ZDI-CAN-25373: Windows shortcut exploit abused as Zero-Day in widespread APT campaigns


The Trend Zero Day Initiative threat hunting team identified significant instances of the exploitation of ZDI-CAN-25373 across a variety of campaigns dating back to 2017.

The researchers analysis revealed that 11 state-sponsored groups from North Korea, Iran, Russia, and China have employed ZDI-CAN-25373 in operations primarily motivated by cyber espionage and data theft. Trend Micro discovered nearly a thousand Shell Link (.lnk) samples that exploit ZDI-CAN-25373; however, it is probable that the total number of exploitation attempts are much higher. Subsequently, Trend Micro researchers submitted a proof-of-concept exploit through Trend ZDI’s bug bounty program to Microsoft, who declined to address this vulnerability with a security patch.

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Source: Trend Micro


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