Microsoft Corp. right this moment launched software program updates to quash 130 safety bugs in its Home windows working programs and associated software program, together with at the very least 5 flaws which might be already seeing lively exploitation. In the meantime, Apple prospects have their very own zero-day woes once more this month: On Monday, Apple issued (after which shortly pulled) an emergency replace to repair a zero-day vulnerability that’s being exploited on MacOS and iOS units.

On July 10, Apple pushed a “Speedy Safety Response” replace to repair a code execution flaw within the Webkit browser part constructed into iOS, iPadOS, and macOS Ventura. Nearly as quickly because the patch went out, Apple pulled the software program as a result of it was reportedly inflicting issues loading sure web sites. MacRumors says Apple will seemingly re-release the patches when the glitches have been addressed.

Launched in Could, Apple’s Speedy Safety Response updates are designed to deal with time-sensitive vulnerabilities, and that is the second month Apple has used it. July marks the sixth month this yr that Apple has launched updates for zero-day vulnerabilities — people who get exploited by malware or malcontents earlier than there may be an official patch out there.

In case you depend on Apple units and don’t have automated updates enabled, please take a second to examine the patch standing of your numerous iDevices. The most recent safety replace that features the repair for the zero-day bug needs to be out there in iOS/iPadOS 16.5.1, macOS 13.4.1, and Safari 16.5.2.

On the Home windows facet, there are at the very least 4 vulnerabilities patched this month that earned excessive CVSS (badness) scores and which might be already being exploited in lively assaults, based on Microsoft. They embody CVE-2023-32049, which is a gap in Home windows SmartScreen that lets malware bypass safety warning prompts; and CVE-2023-35311 permits attackers to bypass security measures in Microsoft Outlook.

The 2 different zero-day threats this month for Home windows are each privilege escalation flaws. CVE-2023-32046 impacts a core Home windows part known as MSHTML, which is utilized by Home windows and different functions, like Workplace, Outlook and Skype. CVE-2023-36874 is an elevation of privilege bug within the Home windows Error Reporting Service.

Many safety consultants anticipated Microsoft to deal with a fifth zero-day flaw — CVE-2023-36884 — a distant code execution weak spot in Workplace and Home windows.

“Surprisingly, there isn’t any patch but for one of many 5 zero-day vulnerabilities,” mentioned Adam Barnett, lead software program engineer at Rapid7. “Microsoft is actively investigating publicly disclosed vulnerability, and guarantees to replace the advisory as quickly as additional steerage is obtainable.”

Barnett notes that Microsoft hyperlinks exploitation of this vulnerability with Storm-0978, the software program big’s title for a cybercriminal group primarily based out of Russia that’s recognized by the broader safety neighborhood as RomCom.

“Exploitation of CVE-2023-36884 could result in set up of the eponymous RomCom trojan or different malware,” Barnett mentioned. “[Microsoft] means that RomCom / Storm-0978 is working in assist of Russian intelligence operations. The identical menace actor has additionally been related to ransomware assaults concentrating on a wide selection of victims.”

Microsoft’s advisory on CVE-2023-36884 is fairly sparse, nevertheless it does embody a Home windows registry hack that ought to assist mitigate assaults on this vulnerability. Microsoft has additionally revealed a weblog publish about phishing campaigns tied to Storm-0978 and to the exploitation of this flaw.

Barnett mentioned it’s whereas it’s attainable {that a} patch will likely be issued as a part of subsequent month’s Patch Tuesday, Microsoft Workplace is deployed nearly in every single place, and this menace actor is making waves.

“Admins needs to be prepared for an out-of-cycle safety replace for CVE-2023-36884,” he mentioned.

Microsoft additionally right this moment launched new particulars about the way it plans to deal with the existential menace of malware that’s cryptographically signed by…watch for it….Microsoft.

In late 2022, safety consultants at Sophos, Development Micro and Cisco warned that ransomware criminals have been utilizing signed, malicious drivers in an try and evade antivirus and endpoint detection and response (EDR) instruments.

In a weblog publish right this moment, Sophos’s Andrew Brandt wrote that Sophos recognized 133 malicious Home windows driver recordsdata that have been digitally signed since April 2021, and discovered 100 of these have been truly signed by Microsoft. Microsoft mentioned right this moment it’s taking steps to make sure these malicious driver recordsdata can not run on Home windows computer systems.

As KrebsOnSecurity famous in final month’s story on malware signing-as-a-service, code-signing certificates are supposed to assist authenticate the id of software program publishers, and supply cryptographic assurance {that a} signed piece of software program has not been altered or tampered with. Each of those qualities make stolen or ill-gotten code-signing certificates enticing to cybercriminal teams, who prize their capacity so as to add stealth and longevity to malicious software program.

Dan Goodin at Ars Technica contends that no matter Microsoft could also be doing to maintain maliciously signed drivers from working on Home windows is being bypassed by hackers utilizing open supply software program that’s standard with online game cheaters.

“The software program comes within the type of two software program instruments which might be out there on GitHub,” Goodin defined. “Cheaters use them to digitally signal malicious system drivers to allow them to modify video video games in ways in which give the participant an unfair benefit. The drivers clear the appreciable hurdle required for the cheat code to run contained in the Home windows kernel, the fortified layer of the working system reserved for essentially the most vital and delicate features.”

In the meantime, researchers at Cisco’s Talos safety group discovered a number of Chinese language-speaking menace teams have repurposed the instruments—one apparently known as “HookSignTool” and the opposite “FuckCertVerifyTimeValidity.”

“As a substitute of utilizing the kernel entry for dishonest, the menace actors use it to provide their malware capabilities it wouldn’t in any other case have,” Goodin mentioned.

For a better take a look at the patches launched by Microsoft right this moment, try the always-thorough Patch Tuesday roundup from the SANS Web Storm Heart. And it’s not a foul concept to carry off updating for a number of days till Microsoft works out any kinks within the updates: AskWoody.com normally has the lowdown on any patches which may be inflicting issues for Home windows customers.

And as ever, please contemplate backing up your system or at the very least your necessary paperwork and knowledge earlier than making use of system updates. In case you encounter any issues with these updates, please drop a word about it right here within the feedback.