Silver Fox fake software installers impersonate Razer and Edge to disable Windows Defender and deploy malware. See how the campaign works.
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The post Silver Fox Fake Software Installers Disable Windows Defender appeared first on Daily CyberSecurity.
A Microsoft Defender false alarm wrongly warns that antivirus is turned off after the latest update. Defender still works, and a fix is coming.
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The post Microsoft Defender False Alarm: “Antivirus Is Turned Off” appeared first on Daily CyberSecurity.
SilkParasite APT ran China-nexus cyberespionage across Central Asia, using 7 custom RATs, DLL sideloading, and AI-assisted malware.
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The post SilkParasite APT Hits Central Asian Governments With 7 RATs appeared first on Daily CyberSecurity.
Microsoft released a patch for the Microsoft Defender scan failure issue. Learn how a flawed update stopped threat services and how to fix this severe error.
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The post Microsoft Defender Scan Failure: A Flawed Update appeared first on Daily CyberSecurity.
Microsoft released a patch for the Microsoft Defender scan failure issue. Learn how a flawed update stopped threat services and how to fix this severe error.
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The post Microsoft Defender Causes VLC Playback Issues appeared first on Daily CyberSecurity.
Microsoft Defender incorrectly isolates VLC plugin caches on Windows 11. Discover how to fix this annoying Microsoft Defender VLC bug and restore playback.
A public PoC named ShieldBreak bypasses Microsoft's CVE-2026-50656 patch, enabling Windows Defender privilege escalation to SYSTEM.
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The post CVE-2026-50656 PoC Published: Defender Privilege Escalation Bypass appeared first on Daily CyberSecurity.
Chaotic Eclipse released a PoC for ShieldBreak, a Microsoft Defender zero-day that bypasses the CVE-2026-50656 patch and could enable SYSTEM-level code execution.
Security researcher Chaotic Eclipse, also known as INFINITE NIGHTMARE, MSNightmare and Nightmare-Eclipse, released a PoC for ShieldBreak, a Microsoft Defender zero-day. The flaw bypasses the patch for CVE-2026-50656 (RoguePlanet), a race condition that can allow attackers to spawn a SYSTEM-level shell. Successful exploitation could
Chaotic Eclipse released a PoC for ShieldBreak, a Microsoft Defender zero-day that bypasses the CVE-2026-50656 patch and could enable SYSTEM-level code execution.
Security researcher Chaotic Eclipse, also known as INFINITE NIGHTMARE, MSNightmare and Nightmare-Eclipse, released a PoC for ShieldBreak, a Microsoft Defender zero-day. The flaw bypasses the patch for CVE-2026-50656 (RoguePlanet), a race condition that can allow attackers to spawn a SYSTEM-level shell. Successful exploitation could enable arbitrary code execution and other unauthorized actions on affected Windows systems.
“Microsoft has failed to properly patch the RoguePlanet vulnerability CVE-2026-50656, this PoC demonstrates a full patch bypass.” said Chaotic Eclipse. “The PoC was tested in the latest version of windows 11 25h2 (+Canary channel) and windows server 2025, the PoC also have a 100% success rate. Please note that Windows 10 (and respective server editions) are not currently supported, they are however vulnerable to ShieldBreak as well.”
In early July, Microsoft released security updates for RoguePlanet, a vulnerability tracked as CVE-2026-50656 (CVSS score of 7.8) affecting the Malware Protection Engine used by Defender. The Microsoft Malware Protection Engine (mpengine.dll) powers Defender’s malware scanning, detection, and removal functions.
The flaw is a local privilege escalation issue that could allow an attacker with access to a system to obtain higher privileges and potentially compromise security controls.
In mid-June, Microsoft acknowledged the RoguePlanet zero-day affecting Microsoft Defender and stated it is aware of the issue and was actively developing a security update to address the flaw and protect affected systems.
A week before, the security researcher Chaotic Eclipse published a new proof-of-concept exploit for a RoguePlanet. The flaw relies on a race condition that can provide attackers with SYSTEM-level privileges, allowing them to execute code with the highest permissions. The exploit was successfully tested on fully updated Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems running the June 2026 Patch Tuesday updates, showing that patched systems may still be vulnerable.
Now Chaotic Eclipse claims ShieldBreak fully bypasses Microsoft’s CVE-2026-50656 patch, while Defender may also leak 8 bytes of data under certain conditions.
The researcher tested the PoC on Windows 11 25H2 and Windows Server 2025 with a 100% success rate. Windows 10 is also vulnerable, though not currently supported by the PoC.
In May, the researcher disclosed two other Windows zero-day vulnerabilities named YellowKey and GreenPlasma. The flaws affect BitLocker and the Windows Collaborative Translation Framework (CTFMON). YellowKey could allow attackers to bypass BitLocker protections, while GreenPlasma enables privilege escalation. The researcher previously disclosed three Microsoft Defender vulnerabilities.
The researcher criticized Microsoft for revoking access to their MSRC account, rejecting reports, and failing to provide compensation.
At the end of May, Microsoft’s Security Response Center called the zero-day dumps irresponsible.
“In recent weeks several zero-day vulnerabilities have been publicly disclosed.” reads the report published by Microsoft. “The details of these vulnerabilities were not shared with Microsoft prior to release, and the disclosures put our customers at unnecessary risk.”
The company said its security teams have been working around the clock since the disclosures to understand the impact, build patches, and protect customers from attackers who picked up the published exploit code and ran with it.
Microsoft’s post is essentially a public defense of Coordinated Vulnerability Disclosure, the standard practice where a researcher notifies a vendor privately, gives them time to fix the issue, and then goes public. Microsoft says it works with hundreds of researchers this way every year, compensating them through bug bounty programs and crediting them publicly.
“This partnership allows us to make updates to impacted services before proof-of-concept code can make it into the hands of bad actors.” continues the report. “The vulnerabilities known as RedSun, UnDefend, BlueHammer, YellowKey, GreenPlasma, and MiniPlasma were not responsibly disclosed.”
The implication is clear: when someone skips that step, real people get attacked with real tools built from the published research.
In July, just hours after Microsoft’s July 2026 Patch Tuesday, Chaotic Eclipse, published a new Windows zero-day proof-of-concept called LegacyHive. This time, the target is the Windows User Profile Service (ProfSvc), and unlike the hundreds of vulnerabilities Microsoft fixed this month, this one currently has no CVE, no advisory, and no security update.
LegacyHive is a local privilege escalation vulnerability. An attacker who already has code execution as a standard user can abuse the User Profile Service to load another user’s registry hive, potentially that of a local administrator, under their own profile.
At the end of May, Microsoft’s Security Response Center called the zero-day dumps irresponsible.
“In recent weeks several zero-day vulnerabilities have been publicly disclosed.” reads the report published by Microsoft. “The details of these vulnerabilities were not shared with Microsoft prior to release, and the disclosures put our customers at unnecessary risk.”
The company said its security teams have been working around the clock since the disclosures to understand the impact, build patches, and protect customers from attackers who picked up the published exploit code and ran with it.
Microsoft’s post is essentially a public defense of Coordinated Vulnerability Disclosure, the standard practice where a researcher notifies a vendor privately, gives them time to fix the issue, and then goes public. Microsoft says it works with hundreds of researchers this way every year, compensating them through bug bounty programs and crediting them publicly.
“This partnership allows us to make updates to impacted services before proof-of-concept code can make it into the hands of bad actors.” continues the report. “The vulnerabilities known as RedSun, UnDefend, BlueHammer, YellowKey, GreenPlasma, and MiniPlasma were not responsibly disclosed.”
The implication is clear: when someone skips that step, real people get attacked with real tools built from the published research.
Fake downloads of The Odyssey are spreading Lumma Stealer malware capable of stealing passwords, cookies, payment data, and cryptocurrency information.
The post Fake The Odyssey Downloads Are Hiding Password-Stealing Malware appeared first on TechRepublic.
Fake downloads of The Odyssey are spreading Lumma Stealer malware capable of stealing passwords, cookies, payment data, and cryptocurrency information.
Microsoft is retiring its legacy Threat Intelligence portal on August 1. Security teams should verify licenses, permissions, investigation projects, APIs, and automated workflows before the cutoff.
The post Microsoft Threat Intelligence Portal Retires in August: 4 Checks Before the Cutoff appeared first on TechRepublic.
Microsoft is retiring its legacy Threat Intelligence portal on August 1. Security teams should verify licenses, permissions, investigation projects, APIs, and automated workflows before the cutoff.
Learn how BitLocker, passkeys, Microsoft Defender, and other Windows 11 security features protect your data, accounts, apps, and devices.
The post Windows 11 Security Cheat Sheet: BitLocker, Passkeys, and Defender Explained appeared first on TechRepublic.
Make Windows 11 feel faster with nine cleanup tips for startup apps, storage, background processes, updates, malware scans, and more.
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Bitdefender Antivirus Plus protects one PC for a full year with no monthly fees, and it even comes with a VPN.
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A new Windows zero-day reportedly bypasses BitLocker, adding pressure on Microsoft as researchers debate the exploit’s real-world impact.
The post New Windows Zero-Day Claims BitLocker Bypass Amid Microsoft Disclosure Fight appeared first on TechRepublic.
Microsoft has confirmed active exploitation of two security vulnerabilities in its security ecosystem, identified as CVE-2026-41091 and CVE-2026-45498, both evaluated under the CVSS scoring system. The issues affect Microsoft Defender and have raised concerns due to confirmed in-the-wild exploitation and potential impact on enterprise systems.
The first issue, CVE-2026-41091 (CVSS 7.8), is a privilege escalation vulnerability affecting Microsoft Defender. If successfully exploited, it could
Microsoft has confirmed active exploitation of two security vulnerabilities in its security ecosystem, identified as CVE-2026-41091 and CVE-2026-45498, both evaluated under the CVSS scoring system. The issues affect Microsoft Defender and have raised concerns due to confirmed in-the-wild exploitation and potential impact on enterprise systems.The first issue, CVE-2026-41091 (CVSS 7.8), is a privilege escalation vulnerability affecting Microsoft Defender. If successfully exploited, it could allow a local attacker to obtain SYSTEM-level privileges. The flaw is rooted in improper link resolution before file access, commonly described as a “link following” issue.Microsoft stated in its advisory:"Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Microsoft Defender allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally,"The second vulnerability, CVE-2026-45498 (CVSS 4.0), is a denial-of-service flaw impacting Microsoft Defender. While rated lower in severity under the CVSS framework, it has still been confirmed as actively exploited in real-world environments alongside CVE-2026-41091.Both vulnerabilities have been addressed in updated releases of the Microsoft Defender Antimalware Platform, specifically versions 1.1.26040.8 and 4.18.26040.7, respectively.
CVE-2026-41091, CVE-2026-45498, and CVSS Context
Although Microsoft has not explicitly confirmed the link, the behavior associated with CVE-2026-41091 and CVE-2026-45498 overlaps with earlier publicly discussed issues named RedSun and UnDefend, which were disclosed by the threat research group Chaotic Eclipse (also known as Nightmare-Eclipse).Security researchers from Huntress have reported active exploitation of both CVE-2026-41091 and CVE-2026-45498 in the wild. These observations also include exploitationactivity related to BlueHammer (CVE-2026-33825), suggesting a broader campaign targeting Microsoft Defender components and adjacent security mechanisms.
Additional Security Findings
Alongside the two actively exploited vulnerabilities CVE-2026-41091 and CVE-2026-45498, Microsoft also patched another flaw in the same Defender update cycle: CVE-2026-45584 (CVSS 8.1). This vulnerability is a heap-based buffer overflow that could allow remote code execution if exploited. Unlike CVE-2026-41091 and CVE-2026-45498, there is currently no evidence that CVE-2026-45584 has been used in active attacks.Microsoft Defender systems that have been disabled are not affected by these vulnerabilities, according to the company. Microsoft also noted that no manual intervention is required for most users, as updates are delivered automatically through malware definition updates and the Microsoft Malware Protection Engine.
CVSS Updates and Security Guidance
To verify protection status against CVE-2026-41091 and CVE-2026-45498, Microsoft recommends users check their Microsoft Defender configuration using the Windows Security interface (Microsoft Windows Security). The recommended steps include navigating to Virus & threat protection, checking protection updates, and verifying the Antimalware Client Version.Microsoft credited five researchers for identifying CVE-2026-41091, including Sibusiso, Diffract, Andrew C. Dorman (also known as ACD421), Damir Moldovanov, and an anonymous contributor.
CISA KEV Catalog
The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) has added both CVE-2026-41091 and CVE-2026-45498 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. Federal Civilian Executive Branch (FCEB) agencies are required to apply mitigations by June 3, 2026, reflecting the urgency of addressing CVSS-rated threats that are already being exploited.With this addition, three Microsoft vulnerabilities have been flagged as actively exploited within a single week, highlighting a concentrated wave of CVE-based attacks targeting Microsoft products.
Legacy Vulnerabilities
CISA’s KEV catalog update also included several older but still relevant vulnerabilities:
CVE-2010-0806: Internet Explorer use-after-free flaw enabling remote code execution
CVE-2010-0249: Another Internet Explorer use-after-free vulnerability allowing arbitrary code execution
CVE-2009-1537: DirectX issue in QuickTime Movie Parser Filter via crafted media files
CVE-2008-4250: Windows Server Service buffer overflow via crafted RPC request
CVE-2009-3459: Adobe Acrobat and Reader heap-based buffer overflow via malicious PDF files
These legacy issues demonstrate that exploitation of older software remains relevant in modern threat landscapes, especially when combined with newer vulnerabilities like CVE-2026-41091 and CVE-2026-45498, both evaluated using CVSS metrics.
What happened A faulty Microsoft Defender antimalware signature update released around April 30, 2026, caused widespread false positive alerts by incorrectly flagging two legitimate DigiCert root certificates as high-severity malware. The detection, labeled Trojan:Win32/Cerdigent.A!dha, identified registry entries belonging to DigiCert Assured ID Root CA and DigiCert Trusted Root G4 as threats and automatically quarantined them […]
The post Microsoft Defender Mistakenly Flags DigiCert Root Certi
What happened A faulty Microsoft Defender antimalware signature update released around April 30, 2026, caused widespread false positive alerts by incorrectly flagging two legitimate DigiCert root certificates as high-severity malware. The detection, labeled Trojan:Win32/Cerdigent.A!dha, identified registry entries belonging to DigiCert Assured ID Root CA and DigiCert Trusted Root G4 as threats and automatically quarantined them […]
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