Good Morning Security Gang
I had to double-check the date this morning, every day blends into the next when you’re a practitioner. Between sleepless nights at home with baby number three on the way and the daily grind of this job, it’s a journey. I’m tired, I won’t lie, but I’m grateful, blessed, and proud to bring you this show every morning.
For once, we don’t have a major data breach headline leading the show. Instead, today is about strategic exploitation, supply chain risk, API blast radius, firmware persistence, VPN neutrality, spyware politics, and ransomware accountability. This one is layered.
I’ve got my double espresso here, piping hot coffee cup cheers. Let’s get the ball rolling.
Chinese Hackers Exploit Dell Zero-Day Since Mid-2024
We start with a serious one. Chinese-linked threat actors have reportedly been exploiting a Dell zero-day vulnerability (CVE-2026-22769) since at least mid-2024 — well before public disclosure. The flaw affects Dell RecoverPoint for VMs, a maximum-severity hard-coded credential vulnerability allowing remote access and long-term persistence.
The hard-coded credentials component is particularly troubling. When authentication logic is embedded in infrastructure code, compromise becomes trivial once discovered. This vulnerability impacts versions 6.0.3.1 HF1 and prior, giving attackers management-level access to enterprise storage and virtualization environments.
What makes this alarming isn’t just the vulnerability — it’s the dwell time. Months of silent exploitation signals strategic targeting, not opportunistic scanning. Dell devices often sit deep inside management planes, meaning compromise could allow infrastructure-level persistence that survives routine patch cycles.
Mitigation requires retroactive log analysis going back at least 12 months for anomalous Dell management interface activity. Hard-coded credential vulnerabilities demand architectural introspection, not just patching.
Iranian Protest Supporters Targeted in Cyber Espionage Campaign
Threat actors aligned with Iranian state interests, including elements believed tied to the IRGC, are targeting activists, journalists, and diaspora communities through phishing and malware implants.
This represents cyber repression infrastructure using digital tools to silence dissent beyond physical borders. Credential harvesting and device compromise are the preferred methods. The campaigns are not just localized; they target global diaspora networks.
"The people of Iran deserve to be free of the tyrannical Iranian Islamic regime that has been occupying that country for forty-seven years. They're going out to the streets and getting killed, and not a college campus has one encampment to defend the poor women and young generation of Iran that simply wants to be able to dance on TikTok without a hijab and not get thrown into jail or killed." James Azar
Enterprises with employees tied to politically sensitive regions should proactively provide hardware security keys and stronger MFA protections. Supporting at-risk employees strengthens trust and resilience. Security leadership isn’t just about controls — it’s about community awareness.
Spain Orders VPN Providers to Block LaLiga Piracy
Spain has ordered VPN providers like NordVPN and ProtonVPN to block access to La Liga piracy sites. While framed as intellectual property enforcement, this signals expanding regulatory reach into VPN infrastructure.
VPN neutrality is being tested. Once provider-level traffic blocking becomes normalized, precedent is set for broader content restrictions.
"When you see governments increasingly blocking technical infrastructure under narrow legal claims, it always comes back to haunt you. You might say, 'Who cares? It's over there, it's anti-piracy.' But when you infringe on freedom in this way, it sets precedents." James Azar
Organizations relying on third-party VPN infrastructure should evaluate jurisdictional risks tied to provider operating countries. Today it’s sports piracy. Tomorrow it could be broader restrictions affecting enterprise traffic.
API Threats Expand with AI Integration
Security researchers are warning that API risk is exploding due to AI integration. APIs now connect SaaS platforms, automation pipelines, AI agents, and data lakes. When compromised, the blast radius extends far beyond a single application.
AI agents autonomously triggering workflows amplify this risk. A single compromised API token could cascade across multiple interconnected systems.
Mitigation requires strict API rate limiting, scoped tokens, and least privilege enforcement at the API layer. Token sprawl is the new shadow IT.
VS Code Extensions Expose Developer Environments
Researchers discovered vulnerabilities across popular VS Code extensions, impacting over 128 million downloads. CVEs include:
CVE 2025-65715 (Live Server)
CVE 2025-65716 (Code Runner)
CVE 2025-65717 (Markdown Preview Enhanced)
Developers are increasingly the frontline of supply chain compromise. Compromised IDE extensions allow malicious code injection directly into development environments.
Organizations must require code review approval before installing new IDE extensions in enterprise environments. Developer endpoints are privileged access nodes — treat them accordingly.
Password Managers Vulnerable Under Malicious Server Conditions
New research shows password managers may be vulnerable if users connect to malicious servers mimicking legitimate infrastructure. While still far safer than password reuse, vault compromise is possible under server spoofing scenarios.
Mitigation involves enforcing certificate pinning and domain validation protections in enterprise deployments. Endpoint integrity matters as much as encryption strength.
Firmware-Level Backdoor Discovered
Researchers uncovered a firmware-level backdoor embedded in devices, enabling remote control and data exfiltration beneath OS visibility.
Firmware persistence evades traditional endpoint monitoring. This shifts risk into hardware supply chains.
Mitigation requires firmware integrity validation checks during device provisioning and monitoring for anomalous outbound traffic patterns.
Automated Credit Card Fraud Campaigns Resurge
Credit card fraud campaigns are resurging, leveraging bots to validate stolen card numbers against e-commerce checkout systems. AI-assisted automation allows attackers to test thousands of cards in minutes.
Velocity monitoring tied to card verification attempts is critical. Payment platforms should offer fraud detection capabilities as value-added services, strengthening merchant partnerships.
Spyware Allegations in Kenya
Reports indicate commercial spyware tools were allegedly used in Kenya against activists. Commercial surveillance capabilities continue to expand globally.
The broader issue isn’t spyware existence — it’s governance and oversight. Organizations must assume mobile devices of high-risk individuals may be targeted and adjust controls accordingly.
Phobos Ransomware Suspect Arrested
A 47-year-old suspect linked to the Phobos ransomware operation was arrested in Poland. Phobos has targeted SMBs and local governments worldwide.
International cooperation continues to chip away at ransomware ecosystems, though decentralized affiliate models remain resilient.
Each arrest removes a piece from the chessboard — progress, even if incremental.
Action List
Conduct 12-month retroactive log analysis for Dell RecoverPoint activity
Enforce hardware security keys for at-risk employee populations
Evaluate VPN provider jurisdiction and neutrality risks
Implement strict API rate limiting and token scoping
Require enterprise approval for developer IDE extensions
Enable certificate pinning in password manager deployments
Perform firmware integrity validation during device provisioning
Deploy transaction velocity monitoring on payment systems
Monitor mobile device risk for politically sensitive personnel
James Azar’s CISO’s Take
Today’s show reinforces how risk is moving deeper into infrastructure layers management planes, firmware, APIs, and developer ecosystems. These are not flashy breaches. They are quiet persistence plays. The dwell time in the Dell zero-day case should concern every enterprise leader.
My biggest takeaway: identity and infrastructure trust must be continuously validated. The gap between business velocity and security control remains real. Mature organizations narrow that gap through layered segmentation, firmware validation, API governance, and proactive support for at-risk users.
We’ll be back tomorrow at 9 AM Eastern. Until then — stay sharp, stay caffeinated, and most importantly, stay cyber safe.
