat actors, particularly those linked to China, in adapting and expanding their malware across multiple operating systems. Organizations must remain vigilant and implement robust security measures to detect and mitigate such sophisticated threats.
Low impact
Kill Chain
ICInitial Compromise(medium)
PEPrivilege Escalation(medium)
LMLateral Movement(medium)
C&CCommand & Control(high)
EExfiltration(medium)
IImpact(low)
ScarCruft's NarwhalRAT Deployed via Fake Microsoft Alerts in 2026
In June 2026, the North Korean state-sponsored hacking group ScarCruft (also known as APT37) launched a spear-phishing campaign targeting individuals with emails impersonating Microsoft Account security alerts. These emails falsely claimed that the recipient's account had been compromised due to repeated one-time password (OTP) generation attempts. The emails urged recipients to open an attached ZIP file, which contained a malicious LNK file. When executed, this LNK file initiated a multi-stage infection process, ultimately deploying a Python-based malware named NarwhalRAT. This malware is capable of logging keystrokes, capturing screenshots, recording ambient audio, and exfiltrating data to command-and-control servers. The campaign underscores the persistent threat posed by state-sponsored actors employing sophisticated social engineering tactics to infiltrate systems and gather sensitive information. Organizations must remain vigilant against such deceptive phishing attempts and ensure robust cybersecurity measures are in place to detect and mitigate these threats.
High impact
Kill Chain
ICInitial Compromise(high)
PEPrivilege Escalation(medium)
LMLateral Movement(medium)
C&CCommand & Control(medium)
EExfiltration(medium)
IImpact(medium)
Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager Vulnerability CVE-2026-20262: Immediate Action Required
In June 2026, Cisco disclosed a medium-severity vulnerability (CVE-2026-20262) in its Catalyst SD-WAN Manager, formerly known as SD-WAN vManage. This flaw allows authenticated remote attackers with at least write access to create or overwrite files on the system's filesystem. Exploitation involves sending crafted HTTP requests to specific API endpoints, potentially leading to root-level privilege escalation. Cisco has observed limited exploitation of this vulnerability in the wild and has released software updates to address the issue. ([cisco.com](https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/csa/cisco-sa-sdwan-arbfw-c2rZvQ.html?utm_source=openai))
The exploitation of CVE-2026-20262 underscores the critical importance of timely patch management and vigilant monitoring of network management systems. Organizations are urged to apply the provided updates promptly to mitigate potential risks associated with this vulnerability.
Medium impact
Kill Chain
ICInitial Compromise(high)
PEPrivilege Escalation(medium)
LMLateral Movement(medium)
C&CCommand & Control(medium)
EExfiltration(medium)
IImpact(medium)
CISA Highlights Active Exploitation of Two Critical Vulnerabilities
On June 15, 2026, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added two vulnerabilities to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) Catalog: CVE-2026-20262 and CVE-2026-54420. CVE-2026-20262 affects Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager, allowing authenticated remote attackers to create or overwrite files on the system, potentially leading to root access. CVE-2026-54420 impacts the LiteSpeed cPanel Plugin, where improper handling of symbolic links enables users with FTP or web shell access to exploit shared hosting servers running CloudLinux/CageFS. Both vulnerabilities have been actively exploited in the wild, posing significant risks to affected systems. ([cisco.com](https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/csa/cisco-sa-sdwan-arbfw-c2rZvQ.html?utm_source=openai))
The inclusion of these vulnerabilities in the KEV Catalog underscores the critical need for organizations to prioritize patching and mitigation efforts. The active exploitation of these flaws highlights the evolving threat landscape and the importance of maintaining up-to-date security measures to protect against potential breaches.
High impact
Kill Chain
ICInitial Compromise(high)
PEPrivilege Escalation(high)
LMLateral Movement(medium)
C&CCommand & Control(medium)
EExfiltration(medium)
IImpact(medium)
