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  • [Sentinel] #10 - Cisco Hacked & Zero-Day Chaos Hits Next.js, Cursor!

[Sentinel] #10 - Cisco Hacked & Zero-Day Chaos Hits Next.js, Cursor!

Vishing, AI deepfakes, and cloud threats. Get the latest cyber scoop!

August 07, 2025

What's up, Malware Busters! 🦠

Your weekly cyber rundown is here! 😎

🛡️ IN TODAY’S EDITION

🧨 1. Breach of the Week

Target: Cisco Systems

Vector: Vishing attack (voice phishing explained by Cisco lol) leveraged against an employee, exposing CRM user accounts via a third-party provider.

Impact: Breach of personal information linked to Cisco.com user accounts. Personal details, including emails and possible credentials, were accessed.

Lessons:

  • Social engineering remains a top access vector for threat actors targeting enterprise supply chains and vendor-managed data.

  • Employee awareness, anti-phishing training, and incident response readiness are vital, even for established tech companies.

🧠 2. AppSec

The past week has seen an alarming surge in zero-day exploits and the targeting of development environments, as attackers seek deeper access to source code and credentials.

  • Next.js Flaw Exploited: Attackers bypass API authentication in Next.js (popular JavaScript framework) using crafted HTTP headers (x-middleware-subrequest), accessing sensitive backend data. Disclosed March 21, 2025, with mass scans ongoing. Patch urgently and monitor APIs.

  • Cursor RCE Vulnerability: A critical flaw (CVE-2025-54135, CVE-2025-54136) in Cursor, an AI-powered code editor, allows remote code execution via its Model Control Protocol, risking supply chain attacks if connected to untrusted servers or GitHub/Slack. Patch now and verify integrations.

  • Google Chrome patched an actively exploited zero-day (CVE-2025-6558) affecting all desktop operating systems, with suspected nation-state involvement backing the exploitation.

📍 Takeaway: Fast-moving, sophisticated exploits are capitalizing on unpatched systems and software tool supply chains. Timely patching and deep endpoint visibility are your front-line defenses.

☁️ 3. CloudSec

Cloud attack surfaces continue to expand, with a 136% rise in targeted cloud intrusions this year. Recent incidents showcase attackers combining phishing, cloud misconfigurations, and vulnerable remote-access solutions for large-scale impact.

  • Akira ransomware exploited likely zero-day flaws in fully-patched SonicWall SSL VPNs, rapidly shifting from initial access to ransomware deployment and targeting cloud-integrated environments.

  • CrowdStrike reports adversaries (especially China-linked actors) are increasingly exploiting cloud platforms and autonomous AI agents to bypass traditional controls and harvest credentials.

  • Recent cloud breaches often originate via compromised API keys, misconfigured storage, or vendor supply chains (including highly publicized leaks at industrial IoT and critical service providers).

📍 Takeaway: Cloud-native security must evolve quicker than attacker tradecraft. Secure API keys, enforce zero trust for service accounts, and audit third-party tools for hidden weaknesses.

📡 4. Attack Surface

  • AI Deepfake Phishing: Generative AI powers BEC with voice/video impersonations, stealing credentials using social media data.

  • DNS Tunneling: Malware in DNS TXT records enables covert data exfiltration, evading legacy defenses.

  • Supply Chain Attacks: Trojanized updates, like SolarView’s SV-Manager, deliver backdoors via trusted vendors.

📍 Takeaway: Monitor for deepfakes, analyze DNS traffic, and vet vendor software to counter evolving threats.

🔓 5. Free Resources for You

Here’s what I’ve found most helpful this week:

🛡️ Wazuh – Free SIEM & XDR for threat detection [get it]
🧼 ClamAV – Antivirus for files, emails & endpoints [scan]
🧪 Cuckoo – Malware analysis sandbox [analyze]
🕷️ Burp (Free) – Web app vuln scanner & proxy [test]
🛰️ Nikto – Web server scanner for known flaws [scan]
💥 My “Top 5 Free Cybersecurity Tools for 2025” – [view]

👉 One Quick Question

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🔐 Stay sharp. Stay secure.


This newsletter is crafted with focus, scepticism, and zero hype. Just field-relevant insights at the intersection of cybersecurity and AI.

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🌍 Published by Sentinel