Impacting the ‘dyld’ system component, the memory corruption issue can be exploited for arbitrary code execution.
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In this post we explore the data-driven shrinkage of the Time to Exploit (TTE) window from 745 days to just 44, and examine why N-day vulnerabilities have become the “turn-key” weapon of choice for modern threat actors.
Table Of ContentsThe race between defenders and threat actors has entered a new, more volatile phase: the rapidly accelerating exploitation of N-day vulnerabilities. Different from zero-days, N-day vulnerabilities are known security flaws that have been publicly disclosed but remain unpatched or unmitigated on an organization’s systems.
Historically, enterprises operated under the assumption of a “patching grace period,” the designated window of time allowed for a vendor to test and deploy a fix before a system is considered non-compliant or at high risk. However, this window is effectively collapsing, with Flashpoint finding that N-days now represent over 80% of all Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEVs) tracked over the past four years.
The most sobering trend for security operations (SecOps) and exposure management teams is the dramatic reduction in Time to Exploit (TTE). In 2020, the average TTE, the time between a vulnerability’s disclosure and its first observed exploitation, was 745 days. By 2025, Flashpoint found that this window has now plummeted to an average of just 44 days.
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
| Average TTE | 44 | 115 | 296 | 405 | 518 | 745 |
This contraction represents a strategic shift in adversary tempo. Attackers are no longer waiting for complex, bespoke exploits; they are moving at breakneck speeds to weaponize public disclosures.
Adversaries have gained a significant advantage through the rapid weaponization of researcher-published Proof-of-Concept (PoC) code. When a fully functional exploit is released alongside a vulnerability disclosure, it becomes a “turn-key” solution for attackers. By combining these ready-made exploits with internet-wide scanning tools like Shodan or FOFA, even unsophisticated threat actors can conduct mass exploitation across large segments of the internet in hours.
A prime example of this path of least resistance approach was observed in the leaked internal chat logs of the BlackBasta ransomware group. Analysis revealed that of the 65 CVEs discussed by the group, 54 were already known KEVs. Rather than spending resources on original zero-day research, threat actors are simply leveraging known, yet unpatched and exploitable vulnerabilities for their campaigns.
The very software designed to protect enterprise firewalls, VPN gateways, and edge networking devices is consistently the most targeted category for both N-day and zero-day exploitation.
Because cybersecurity devices must be internet-facing to function, they provide a constant, unauthenticated attack surface. In 2025 alone, Flashpoint observed 37 N-days and 52 zero-days specifically targeting security and perimeter software. The requirement for these systems to remain open to external traffic means they will continue to be disproportionately targeted by advanced persistent threat (APT) groups and cybercriminals alike.
While tracking the “how” of an attack is critical, tracking who is responsible remains a fragmented challenge for the industry. Attribution is often hampered by naming fatigue, where different vendors assign their own designated unique monikers to the same actor. For instance, the widely known threat actor group Lazarus has over 40 distinct designations across the industry, including “Diamond Sleet,” “NICKEL ACADEMY,” and “Guardians of Peace”.
Despite these naming complexities, global activity patterns remain clear. China remains the most active nation-state actor in the vulnerability exploitation space, consistently outpacing Russia, Iran, and North Korea in both the volume and scope of their campaigns.
Why are organizations struggling to keep pace? The primary factor isn’t a lack of effort, but a lack of visibility.
The single greatest breakthrough an enterprise can achieve is not a new AI tool, but a complete asset inventory. Most large organizations are lucky to have an accurate inventory of even 25% of their total assets. Without knowing what you own, vulnerability scans can take days or weeks to return results that the adversary is already using to probe your network.
Most traditional security tools are CVE-dependent. However, thousands of vulnerabilities are disclosed every year that never receive an official CVE ID. These “missing” vulnerabilities represent a massive blindspot for standard scanners. Intelligence-led exposure management requires looking beyond the CVE ecosystem into proprietary databases like Flashpoint’s VulnDB, which tracks over 105,000 vulnerabilities that public sources miss.
To survive in an era where weaponization can happen in under 24 hours, organizations must shift from reactive patching to a threat-informed and proactive security approach. This means:
The goal of exposure management is to look at your organization through the adversary’s lens. By understanding which N-days threat actors are actually discussing and weaponizing in the wild, defenders can finally start to close the window of exposure before a potential compromise can occur.
Flashpoint’s vulnerability threat intelligence can help your organization go from reactive to proactive. Request a demo today and gain access to quality vulnerability intelligence that enables intelligence-led exposure management.
The post N-Day Vulnerability Trends: The Shrinking Window of Exposure and the Rise of “Turn-Key” Exploitation appeared first on Flashpoint.
The Conduent data breach affects at least 25 million individuals, up from 10 million estimated a few months ago.
The post Conduent Breach Hits Volvo Group: Nearly 17,000 Employees’ Data Exposed appeared first on SecurityWeek.
Day became a professional hacker by choice. But that doesn’t mean he isn’t a natural hacker.
The post Hacker Conversations: Professional Hacker Douglas Day appeared first on SecurityWeek.
As we mark Safer Internet Day 2026, we’re reflecting on a simple but enduring principle: safety must be designed into online services, not bolted on. Microsoft’s work in this space spans more than two decades—from technology solutions like PhotoDNA to our investments in responsible gaming, public-private partnerships, and empowering users through education. This foundation guides our approach as we help individuals and families navigate a rapidly evolving landscape shaped by new technologies and new risks and as we innovate with next-generation AI offerings. At a moment when 91% of people tell us they worry about harms introduced by AI, our commitment to responsible innovation has never been more important—especially for our youngest users.
Read on for more about our longstanding efforts to create a safer digital environment, plus key findings from our Global Online Safety Survey and new examples of our work to empower families and communities through tools, research, and educational resources—including the latest release in Minecraft Education’s CyberSafe series.
2026 marks the tenth year of our annual Global Online Safety Survey research. For a decade, we have invested in surveying teens and adults around the world about their experiences and perceptions of life online—aiming to provide fresh insights to support our collective work. That’s 130,000+ interviews across 37 countries, with the results available on our website. Ten years later, respondents tell us that they feel more connected and more productive, but less safe online.
This year’s Global Online Safety Survey also highlights the complexity of the digital environment young people now inhabit. Teens’ exposure to risk rose again, with hate speech (35%), scams (29%), and cyberbullying (23%) among the most commonly experienced harms. At the same time, teens demonstrated striking resilience: 72% talked to someone after experiencing a risk, and reporting behavior increased for the second consecutive year. But worries about the misuse of AI continue, underscoring again why safety-by-design for AI is essential, not optional. Find the full results and country-level summaries here.
Year on year, the research has told a story of evolving online safety risks and of the real-world impact. In 2026, the call to action is more urgent than ever—unless industry can deliver safe and age-appropriate experiences, young people risk losing access to technology. At Microsoft, spanning across our teams from Windows to Xbox, we have sought to continuously evolve our approach and to lead industry in advancing tailored and thoughtful safety solutions.
Looking ahead, we know we need to continue to build strong guardrails to tackle acute risks and to leverage our experience while being informed by new research, new perspectives, and new technologies. The application process closed yesterday for our first AI Futures Youth Council, to be comprised of teens from across the US and EU. We’re looking forward to bringing those teens together soon for a first meeting to get their direct feedback on the role they want emerging technology to play in their lives and how we can best support their safety.
Microsoft has partnered with Cyberlite on a second youth-centered initiative to understand how teens aged 13–17 are engaging with AI companions. Through codesign workshops with students in India and Singapore, we’re capturing young people’s own perspectives on the benefits, risks, and emotional dimensions of AI use—insights that will directly inform educational resources for teens, parents, and educators. Early findings from the first workshop in December 2025 show that young people value AI as a judgment free space while also recognizing the tradeoffs: privacy risks, overreliance, and erosion of critical thinking loom larger for them than bad advice.
We’re also thinking about how we define safety in the next era of Windows, leveraging the Family Safety controls that have been integrated for over a decade. As many countries have raised the local age for digital consent, more parents will have the option to enable parental controls for teens up to the age of 18—leveraging these tools as part of a holistic approach to digital parenting. And to help parents set up and understand Family Safety, we’ve developed a short new guide.
Safety is also about transparency, empowerment, and education. At Xbox, bringing the joy of gaming to everyone means remaining transparent about the many ways we innovate so players, parents, and caregivers can feel confident that Xbox continues to be a place for positive play. You can read more about our recently published Xbox Transparency Report and the tools and resources available to players on the Xbox Wire blog.
We’re also excited to announce the latest release in Minecraft Education’s CyberSafe series: CyberSafe: Bad Connection? This series of immersive Minecraft worlds and educational resources is free and helps translate complex risks into fun learning experiences that meet young people in their favorite blocky world. Bad Connection?—the fifth in the series—reflects our commitment to evolving to meet new and challenging risks, with a focus on tackling serious risks related to online recruitment and radicalization. Learn more about how to access this new Minecraft world here.
The CyberSafe series has reached more than 80 million downloads since 2022 through a partnership between Minecraft Education, Xbox, and Microsoft, helping a generation of young players build the agency, resilience, and digital citizenship they need to navigate an increasingly online world. As part of our commitment to ensure people have the knowledge and skills they need to benefit from technology and stay safe, Microsoft Elevate is empowering educators and students with tools and guidance to build safer, more responsible digital habits, recognizing that AI is transforming how people learn, work, and connect. Our commitment to helping young people access technology safely is also why we’ve partnered with organizations, like the National 4-H Council to prepare young people for an AI-powered world through AI literacy and digital safety curriculum and game-based learning with Minecraft Education.
As we look ahead, our goal is clear: build technology that is safe by design, guided by evidence, and informed through partnership. The internet has changed profoundly over the past decade, and so too have the expectations of the people who use it. Safer Internet Day is a reminder that progress requires sustained collaboration across industry, civil society, researchers, and families.
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Global Online Safety Survey Methodology
Microsoft has published annual research since 2016 that surveys how people of varying ages use and view online technology. This latest consumer-based report is based on a survey of nearly 15,000 teens (13–17) and adults that was conducted this past summer in 15 countries examining people’s attitudes and perceptions about online safety tools and interactions. Responses to online safety differ depending on the country. Full results can be accessed here.
The post Building a safer digital future, together appeared first on Microsoft On the Issues.
The signs of a cyberattack were identified on systems EU's main executive body uses for mobile device management.
The post European Commission Investigating Cyberattack appeared first on SecurityWeek.
Potential breach at Flickr exposes usernames, email addresses, IP addresses, and activity data.
The post Flickr Security Incident Tied to Third-Party Email System appeared first on SecurityWeek.
CISA updated 59 KEV entries in 2025 to specify that the vulnerabilities have been exploited in ransomware attacks.
The post Concerns Raised Over CISA’s Silent Ransomware Updates in KEV Catalog appeared first on SecurityWeek.
Zscaler says the acquisition will allow customers to embed lightweight extensions into any browser, providing increased security and eliminating the need for third-party browsers.
The post Zscaler Acquires Browser Security Firm SquareX appeared first on SecurityWeek.
In this post we introduce a new free assessment designed to pinpoint intelligence gaps, top strategic priorities for progress, and prioritized practical actions to drive real impact.
Table Of ContentsMany organizations today have some form of threat intelligence. Far fewer have a threat intelligence function that is structured, measurable, and trusted across the business. Experienced security professionals know that volume does not equal value—having more feeds, more alerts, or more dashboards doesn’t automatically translate into better intelligence. In reality, teams need clear visibility into the source of their intelligence data, how it aligns to their most important risks, and whether it’s actually influencing decisions.
Without this baseline, organizations struggle to answer fundamental questions:
These blind spots create friction across security operations—and make it difficult to improve with confidence.
That’s why Flashpoint created the Threat Intelligence Capability Assessment out of a simple observation: the most successful intelligence functions aren’t defined by the size of their budget or the number of feeds they ingest. They are defined by how intelligence flows across the full threat intelligence lifecycle:
By examining each stage independently, our assessment reveals where intelligence accelerates decisions and where it quietly breaks down.
Most maturity assessments focus on inputs: tooling, headcount, or abstract maturity labels.
Flashpoint’s Threat Intelligence Capability Assessment takes a different approach. It evaluates how intelligence actually functions across the full intelligence lifecycle— from requirements and tasking through feedback and retasking—and what that means in practice for day-to-day operations.
Rather than stopping at a score, the assessment helps organizations:
Critically, The Threat Intelligence Capability Assessment is grounded in operational reality, not vendor theory, and is designed to be applied by function, recognizing that intelligence maturity is rarely uniform across an organization.
“As cyber threats grow in scale, complexity, and impact, organizations need a clear understanding of how effectively intelligence supports their ability to detect high-priority risks and respond with speed. This assessment helps teams move beyond a score to understand what’s holding them back, where to focus next, and how to turn intelligence into action.”
Josh Lefkowitz, CEO and co-founder of Flashpoint
This assessment isn’t about simply measuring where you are today—it’s about identifying holding you back, and where targeted improvements can deliver the greatest return.
After taking Flashpoint’s quick 5 minute assessment, security leaders can evaluate each component of their intelligence program—such as SOCs (Security Operations Center), vulnerability teams, fraud teams, and physical security—and benchmark them to surface potential gaps and needed improvements.
Whether your program is at the developing, maturing, advanced, or leader stage, the goal is the same: to move from intelligence as a supporting activity to intelligence as a driver of proactive operations.
No matter which stage you are currently in, advancing an intelligence function requires deeper visibility into relevant ecosystems, stronger analytic rigor, and the ability to act on intelligence at the moment it matters. To move the needle, organizations need clear requirements, direct visibility into where threats originate, structured tradecraft, and intelligence that drives decisions.
Flashpoint helps teams accelerate progress with the data, expertise, and workflows that strengthen intelligence programs at every stage—without requiring a new operational model. Take the assessment now to see where your intelligence program stands. Or, learn more about how Flashpoint helps intelligence teams progress faster, reduce fragmentation, and sustain momentum toward intelligence-led operations, delivered through the Flashpoint Ignite Platform.
The post Flashpoint’s Threat Intelligence Capability Assessment appeared first on Flashpoint.
Palo Alto Networks has not attributed the APT activity to any specific country, but evidence points to China.
The post Cyberspy Group Hacked Governments and Critical Infrastructure in 37 Countries appeared first on SecurityWeek.
This threat assessment analyzes potential physical and cyber threats to Super Bowl LX.
Table Of ContentsEach year, the Super Bowl draws one of the largest live audiences of any global sporting event, with tens of thousands of spectators attending in person and more than 100 million viewers expected to watch worldwide. Super Bowl LX, taking place on February 8, 2026 at Levi’s Stadium, will feature the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots, with Bad Bunny headlining the halftime show and Green Day performing during the opening ceremony.
Beyond the game itself, the Super Bowl represents one of the most influential commercial and media stages in the world, with major brands investing in some of the most expensive advertising time of the year. The scale, visibility, and economic significance of the event make it an attractive target for threat actors seeking attention, disruption, or financial gain, underscoring the need for heightened security awareness.
At this time, Flashpoint has not observed any specific cyber threats targeting Super Bowl LX. Despite the absence of overt threats, it remains possible that threat actors may attempt to obtain personal information—including financial and credit card details—through scams, malware, phishing campaigns, or other opportunistic cyber activity.
High-profile events such as the Super Bowl have historically been leveraged as bait for cyber campaigns targeting fans and attendees rather than league infrastructure. In October 2024, the online store of the Green Bay Packers was hacked, exposing customers’ financial details. Previous incidents also include the February 2022 “BlackByte” ransomware attack that targeted the San Francisco 49ers in the lead-up to Super Bowl LVI.
Although Flashpoint has not identified any credible calls for large-scale cyber campaigns against Super Bowl LX at this time, analysts assess that cyber activity—if it occurs—is more likely to focus on fraud, impersonation, and social engineering directed at ticket holders, travelers, and high-profile attendees.
Flashpoint is currently monitoring online sentiment ahead of Super Bowl LX. At the time of publishing, analysts have identified pockets of increasingly negative online chatter related primarily to allegations of federal immigration enforcement activity in and around the event, as well as broader political and social tensions surrounding the Super Bowl.
Online discussions include calls for protests and boycotts tied to perceived Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) involvement, as well as controversy surrounding halftime and opening ceremony performers. While sentiment toward the game itself and associated events remains largely positive, Flashpoint continues to monitor for escalation in rhetoric that could translate into real-world activity.
Flashpoint analysts have identified online chatter promoting protests in the Bay Area in response to allegations that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will conduct enforcement operations in and around Super Bowl LX. A planned protest is scheduled to take place near Levi’s Stadium on February 8, 2026, during game-day hours.
At this time, Flashpoint has not identified any calls for violence or physical confrontation associated with these actions. However, analysts cannot rule out the possibility that demonstrations could expand or relocate, potentially causing localized disruptions near the venue or surrounding infrastructure if protesters gain access to restricted areas.
In addition, Flashpoint has identified online calls to boycott the Super Bowl tied to both the alleged ICE presence and controversy surrounding the event’s halftime and opening ceremony performers. Flashpoint has not identified any chatter indicating that players, NFL personnel, or affiliated organizations plan to boycott or disrupt the game or related events.
Flashpoint has not identified any direct or credible threats to Super Bowl LX or its attendees from violent extremists or terrorist groups at this time. However, as with any high-profile sporting event, lone actors inspired by international terrorist organizations or domestic violent extremist ideologies remain a persistent risk due to the scale of attendance and global media attention.
Super Bowl LX is designated as a SEAR-1 event, necessitating extensive interagency coordination and heightened security measures. Law enforcement presence is expected to be significant, with layered security protocols, strict access control points, and comprehensive screening procedures in place throughout Levi’s Stadium and surrounding areas. Contingency planning for crowd management, emergency response, and evacuation scenarios is ongoing.
Given the absence of specific, identified threats, mitigation strategies for key personnel attending Super Bowl LX focus on general best practices. Security teams tasked with executive protection should remove sensitive personal information from online sources, monitor open-source and social media channels, and establish targeted alerts for potential threats or emerging protest activity.
Physical security teams and protected individuals should also familiarize themselves with venue layouts, emergency exits, nearby medical facilities, and law enforcement presence, and remain alert to changes in crowd dynamics or protest activity in the vicinity of the event.
The nearest medical facilities are:
Several of these facilities offer 24/7 emergency services and are located within a short driving distance of the stadium.
The primary law enforcement facility near the venue is:
As a SEAR-1 event, extensive coordination is expected among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies throughout the Bay Area.
Although there are no indications of any credible, immediate threats to Super Bowl LX or attendees at this time, it is imperative to be vigilant and prepared. Protecting key personnel in today’s threat environment requires a multi-faceted approach. To effectively bridge the gap between online and offline threats, organizations must adopt a comprehensive strategy that incorporates open source intelligence (OSINT) and physical security measures. Download Flashpoint’s Physical Safety Event Checklist to learn more.
ShinyHunters has claimed the theft of 14 million records from the US bakery-cafe chain’s systems.
The post Hackers Leak 5.1 Million Panera Bread Records appeared first on SecurityWeek.
The attacks targeting Europe were analyzed by Ukraine’s CERT-UA and the cybersecurity company Zscaler.
The post Russia’s APT28 Rapidly Weaponizes Newly Patched Office Vulnerability appeared first on SecurityWeek.
Poland’s CERT has published a report on the recent attack, providing new details on targeted ICS and attribution.
The post Default ICS Credentials Exploited in Destructive Attack on Polish Energy Facilities appeared first on SecurityWeek.
Security leaders share how artificial intelligence is changing malware, ransomware, and identity-led intrusions, and how defenses must evolve.
The post Cyber Insights 2026: Malware and Cyberattacks in the Age of AI appeared first on SecurityWeek.
The likely state-sponsored threat actor had access to the hosting provider for months and targeted only certain Notepad++ customers.
The post Notepad++ Supply Chain Hack Conducted by China via Hosting Provider appeared first on SecurityWeek.
Hackers compromised a MicroWorld Technologies update server and fed a malicious file to eScan customers.
The post eScan Antivirus Delivers Malware in Supply Chain Attack appeared first on SecurityWeek.
In our latest webinar, Flashpoint unpacks the architecture of the Chinese threat actor cyber ecosystem—a parallel offensive stack fueled by government mandates and commercialized hacker-for-hire industry.
Table Of ContentsFor years, the global cybersecurity community has operated under the assumption that technical information was a matter of public record. Security research has always been openly discussed and shared through a culture of global transparency. Today, that reality has fundamentally shifted. Flashpoint is witnessing a growing opacity—a “Walled Garden”—around Chinese data. As a result, the competence of Chinese threat actors and APTs has reached an industrialized scale.
In Flashpoint’s recent on-demand webinar, “Mapping the Adversary: Inside the Chinese Pentesting Ecosystem,” our analysts explain how China’s state policies surrounding zero-day vulnerability research have effectively shut out the cyber communities that once provided a window into Chinese tradecraft. However, they haven’t disappeared. Rather, they have been absorbed by the state to develop a mature, self-sustaining offensive stack capable of targeting global infrastructure.
The “Walled Garden” is a direct result of a Chinese regulatory turning point in 2021: the Regulations on the Management of Security Vulnerabilities (RMSV). While the gradual walling off of China’s data is the cumulative result of years of implementing regulatory and policy strategies, the 2021 RMSV marks a critical turning point that effectively nationalized China’s vulnerability research capabilities. Under the RMSV, any individual or organization in China that discovers a new flaw must report it to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) within 48 hours. Crucially, researchers are prohibited from sharing technical details with third parties—especially foreign entities—or selling them before a patch is issued.
It is important to note that this mandate is not limited to Chinese-based software or hardware; it applies to any vulnerability discovered, as long as the discoverer is a Chinese-based organization or national. This effectively treats software vulnerabilities as a national strategic resource for China. By centralizing this data, the Chinese government ensures it has an early window into zero-day exploits before the global defensive community.
For defenders, this means that by the time a vulnerability is public, there is a high probability it has already been analyzed and potentially weaponized within China’s state-aligned apparatus.
Flashpoint analysts have observed that within this Walled Garden, traditional Western reconnaissance tools are losing their effectiveness. Chinese threat actors are utilizing an indigenous suite of cyberspace search engines that create a dangerous information asymmetry, allowing them to peer at defender infrastructure while shielding their own domestic base from Western scrutiny.
While Shodan remains the go-to resource for security teams, Flashpoint has seen Chinese threat actors favor three IoT search engines that offer them a massive home-field advantage:
In the full session, we demonstrate exactly how Chinese operators use these tools to fuse reconnaissance and exploitation into a single, automated step—a capability most Western EDRs aren’t yet tuned to detect.
Leveraging their knowledge of vulnerabilities and zero-day exploits, the illicit Chinese ecosystem is building tools designed to dismantle the specific technologies that power global corporate data centers and business hubs.
In the webinar, our analysts explain purpose-built cyber weapons designed to hunt VMware vCenter servers that support one-click shell uploads via vulnerabilities like Log4Shell. Beyond the initial exploit, Flashpoint highlights the rising use of Behinder (Ice Scorpion)—a sophisticated web shell management tool. Behinder has become a staple for Chinese operators because it encrypts command-and-control (C2) traffic, allowing attackers to evade conventional inspection and deep packet analytics.
By understanding this “Walled Garden” architecture, defenders can move beyond generic signatures and begin to hunt for the specific TTPs—such as high-entropy C2 traffic and proprietary Chinese scanning patterns—that define the modern Chinese threat actor.
How can Flashpoint help? Flashpoint’s cyber threat intelligence platform cuts through the generic feed overload and delivers unrivaled primary-source data, AI-powered analysis, and expert human context.
Watch the on-demand webinar to learn more, or request a demo today.
The post How China’s “Walled Garden” is Redefining the Cyber Threat Landscape appeared first on Flashpoint.
Sandworm/Electrum hackers targeted communication and control systems at 30 sites.
The post ICS Devices Bricked Following Russia-Linked Intrusion Into Polish Power Grid appeared first on SecurityWeek.
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