Storm Watch by GreyNoise Intelligence

• Cybersecurity Chaos: CISA Controversy, Telecom Hacks, and Exploited Vulnerabilities

  Forecast: Cloudy with a chance of compromised credentials and scattered vulnerabilities—stay alert out there! ‍ In this episode of Storm⚡️Watch, we’re unpacking some of the most pressing developments in cybersecurity and what they mean for the industry. First, we tackle the state of CISA and its mounting challenges. From allegations that the Trump administration ordered U.S. Cyber Command and CISA to stand down on addressing Russian cyber threats, to financial groups pushing back against CISA’s proposed incident reporting rule, there’s no shortage of turbulence. Adding fuel to the fire, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has disbanded eight federal advisory committees, including key cybersecurity groups, citing compliance with a Trump-era executive order. Critics argue these cuts could weaken public-private collaboration and hinder CISA’s ability to protect critical infrastructure. We’ll break down what all this means for the future of cybersecurity leadership in the U.S. Next, we revisit a shocking case involving a U.S. soldier who plans to plead guilty to hacking 15 telecom carriers. This story highlights the ongoing risks posed by insider threats and the vulnerabilities within telecom networks, which are often targeted for their treasure troves of sensitive data. We’ll explore how this case unfolded, what it reveals about vetting processes for individuals with access to critical systems, and the broader implications for cybersecurity in government-affiliated organizations. We also spotlight some fascinating research from Censys on a phishing scam exploiting toll systems across multiple states. Attackers are leveraging cheap foreign SIM cards and Chinese-hosted infrastructure in a campaign that keeps evolving. Plus, RunZero sheds light on a critical vulnerability affecting Edimax IP cameras (CVE-2025-1316), while GreyNoise reports on mass exploitation of a PHP-CGI vulnerability (CVE-2024-4577) and active threats linked to Silk Typhoon-associated CVEs. Storm Watch Homepage >> Learn more about GreyNoise >>  

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• Cyber Apocalypse 2025: Ransomware Rampage, ICS Mayhem, & Vulnerability Avalanche Exposed

  Forecast = Ransomware storms surge with an 87% spike in industrial attacks—brace for ICS strikes from GRAPHITE and BAUXITE! Infostealers hit healthcare and education, while VPN vulnerabilities pour in—grab your digital umbrella! ‍ It's report season and today the crew kicks things off with a breakdown of Veracode's State of Software Security 2025 Report, highlighting significant improvements in OWASP Top 10 pass rates but also noting concerning trends in high-severity flaws and security debt. Next, we take a peek at Dragos's 2025 OT/ICS Cybersecurity Report, which reveals an increase in ransomware attacks against industrial organizations and the emergence of new threat groups like GRAPHITE and BAUXITE. The report also details the evolution of malware targeting critical infrastructure, such as Fuxnet and FrostyGoop. The Huntress 2025 Cyber Threat Report is then discussed, showcasing the dominance of infostealers and malicious scripts in the threat landscape, with healthcare and education sectors being prime targets. The report also highlights the shift in ransomware tactics towards data theft and extortion. The team also quickly covers a recent and _massive_ $1.5 billion Ethereum heist. We *FINALLY* cover some recent findings from Censys, including their innovative approach to discovering non-standard port usage in Industrial Control System protocols. This segment also touches on the growing threat posed by vulnerabilities in edge security products. We also *FINALLY* get around to checking out VulnCheck's research, including an analysis of Black Basta ransomware group's tactics based on leaked chat logs, and their efforts to automate Stakeholder Specific Vulnerability Categorization (SSVC) for more effective vulnerability prioritization. The episode wraps up with mentions of GreyNoise's latest reports on mass internet exploitation and a newly discovered DDoS botnet, providing listeners with a well-rounded view of the current cybersecurity landscape. Storm Watch Homepage >> Learn more about GreyNoise >>  

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• Cybersecurity Under Fire: MiC Leadership, Edge Device Threats, and Black Basta Secrets

  Forecast = Expect a storm of insights as we tackle cybersecurity's cloudy diversity gaps, edge device downpours, and ransomware winds blowing from Black Basta! ‍ In this episode of Storm⚡️Watch, we kick things off with an insightful interview with Mary N. Chaney, the CEO of Minorities in Cybersecurity (MiC). MiC is a groundbreaking organization dedicated to addressing the lack of support and representation for women and minority leaders in cybersecurity. Mary shares how MiC is building a community that fosters leadership development and equips members with essential skills for career advancement. We also discuss the alarming statistics that highlight the underrepresentation of minorities in cybersecurity leadership roles and explore how MiC’s programs, like The MiC Inclusive Community™ and The MiC Leadership Series™, are making a tangible difference. Next, the crew descends into a critical discussion about edge security products, drawing on insights from Censys. These devices, while vital for network protection, are increasingly becoming prime targets for attackers. We examine recent vulnerabilities added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, including flaws in products from Palo Alto Networks and SonicWall, and explore how state-sponsored actors like Salt Typhoon are exploiting these weaknesses. The conversation underscores the importance of proactive patch management and tools like attack surface monitoring to mitigate risks. In the next segment, we analyze leaked chat logs from the Black Basta ransomware group with insights from VulnCheck. These logs reveal how Black Basta prioritizes vulnerabilities in widely used enterprise technologies, their rapid response to new advisories, and even their pre-publication knowledge of certain CVEs. We break down their strategy for selecting targets based on financial viability, industry focus, and vulnerability presence, offering actionable advice for defenders to stay ahead. Finally, we turn our attention to GreyNoise’s recent observations of active exploitation campaigns targeting Cisco vulnerabilities by Salt Typhoon, a Chinese state-sponsored group. Using data from GreyNoise’s global observation grid, we discuss how legacy vulnerabilities like CVE-2018-0171 remain valuable tools for advanced threat actors. This segment highlights the importance of patching unaddressed issues and leveraging real-time threat intelligence to protect critical infrastructure. Storm Watch Homepage >> Learn more about GreyNoise >>  

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• The Untold Stories: North Korean Hacks, Exploited Vulnerabilities & Cybersecurity Legends

  Forecast: Expect increased malicious activity targeting enterprise network infrastructure and remote work platforms. ‍ In this episode of Storm⚡️Watch, the crew tackles some of the most pressing stories in cybersecurity and tech. First, we explore the case of Christian Marie Chapman, an Arizona woman who faces federal prison time for orchestrating a scheme that allowed North Korean IT workers to pose as U.S.-based employees. This operation, which generated over $17 million for North Korea, involved Chapman running a "laptop farm" that enabled remote access to U.S. company networks. The scheme not only compromised sensitive company data but also funneled money to North Korea’s weapons programs. This story underscores the critical need for robust identity verification and background checks in hiring processes, especially in remote IT roles, to avoid inadvertently aiding malicious actors. Next, we discuss GreyNoise's findings on the active exploitation of a high-severity vulnerability in Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS (CVE-2025-0108). This authentication bypass flaw allows attackers to execute unauthorized PHP scripts, posing significant risks to unpatched systems. Organizations are urged to apply security patches immediately and restrict access to firewall management interfaces to mitigate potential breaches. GreyNoise’s real-time intelligence highlights the importance of staying vigilant against evolving threats. In our featured segment, we sit down with Dennis Fisher, a celebrated journalist with over two decades of experience in cybersecurity reporting. Fisher shares insights from his career, including his work as co-founder of *Threatpost* and Editor-in-Chief at *Decipher*. Known for his analytical approach, Fisher has covered major cybersecurity events and delved into the motivations behind both attackers and defenders. His expertise offers a unique perspective on the complexities of information security. Finally, we touch on broader issues in vulnerability management and encryption policies. From GreyNoise’s observations of exploitation surges in vulnerabilities like ThinkPHP and ownCloud to Censys’ argument against weakening encryption standards, these discussions emphasize the need for proactive measures and smarter prioritization in cybersecurity strategies. Whether it's patching overlooked vulnerabilities or resisting calls to weaken encryption under the guise of security, staying informed is key to navigating today’s threat landscape. Storm Watch Homepage >> Learn more about GreyNoise >>  

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• When AI Attacks: Taxpayer Data, Beijing's Chatbots & LLM Hallucinations

  Forecast = Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, so we can expect continued Musk-y days ahead in these remaining DOGE days of Winter. ‍ In this week's episode of GreyNoise Storm⚡️Watch, we have a bit of an AI-theme. First, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, has sparked significant privacy and security concerns by accessing sensitive federal systems like Treasury databases and Education Department records through AI-driven analysis. Critics highlight undisclosed partnerships with vendors like Inventry.ai, which allegedly introduced algorithmic bias by disproportionately targeting diversity programs and climate initiatives while retaining fossil fuel subsidies. Cybersecurity experts warn about unvetted API integrations and data security risks, as Inventry.ai processed taxpayer information without proper FedRAMP authorization. These issues have led to bipartisan calls for stricter AI procurement rules and transparency mandates to rebuild public trust. Meanwhile, Chinese AI startup DeepSeek faces scrutiny over its claims of rivaling GPT-4 at lower costs, with analysts questioning its $5.6M training budget and geopolitical alignment. The models show systematic pro-China biases, refusing to answer 88% of sensitive questions about Tiananmen Square or Taiwan while promoting CCP narratives in responses. Security researchers flag its opaque training data—potentially using OpenAI outputs—and anti-debugging features that hinder independent audits. These concerns have triggered bans in Australia, South Korea, and U.S. agencies like NASA, with EU officials noting non-compliance with cybersecurity standards. On the defense front, Splunk's DECEIVE AI honeypot introduces innovative deception tech by letting users simulate systems via text prompts, democratizing access to advanced threat detection. While it offers dynamic behavioral analysis and safe sandboxing, security professionals caution about LLM hallucination risks that could tip off attackers and ethical questions around logging fabricated credentials. The open-source tool shows promise but remains untested against sophisticated adversaries. Rounding out the cybersecurity landscape, Censys research exposes the BADBOX botnet's infrastructure and BeyondTrust vulnerabilities, while VulnCheck highlights 2024's exploitation trends and Zyxel's unpatched telnet flaws; and GreyNoise's latest Noiseletter showcases new platform features + upcoming events. Storm Watch Homepage >> Learn more about GreyNoise >>  

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