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Velvet Ant Strikes Again: Cisco Switch Exploit Sparks Cybersecurity Panic

Velvet Ant exploited CVE-2024-20399 to seize control of Cisco switches, evading detection with bespoke malware. The zero-day flaw allowed arbitrary command execution, leading to persistent access and data exfiltration. This stealthy campaign underscores the risks of third-party appliances in organizational networks.

Hot Take:

Just when you thought your Cisco switch was only good for managing traffic, Velvet Ant turns it into a hot rod for cyber espionage. Who knew appliances could have such an exciting double life?

Key Points:

  • Cisco switches exploited by Velvet Ant using CVE-2024-20399.
  • Attack involves escaping CLI to execute arbitrary commands on Linux OS.
  • Velvet Ant’s activities traced back to a multi-year campaign.
  • Payload VELVETSHELL combines Tiny SHell and 3proxy tools.
  • Attack raises concerns about the risks of third-party appliances.

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