The Hacker News

"Phishing campaign sends millions of emails using invisible unicode to evade filters."

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Russ Roberts (https://www.hawaiicybersecurityjournal.net).

Phishing Campaign Sends Millions of Emails Using Invisible Unicode to Evade Filters

Sep 04, 2026Email Security / Artificial Intelligence

Microsoft is alerting of a "high-volume phishing campaign" that's using invisible Unicode tag characters to bypass email filters. "Instead of using these characters to hide instructions from people while exposing them to AI models, the attacker used them to split financial lure words such as 'funding' to prevent email filters from parsing them," the Microsoft Security Research team said . The Windows maker said the findings show AI-era evasion techniques can be adapted by threat actors in traditional phishing and spam campaigns. Attacks exploiting this approach are said to have first emerged in early February 2026. ASCII Smuggling refers to a technique where invisible or non-rendering Unicode characters are used to conceal messages or instructions inside seemingly-harmless text. As a result, human user interfaces do not render them, making the text appear completely normal to the user. However, such content can be ingested by email filters or AI...

PostgreSQL Fixes 12-Year-Old Logical Decoding Flaw Enabling Replication-Role Code Execution

Sep 04, 2026Vulnerability / Database Security

PostgreSQL has released updates to address a security flaw that allows an account with the REPLICATION attribute to run arbitrary code as the operating-system user running the database server. The flaw, tracked as CVE-2026-6471 (CVSS score: 7.2), has been present since logical decoding was introduced in PostgreSQL 9.4 in 2014. Versions before PostgreSQL 18.6, 17.11, 16.15, 15.19, and 14.24 are affected. Exploitation requires an account carrying the REPLICATION attribute and a server running with wal_level = logical. Backup tools, standby servers, change data capture (CDC) pipelines, and monitoring systems routinely hold that attribute. The fix, shipped on August 13, adds a server parameter called output_plugin_libraries that lists which libraries may be loaded as logical decoding output plugins, defaulting to 'pgoutput, test_decoding'. Installations using any other output plugin, wal2json, and decoderbufs among them, will have logical decoding refused aft...

How to Discover Shadow AI - What's Working For Modern Teams

Nudge SecuritySaaS Security / AI Security

Find the AI apps, accounts, agents, and integrations your employees have introduced. No surveys, no guesswork, no waiting for someone to self-report.

New Ted Backdoor Hides Inside Victims' Own HAProxy Builds to Intercept Web Traffic

Sep 04, 2026Malware / Network Security

A previously undocumented Linux toolkit has been found compiled directly into the trojanized HAProxy load balancers of two South Korean organizations, where it intercepted web traffic and served altered pages to selected visitors. The attackers named the implant ted in debug strings left in the binary. It is not a HAProxy vulnerability, and installing it requires code execution on the host and the ability to replace the running binary. Rapid7 Labs attributed the toolkit with medium confidence to North Korean state-sponsored actors and put the two victims in South Korea's automotive and media sectors. Command-and-control (C2) requests never reach a backend server and are erased from HAProxy's own connection counters, so neither the backend logs nor the load balancer's statistics record them. "Further evidence is necessary to make a more definitive assessment," Rapid7 said. A request for one specific image path puts the filter into C2 mode, Rapid7 said i...

Over 440,000 Exploit Attempts Target Super Forms and Elementor Pro RCE Flaws

Sep 04, 2026Vulnerability / Web Security

Threat actors are exploiting two critical security flaws in WordPress plugins Super Forms and Elementor Pro, according to findings from Wordfence. The vulnerabilities in question are - CVE-2026-14894 (CVSS score: 9.8) - A missing file type validation vulnerability in Super Forms – Drag & Drop Form Builder that allows unauthenticated attackers to upload files of any type, including executable PHP files, leading to remote code execution. (Fixed in version 6.3.314) CVE-2026-32475 (CVSS score: 9.0/9.8) - A vulnerability in Elementor Pro that allows unauthenticated attackers to upload files of any type, including executable PHP files, leading to remote code execution. (Fixed in version 4.2.2) As with arbitrary file upload vulnerabilities of this kind, an attacker can leverage them to write a PHP web shell to the site and execute arbitrary code, which can then be abused to create administrator accounts, exfiltrate data, or seize control of the entire WordPress site. It...

Plex Urges Immediate Updates After Patching Multiple Undisclosed Security Flaws

Sep 04, 2026Vulnerability / Network Security

Plex is urging users to update their instances to the latest version following the release of an update that patches multiple security flaws. The fixes are available in Plex Media Server 1.43.3 and Plex Desktop 1.115.0. The streaming media service did not elaborate on what those issues are, but said CVE identifiers have been requested for them. "We recommend all server owners and Desktop users update to the latest version as soon as possible," Plex said in an announcement this week. "If you're running Plex Media Server on a NAS device, the updated version may not be available in their package manager yet, but you can install the package manually." In August 2025, Plex addressed a high-severity security flaw ( CVE-2025-34158 , CVSS score: 8.5), an authentication bug that stemmed from the "/myplex/account" endpoint incorrectly exposing the server owner's account details, including their administrative access token, even when accessed by any...

10 Hours vs. 50 Seconds: An MDR Response Gap

Prophet SecurityAI SOC / Cybersecurity

Here are 4 things your MDR isn’t telling you and 5 questions to bring to your renewal conversation.

Google Releases Chrome Update to Patch Actively Exploited V8 Zero-Day

Sep 04, 2026Vulnerability / Browser Security

Google on Thursday released security updates to patch 12 vulnerabilities, including one that has come under active exploitation in the wild. The high-severity vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2026-85046 (CVSS score: 8.8), has been described as a type confusion bug in V8, Chrome's JavaScript and WebAssembly engine. "Type confusion in V8 in Google Chrome prior to 152.0.7977.82 allowed a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code inside the sandbox via a crafted HTML page," reads a description of the flaw in CVE.org. Security researcher Salvatore Gulizia (aka Serotav) has been credited with discovering and reporting the flaw on August 4, 2026. The researcher has been awarded a bug bounty of $1,000 for responsible disclosure. In a separate blog post detailing the issue, Gulizia  described it as a "V8 bug in the compilers that leads to an array containing PACKED_ELEMENTS to receive the map PACKED_SMI_ELEMENTS, this can be turned into arbitrary read/write on the J...

GPT-6 Astra Scores 100% on ExploitBench as OpenAI Blocks PoC Exploit Requests

Sep 04, 2026Artificial Intelligence / Vulnerability

OpenAI on Thursday officially unveiled GPT‑6 Astra , which it described as the "world's most intelligent and aligned model." The development comes days after the artificial intelligence (AI) company said the model had reached the "Critical" cybersecurity capability threshold under its Preparedness Framework. "Astra is state-of-the-art on computer use, browsing, software engineering, cybersecurity, science, and professional work. Astra saturates FrontierMath Tier 4 with a 98% score," OpenAI said. "Astra also saturates ARC-AGI-3 with a 99.9% score and ExploitBench with a 100% score. It also sets a new frontier on computer and browser use, handling the most demanding professional work with unmatched speed, accuracy, and judgment." The model is currently rolling out to a small set of organizations and is expected to be available to all ChatGPT Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise users, as well as through the OpenAI API, Microsoft Azure,...

ThreatsDay: CEO Phishing Kits, 5K Dropbox Account Hacks, OAuth Traps + 17 More Stories

Sep 03, 2026Hacking News / Cybersecurity News

The worst part is how normal these attacks look. A call from IT. A shared file. A trusted app. A simple request to click “Allow.” Why break in when someone might open the door? That idea runs through this edition. Attackers use real tools, fake login pages, old account links, and software guides that point to unsafe downloads. One wrong letter in a web address can be enough. There is also ransomware, stolen ID data, hidden attack servers, and weak settings that should have been fixed long ago. Here’s the full list. The threats change every week. Subscribe, and we’ll alert you when each new ThreatsDay Bulletin is out.

Critical Cisco Nexus 9000 Flaw Lets Unauthenticated Remote Attackers Run Code as Root

Sep 03, 2026Vulnerability / Network Security

Cisco has released patches to address a critical security flaw affecting 10 Silicon One-based Nexus 9000 switches that could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute code as root, alongside an IOS XR hardening release bundling 7 umbrella CVEs, 2 of which are rated 9.8, with no workaround for any IOS XR version. The Nexus vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2026-20212 (CVSS score: 9.8), is a case of binding to an unrestricted IP address that leaves TCP ports 43210 and 43211 reachable in the default Layer 3 virtual routing and forwarding (VRF) instance. An attacker who can reach a switch's address on either port can connect directly to the service. Crafted input sent to that service is then executed as code with root privileges. An exploitation attempt can also crash the S1HAL process and reload the device. Cisco said it's not aware of any malicious use of the flaw as of its September 2 disclosure. It has published no fixed-release table and directs customers to its...

BraZetsu Malware Turns Compromised Windows Hosts Into Criminal Marketplace Inventory

Sep 03, 2026Cybercrime / Artificial Intelligence

Cybersecurity researchers have disclosed details of a sophisticated Python-based Windows malware framework called BraZetsu that fuels an underground marketplace commercializing access to compromised hosts. "Unlike the standard infostealer model, BraZetsu is a comprehensive master toolkit that empowers Initial Access Brokers (IABs) by turning compromised systems into highly valuable commercial assets," Group-IB malware analysts Julio Guapo Menezes and Miguel Salazar said in a technical report. "The framework exhibits high operational maturity, utilizing a modular architecture and stealth techniques that allowed some samples to remain fully undetectable on VirusTotal at the time of analysis." BraZetsu is a portmanteau of "Brazil" and "Zetsu," a fictional character from the Japanese Manga series Naruto who is known to operate as a threat from the shadows. The naming is inspired by the fact that the initial access tool stealthily infiltrat...

Thomson Reuters Court Software Breach May Have Exposed SSNs and Sealed Data

Sep 03, 2026Data Breach / Privacy

Thomson Reuters disclosed on Wednesday that an unauthorized party obtained files from C-Track , the court case management platform sold by its West Publishing Corporation unit, in March 2026, affecting courts in 11 U.S. states, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Ontario, Canada. West Publishing said it discovered the activity on June 30, 2026. A subset of court records could contain individuals' names, Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, dates of birth, medical information, and health insurance information, the company said. The firm is offering potentially affected individuals 12 months of Experian IdentityWorks credit monitoring, with enrollment open until December 31, 2026, using a multi-use code published in the notice, and a hotline at 1-833-918-5294 that requires the engagement number B171847. In Canada, Thomson Reuters Canada Limited is offering 12 months of TransUnion myTrueIdentity monitoring with a call center scheduled to open on September 4. "...

US Becomes Top Target in RMM Phishing Campaign Spanning 46 Countries

Sep 03, 2026Social Engineering / Malware

An RMM phishing campaign initially associated with Canadian targeting due to its use of Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) tax forms as lures has turned out to be part of a broader campaign spanning 46 countries. Around 45% of observed activity was associated with the United States , making it the campaign's top geographic target. ANY.RUN research connected 601 cases to the wider operation, which uses fake documents to trick victims into installing legitimate remote monitoring and management (RMM) software. The attackers adapt their lures to different targets, using shipping and UPS communications, Adobe PDFs, tax notices, US Social Security Administration themes, invoices, and other documents. Rapidly rotated, disposable Vercel infrastructure makes the campaign harder to track and detect. US-First Threat with Daily Infrastructure Rotation Threat overview by ANY.RUN The campaign’s infrastructure changes significantly faster than its attack pattern. ANY.RUN researchers identifi...

Attackers Turn Trusted Node.js Runtime Into Malware Delivery Tool in Targeted Attacks

Sep 03, 2026Malware / Web Security

Threat actors are leveraging the trusted Node.js JavaScript runtime in multiple cyber attacks as a way to deploy malicious payloads. According to a new report published by the Symantec Threat Hunter Team today, the attack method has been put to use in attacks targeting government departments, technology companies, and hotels since February 2026. "The technique's appeal is that node.exe (the binary that runs Node.js) is a legitimate, signed developer tool," the Broadcom-owned cybersecurity division said in a report shared with The Hacker News. "The attacker's malicious code lives in interpreted scripts rather than in a binary, making it less likely to trigger signature-based detection, while a registry Run key entry can relaunch the payload at every login." In one intrusion observed between March 23 and July 25, 2026, targeting an unspecified Asian technology company, attackers downloaded the official Node.js installer from nodejs[.]org and used the t...

Shai-Hulud's Reach Just Grew to 469 Credential Locations. Here's What That Means

Sep 03, 2026Malware / DevOps

In early August, GitGuardian researchers found that a recent Shai-Hulud infostealer worm variant had evolved to scan for credentials across 469 locations across developer environments , Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) tooling, cloud configurations, and even AI tool configs. Earlier variants of the infostealer worm only checked 189 paths. The jump says a lot. Attackers have stopped trying to break trust relationships and started using the credentials that already make those relationships work. Software supply chains have always depended on trust.  Developers trust package registries. Organizations trust maintainers. CI/CD systems trust the credentials and identities they're given. Applications trust the dependencies they pull down during a build.  Attackers realized they don't need to break any of that. They just needed to find where the credentials and standing privileges already sit. This is what is driving the current focus on software supply ...

Pegasus Zero-Click Spyware Exploit Infects Serbian Student Movement Member's iPhone

Sep 03, 2026Spyware / Mobile Security

The iPhone belonging to a member of Serbia's student protest movement was infected with NSO Group's Pegasus spyware , according to new findings from the Citizen Lab in collaboration with the SHARE Foundation. "Our analysis confirmed that an iMessage zero-click exploit was used to infect the device with NSO Group's Pegasus spyware," the Citizen Lab said . "We found high-confidence indicators of infection from a period across December 2025 – January 2026; however, this does not preclude the possibility of additional infections." It's assessed that the zero-click exploit used in the attack targeted Apple iMessage, and has been addressed by Apple with iOS 18.4.1 , which was released in April 2025. The discovery comes in the aftermath of Apple sending a new set of threat notifications to customers whom it suspected may have been targeted by mercenary spyware attacks. The alerts were sent to an unspecified number of users in 110 countries. In a...

Researcher Releases FalconFlank PoC Showing Privilege Escalation in CrowdStrike Falcon

Sep 03, 2026Vulnerability / Endpoint Security

The security researcher known as Chaotic Eclipse (aka INFINITE NIGHTMARE, MSNightmare, and Nightmare-Eclipse) has dropped a new zero-day dubbed FalconFlank , a proof-of-concept (PoC) for a privilege escalation flaw impacting Crowdstrike Falcon. "FalconFlank is a 0-day privilege escalation that abuses the office malicious macros remediation in CrowdStrike Falcon Sensor," the researcher said in a GitHub README file, adding the cybersecurity company may already have detections for the flaw by now. "So if you want to test, you either have to add it to the exclusions or obfuscate the PoC and change the DLL load technique." The PoC, the researcher added, works in a fully updated Windows 11 25H2 machine or Windows Server 2025 with CrowdStrike Falcon. In a statement shared with The Hacker News, a CrowdStrike spokesperson said they are currently investigating the report. "We are actively investigating these claims and advise customers to disable the Microsof...