Daily Brief

Researchers from Georgia Tech and Purdue University have demonstrated a new attack, WireTap, that bypasses Intel's SGX security on DDR4 systems, exposing sensitive data. The WireTap attack uses a memory-bus interposer to extract an SGX secret attestation key, compromising the confidentiality of SGX-protected data. This method allows attackers to masquerade as legitimate SGX hardware, potentially exposing sensitive information and undermining SGX's security assurances. The attack requires physical access to install an interposer, with costs around $1,000, making it a feasible threat under specific conditions. Intel has acknowledged the vulnerability but stated it falls outside their threat model, as it assumes physical access, and does not plan to issue a CVE. Organizations using SGX-backed systems are advised to ensure secure physical environments and consider cloud providers with robust physical security measures. The findings stress the importance of evaluating physical security in environments relying on hardware-based encryption protections like SGX.

Google's new developer verification rules, set for 2026, may threaten the future of F-Droid, a third-party app store for open-source Android apps. The new policy mandates that all apps on certified Android devices come from developers who have verified their identity with Google, potentially blocking unregistered apps. F-Droid argues that this requirement is not a genuine security measure but a move to consolidate control over the Android ecosystem. The policy could prevent users from accessing and updating a wide range of trustworthy open-source apps, impacting software freedom. F-Droid is unable to compel developers to register with Google, nor can it assume control of app identifiers without seizing distribution rights. Google claims sideloading will remain possible for verified developers, with some exemptions for hobbyists, but F-Droid warns of broader implications for digital rights. F-Droid urges regulators to scrutinize this policy under competition and digital rights frameworks, encouraging advocacy for software freedom.

WestJet confirmed a data breach affecting 1.2 million customers, exposing personal information such as passports and ID documents. The breach, disclosed in June, disrupted internal systems and made the WestJet app unavailable, impacting customer service operations. Attackers used social engineering to reset an employee's password, gaining access through Citrix to compromise Windows and Microsoft cloud networks. WestJet has assured customers that no credit card details or passwords were compromised in the breach. The airline is working with the FBI and technical experts to assess the full scope of the incident and prevent future occurrences. Affected customers are offered a free 2-year identity theft protection and monitoring service, with instructions included in the notification. WestJet continues to update customers and authorities, emphasizing ongoing efforts to secure their systems and data.

Google has launched an AI-driven ransomware detection feature for Google Drive desktop, aiming to minimize the impact of ransomware attacks by pausing file syncing when threats are detected. The feature uses a specialized AI model trained on millions of ransomware samples to identify malicious file alterations, protecting documents stored in Google Drive. Upon detecting unusual activity, Drive halts file syncing to prevent widespread data corruption, alerting users to restore files via a simple web interface. The solution is automatically enabled for Google Workspace users across various subscription tiers, with options for IT administrators to disable it if necessary. Users must have Google Drive version 114 or later to receive ransomware detection alerts, ensuring compatibility with the latest security features. Google's approach contrasts with traditional methods by offering a user-friendly restoration process without needing complex re-imaging or third-party tools. This development aligns with similar offerings from Microsoft and Dropbox, enhancing competitive positioning in cloud storage security solutions.

Allianz Life's investigation revealed a data breach affecting 1.5 million individuals, compromising names, addresses, dates of birth, and social security numbers. The breach involved unauthorized access to a third-party cloud-based CRM system, potentially linked to the ShinyHunters extortion group. Impacted parties include Allianz Life customers, financial professionals, and employees, though Allianz SE's global operations remain unaffected. Allianz Life is offering a two-year identity theft monitoring service through Kroll to help mitigate potential risks for affected individuals. The company has communicated the breach details to U.S. authorities and established a dedicated support team to assist customers. Affected individuals are advised to remain vigilant for phishing attempts, enable credit monitoring, and consider implementing a credit freeze. This incident underscores the ongoing risks associated with third-party cloud services and the importance of robust security measures.

CISA's recent guidance positions microsegmentation as a core component of Zero Trust, shifting from its previous view as an advanced, optional strategy. The global microsegmentation market is projected to reach $41.24 billion by 2034, driven by the demand for enhanced cyber defenses. Despite its recognized value, only 5% of organizations currently implement microsegmentation due to perceived complexity and cost. CISA's roadmap advises a phased approach to microsegmentation, though traditional methods may still present operational challenges. Modern solutions, such as those offered by Zero Networks, promise streamlined deployment through automation and identity-aware policies. The emphasis is shifting from detection to containment, with microsegmentation seen as vital for limiting attack impact and enhancing incident response. Organizations are encouraged to adopt modern microsegmentation techniques to achieve comprehensive security more efficiently.

A high-severity flaw in OneLogin's IAM solution, CVE-2025-59363, could expose sensitive OIDC client secrets, posing significant security risks. The vulnerability, rated 7.7 on the CVSS scale, results from incorrect resource transfer, allowing unauthorized access to confidential data. Attackers with valid API credentials could exploit the flaw to retrieve client secrets for all OIDC applications within a OneLogin tenant. Exploitation could enable threat actors to impersonate users and access other applications, facilitating potential lateral movement. OneLogin's RBAC model grants broad endpoint access, and lack of IP allowlisting increases the risk of remote exploitation. The issue was responsibly disclosed on July 18, 2025, and patched in version 2025.3.0, which hides OIDC client_secret values. No evidence suggests the vulnerability was exploited in the wild, but it underscores the need for robust API security measures.

A new webinar by Tines explores the integration of AI with human workflows, addressing the challenges of automation in cybersecurity operations. AI is transforming automation, but reliance solely on AI or human-led processes can result in fragile systems unable to adapt to change. The webinar emphasizes the importance of blending human judgment, traditional automation, and AI to create robust, reliable workflows. Cybersecurity leaders face the challenge of developing workflows that are fast, secure, and explainable to maintain operational integrity. Participants will gain insights into practical strategies for deploying automation that strengthens defenses without introducing new risks. The session targets security and operations teams seeking to avoid over-engineered systems that fail under real-world pressures. Attendees will learn to identify the right mix of human, rules-based, and AI automation, ensuring secure and scalable implementations.

A severe vulnerability in Red Hat OpenShift AI, CVE-2025-10725, could enable attackers to escalate privileges and control the entire infrastructure, impacting hybrid cloud environments. The flaw, with a CVSS score of 9.9, affects the platform's ability to manage AI model lifecycles, posing significant risks to data integrity and service availability. Exploitation requires an authenticated account, allowing a low-privileged user to gain full cluster administrator rights, potentially compromising all hosted applications. Red Hat advises restricting permissions, particularly avoiding broad system-level access, to mitigate risks and adhere to the principle of least privilege. Organizations using affected versions should implement recommended mitigations promptly to prevent potential breaches and protect sensitive data. The vulnerability underscores the critical need for robust access control measures in AI and cloud infrastructure environments.

Allianz Life, WestJet, and Motility Software Solutions announced data breaches affecting a combined total of approximately 3.7 million customers and employees in North America. Allianz Life reported that 1.4 million customer records, including sensitive personal information, were accessed due to a breach at a third-party CRM provider. WestJet confirmed a cyberattack attributed to Scattered Spider, exposing data of 1.2 million Americans, but assured that payment details and operational integrity remained secure. Motility Software Solutions experienced a ransomware attack, potentially compromising records of over 766,000 individuals, though no misuse of data has been detected so far. All three companies are offering identity protection and credit monitoring services to affected individuals, with coverage durations varying from one to two years. These incidents highlight the ongoing vulnerability of third-party relationships and the importance of robust cybersecurity measures and incident response plans. Companies are urged to continually assess and strengthen their cybersecurity frameworks to protect against evolving threats and safeguard customer data.

Gartner's survey reveals only 15% of organizations are considering or deploying fully autonomous AI agents, reflecting a cautious approach due to trust and security concerns. A significant 74% of respondents identified AI agents as a potential new attack vector, indicating security risks are a major barrier to adoption. Despite AI's potential, only 19% of leaders express high confidence in vendors' ability to prevent AI hallucinations, highlighting governance and maturity issues. Companies like Klarna and Duolingo have reverted to human roles after AI deployments led to reduced service quality, signaling challenges in AI implementation. Gartner predicts over 40% of agentic AI projects may be canceled by 2027, citing rising costs and unclear business value as primary factors. Industry examples, such as Salesforce and BT, show mixed results, with some organizations cutting jobs but facing difficulties in achieving expected AI efficiencies. The survey indicates that most leaders do not anticipate AI agents replacing applications or workers in the next two to four years, suggesting a slow adoption curve.

Threat actors have been exploiting Milesight industrial cellular routers to send phishing SMS messages, targeting European users since February 2022, primarily affecting Sweden, Italy, and Belgium. The attackers leverage a now-patched information disclosure vulnerability, CVE-2023-43261, with a CVSS score of 7.5, allowing them to send malicious SMS messages via exposed APIs. Approximately 572 routers are potentially vulnerable, with half located in Europe, exposing SMS-related features without requiring authentication, facilitating the smishing operations. Phishing URLs impersonate government and financial entities, using JavaScript to target mobile devices and prompt users to update banking information under false pretenses. The campaign's infrastructure includes domains disabling right-click actions and browser debugging to hinder analysis, with some pages logging visitor connections to a Telegram bot. SEKOIA's findings suggest a targeted approach, focusing solely on smishing without attempts to install backdoors or exploit other vulnerabilities on the devices. The decentralized nature of these attacks complicates detection and takedown efforts, highlighting the need for robust security measures and regular patch management.

Bitdefender's 2025 Cybersecurity Assessment Report highlights a significant increase in pressure on security professionals to conceal data breaches, with 58% reporting such directives. The report indicates a 38% rise since 2023 in organizations prioritizing optics over transparency, potentially compromising stakeholder trust and compliance obligations. Analysis of 700,000 incidents shows 84% of high-severity attacks utilize Living Off the Land techniques, leveraging legitimate tools to bypass traditional defenses. In response, 68% of organizations prioritize reducing their attack surface, focusing on disabling unnecessary services and minimizing lateral movement paths. A disconnect between executives and frontline teams is evident, with differing priorities on AI adoption and cloud security, risking resource dilution and strategic misalignment. The report emphasizes the need for balanced AI threat preparation, acknowledging that fears may exceed the current prevalence of AI-enhanced attacks. The findings stress the importance of preemptive strategies for cyber resilience, urging organizations to align leadership and operational focus areas.

Imgur has restricted UK users' access following an ICO investigation into its handling of children's data, potentially resulting in fines for its parent company, MediaLab. The ICO's investigation, initiated in March, targets major platforms like TikTok and Reddit to ensure compliance with age verification and children's data protection. Despite Imgur's UK exit, the ICO warns that MediaLab remains accountable for any data protection breaches prior to the withdrawal. The investigation aligns with the ICO's Children's code strategy, emphasizing safeguarding children's personal information and holding companies accountable. Imgur's move mirrors actions by other platforms like Fruitlab, which also exited the UK due to similar compliance challenges. UK users now face restricted access to Imgur, with the platform offering data request and deletion options under UK GDPR regulations. The ICO continues to prioritize online safety for children, urging platforms to enhance privacy settings and disable targeted ads for minors.

A new Android banking trojan named Klopatra has compromised over 3,000 devices, predominantly affecting users in Spain and Italy, according to Italian fraud prevention firm Cleafy. Klopatra employs Hidden Virtual Network Computing (VNC) for remote device control and uses dynamic overlays to steal credentials, facilitating unauthorized financial transactions. The malware integrates Virbox, a commercial-grade code protection suite, making it difficult to detect and analyze, and employs native libraries for enhanced stealth. Operated by a Turkish-speaking group, Klopatra is distributed through social engineering lures, like IPTV apps, which trick users into installing malicious dropper apps. The trojan abuses Android's accessibility services to perform actions autonomously, such as reading screen content and recording keystrokes, to execute fraudulent transactions. Klopatra's operators exploit nighttime hours, using stolen device credentials to access banking apps and transfer funds while users are likely asleep and devices are charging. The malware's sophisticated architecture and strategic use of commercial-grade protections signify a growing trend in the professionalization of mobile malware operations.