Podcast Summary: Cyber Security Headlines Hosted by CISO Series Episode: CoPilot Zero-Click, Operation Secure, FIN6 Targets Recruiters Release Date: June 12, 2025

Introduction

In the latest episode of Cyber Security Headlines by CISO Series, host Rich Strofalino delves into the most pressing cybersecurity issues of the day. Covering a range of topics from sophisticated data leak vulnerabilities to international law enforcement operations, the episode provides listeners with a comprehensive overview of the current threat landscape.

Zero-Click Data Leak Flaw in Copilot

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Rich begins the episode by discussing a significant vulnerability identified in Microsoft 365 Copilot. Researchers at AIM Labs uncovered a flaw named Echo Leak, part of a new category of Large Language Model (LLM) scope violation vulnerabilities.

Key Details:

• Method of Exploitation: Attackers can send an email containing a concealed prompt injection within a seemingly innocuous business email. This technique bypasses Microsoft's existing cross-prompt injection attack classifier protections.
• Impact: When a user queries the email, the Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) engine inadvertently incorporates the malicious injection, embedding internal data into a crafted markdown image. This process ultimately sends the data to an unauthorized third-party server.
• Resolution: AIM Labs reported the vulnerability to Microsoft in January, leading to a server-side fix implemented in May.

Notable Quote:

“By sending an email with a hidden prompt injection in an otherwise banal business email, the researchers were able to get around Microsoft's cross prompt injection attack classifier protections.” – Rich Strofalino ([00:06])

Operation Secure Targets Infostealer Operations

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The episode transitions to Operation Secure, an international law enforcement initiative spearheaded by Interpol, targeting infostealer infrastructure across 26 countries.

Key Outcomes:

• Duration: January to April 2025
• Achievements:
  • Takedown of over 20,000 malicious IP addresses
  • Seizure of 2,300 domains linked to malware-as-a-service (MaaS) operations
  • Arrest of 32 suspects
  • Notification to over 200,000 victims
• Targeted Groups: Notable infostealer infrastructures such as Luma Rise Pro and Metastealer were significantly disrupted.
• Collaborators: Private cybersecurity firms including Kaspersky Group, IB, and Trend Micro played pivotal roles in the operation.

Notable Quote:

“Operation Secure has successfully dismantled a vast network of infostealer operations, impacting major players like Luma Rise Pro and Metastealer.” – Rich Strofalino ([00:06])

FIN6 Targets Recruiters

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Another critical issue discussed is the ongoing campaign by the FIN6 cybercrime group, which has been targeting recruiters through job platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed.

Attack Vector:

• Initiation: FIN6 agents pose as job applicants, gradually building trust with recruiters.
• Phishing Technique: They send phishing emails devoid of clickable links, prompting victims to manually enter a URL.
• Malicious Payload: The URL directs victims to a counterfeit resume site hosted on a legitimate cloud provider. Once verified, a zip file containing the More Eggs backdoor is delivered.
• Consequences: Upon installation, threat actors can steal credentials and deploy ransomware, leading to potential data breaches and financial losses.

Notable Quote:

“The FIN6 campaign is a sophisticated approach to infiltrate organizations by exploiting the trust built during the recruitment process.” – Rich Strofalino ([00:06])

United National Foods Recovery Plan

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Rich also highlights a recent cyberattack on United National Foods, which led to a complete shutdown of business systems affecting ordering, selection, and shipping operations.

Impact and Response:

• Discovery: The attack was identified on June 5, 2025.
• CEO Statement: Sandy Douglas announced plans to restore systems by June 15, anticipating resilience within 10 days.
• Operational Disruptions: While payroll processing remains unaffected, some worker shifts have been canceled, and managers are experiencing communication challenges with staff.
• Customer Impact: Anecdotal reports indicate that some Whole Foods stores have experienced significant inventory shortages due to the outage.

Notable Quote:

“United National Foods is working diligently to bring systems back online, anticipating full restoration within ten days.” – Sandy Douglas, CEO ([00:06])

WhatsApp Backs Apple in UK Encryption Dispute

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In the realm of digital privacy, WhatsApp has come to Apple's defense in its ongoing dispute with the UK Home Office over encryption requests.

Background:

• Apple's Stance: In March, Apple appealed to the UK's Investigatory Powers Tribunal against a secret order from the Home Office mandating the provision of encrypted user data during national security threats.
• Development: Despite tensions between Apple and Meta (owner of WhatsApp), the messaging giant's head, Cathcart, stated that WhatsApp would support Apple's appeal.

Notable Quote:

“WhatsApp will challenge any law or government request that seeks to weaken the encryption of our services.” – Cathcart, WhatsApp Head ([00:06])

Bill Seeks to Strengthen Healthcare Security

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Addressing healthcare cybersecurity, Congressman Jason Crow has introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at enhancing security measures within the sector.

Provisions of the Bill:

• Collaboration: Mandates cooperation between CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• Cybersecurity Enhancements:
  • Sharing of threat intelligence.
  • Provision of training to healthcare organizations.
  • Development of healthcare risk management plans incorporating best practices.
  • Establishment of criteria for identifying high-risk assets.
• Context: This initiative follows earlier plans to update HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) security rules announced in January, which introduced additional protections for sensitive health information.

Notable Quote:

“This bill represents a crucial step towards safeguarding our healthcare infrastructure against evolving cyber threats.” – Congressman Jason Crow ([00:06])

IoT Slop Spam Campaign Hits Abandoned Sites

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A concerning trend in spam marketing campaigns has been identified, targeting abandoned domains of prominent organizations.

Campaign Details:

• Targeted Domains: Including Nvidia, Stanford, NPR, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Vaccines.gov.
• Nature of Content: Thousands of AI-generated articles ranging from travel guides to video game reviews, some containing inappropriate content.
• Technical Aspects:
  • Each article includes a byline labeled "Ashley" and standard disclaimers such as DMCA notices and privacy policies.
  • Clicking any links redirects users to SEO spam pages based on site archives.
  • Some domains remained hijacked for over a month.

Notable Quote:

“The IoT slop spam campaign is exploiting abandoned sites to disseminate malicious and irrelevant content, undermining the credibility of these prominent organizations.” – Rich Strofalino ([00:06])

Danabot Leaked Data for Three Years

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The episode also covers the aftermath of the takedown of the Danabot botnet, a malware-as-a-service platform operational since 2018.

Leak Details:

• Vulnerability: A flaw in Danabot's Command and Control (C2) servers led to a memory leak from June 2022 to early 2025, termed Danableed.
• Data Compromised: Up to 1,792 arbitrary bytes per server response were leaked, including victim data, usernames, IP addresses, malware version updates, and private cryptographic keys.
• Current Status: It remains uncertain whether this leak will result in a permanent shutdown of the Danabot operation.

Notable Quote:

“The Danableed flaw has exposed a wealth of sensitive information, posing significant risks to affected victims and the broader cybersecurity ecosystem.” – Rich Strofalino ([00:06])

Upcoming Event: Super Cyber Friday Conversation

Rich wraps up the episode by promoting an upcoming event titled Super Cyber Friday, focused on guiding aspiring CISOs and those interested in security leadership.

Event Details:

• Date & Time: Friday, June 20th at 1 PM Eastern
• Registration: Available on the event page at cisoseries.com
• Engagement: Listeners are encouraged to share their thoughts and feedback via feedback@cisoseries.com

Conclusion

In this episode of Cyber Security Headlines, Rich Strofalino provides an insightful analysis of current cybersecurity threats and developments. From sophisticated data leak vulnerabilities to international efforts combating cybercrime, the episode serves as a vital resource for professionals seeking to stay informed about the dynamic landscape of information security.

For more detailed stories behind these headlines, listeners are encouraged to visit cisoseries.com.

This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the June 12, 2025 episode of Cyber Security Headlines. For the most accurate and comprehensive information, tuning into the full episode is recommended.