The global socket: how threat actors are weaponizing GSocket for stealthy C2
Threat actors are deploying GSocket on compromised Linux servers to keep encrypted remote access after the original vulnerability is patched.
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Lessons from 59 Linux Kernel Bug Reports
Microsoft FORGE Lab researchers used codename MDASH to investigate Linux kernel vulnerabilities, resulting in 59 upstream bug reports, 33 assigned CVEs, and 38 merged fixes. -
Detecting sleeper agents hiding in AI model neurons
Microsoft Research has released new threat research detailing how a capable agent model could be turned into a sleeper agent by editing fewer than ten neurons to inject a short payload; Microsoft Research has also found that this threat is detectable by frontier agents, which can identify anomalous weight edits. -
FORGE Lab uses agentic tools to identify memory safety issues in Rust
Microsoft FORGE Lab researchers found memory-safety bugs in Rust’s core and std libraries, including cases where safe Rust code can trigger undefined behavior. Retain Microsoft Defender Experts
Microsoft Defender Experts are available to strengthen your teams with expertise when and where you need it. Learn how to elevate your security with expert-led services.
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ARTEX abuse expands as cybercriminals target financial sector
In October 2026, the financially motivated threat actor Storm-3358 began targeting organizations in the financial sector using the agentic AI offensive framework ARTEX. -
Threat actors use agentic AI tooling to find and abuse exposed secrets
Microsoft Threat Intelligence has observed threat actors using the agentic offensive security framework ARTEX to search GitHub for OAuth application secrets, which can be used to compromise the associated OAuth application and perform authenticated actions in the application’s tenant. -
Email threat landscape: Q3 2026 trends and insights
Microsoft Threat Intelligence observed a sharp rise in email-based phishing activity at the end of Q3 2026 (July – September), even as QR code phishing declined, CAPTCHA-gated phishing recovered, and malicious messages spoofing familiar business-service sender domains exposed risks associated with security overrides. -
Fake-download campaign uses trojanized installers to deliver monetization payloads
Microsoft Threat Intelligence tracks a fake-download campaign that uses trojanized Inno installers to deliver multiple monetization offers and provides detection and investigation guidance across the complete installer session. Modernize your Security Operations Center with Microsoft Sentinel
Microsoft Sentinel is a cloud-native SIEM solution powered by AI and automation that delivers intelligent security analytics across your entire enterprise.
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What exploited vulnerabilities have in common: A data-driven analysis of real-world attacks
Real-world exploitation concentrates in a small, high-impact subset of CVEs. -
Inside a malicious Claude Code-branded extension and its persistent SSH backdoor
Microsoft analyzes a malicious Claude Code–branded extension, its persistent SSH backdoor, and guidance to detect and remediate it. -
From help desk impersonation to AD CS abuse: Investigating ESC1 and ESC8 intrusion paths
Teams support impersonation led to remote access, malicious runtime execution, and Certificate Services abuse through authentication relay and Kerberos. -
Tracking AI adoption in North Korean threat actor tradecraft
As Microsoft Threat Intelligence continues to track how threat actors operationalize AI to increase the speed and efficiency of attacks, we’ve identified North Korean threat actors expanding their use of AI with varying levels of adoption.
