Qilin Ransomware Operators Exploit Palo Alto PAN-OS VPN Flaw CVE-2026-0257
Operators linked to the Qilin ransomware have exploited an authentication bypass flaw in Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS to breach corporate networks and encrypt systems. The attacks, first observed in June 2026, began through the GlobalProtect VPN service installed on Palo Alto firewalls.
Tracked as CVE-2026-0257, the vulnerability allows attackers to circumvent authentication and establish VPN sessions without valid credentials. Exploitation requires the use of crafted authentication-replacement cookies combined with specific certificate configurations.
After obtaining initial access, the intruders collected credentials from Windows and Active Directory, including data extracted from LSASS processes and NTDS databases. Compromised administrative accounts were then used to reach servers, workstations, and backup systems.
Lateral movement was conducted primarily via PsExec and administrative shares. Additional tools observed in some intrusions included AnyDesk, Ngrok, LogMeIn, NetExec, and various network scanners employed to expand and maintain access.
Prior to encryption, the operators disabled Microsoft Defender real-time protection and cleared event logs. The ransomware payload was stored as win.exe, typically inside the C:\PerfLogs\ directory. Some victims experienced only partial encryption of their systems.
The flaw impacts vulnerable versions of PAN-OS 10.2, 11.1, 11.2, and 12.1, as well as certain editions of Prisma Access. Panorama and Cloud NGFW are not affected. The vendor has confirmed limited exploitation attempts against unpatched devices.
Related articles
WannaCry Ransomware: How EternalBlue Turned One Infection Into a Global Epidemic
On 12 May 2017, the WannaCry ransomware worm rapidly infected more than 230,000 computers across at least 150 countries by exploiting the unpatched SMBv1 vulnerability with the EternalBlue exploit. The malware combined remote code execution via EternalBlue with file encryption and ransom demands in Bitcoin, affecting hospitals, manufacturers, and government organizations worldwide. Microsoft had released the MS17-010 patch two months earlier, yet many systems remained vulnerable due to delayed deployment in large environments. WannaCry scanned both local subnets and random public IPv4 addresses in parallel threads, allowing infected machines to autonomously discover and compromise new targets without user interaction. Security researcher Marcus Hutchins halted the initial wave by registering a hardcoded kill-switch domain, though later variants removed this check. The incident demonstrated how a known, patchable flaw combined with worm-like propagation could produce worldwide operational disruption.
International Law Enforcement Operation Dismantles KillSec Ransomware Group and Seizes 110 TB of Stolen Data
An international operation coordinated by Eurojust with support from Europol has dismantled the infrastructure of the KillSec ransomware group. Authorities seized five servers containing at least 110 terabytes of data stolen from victims and took control of the group's leak site domains. Three individuals were arrested, including a 16-year-old identified as the group's primary administrator and operator. The coordinated action involved law enforcement from nine countries and included eight searches across Spain, Greece, the United Kingdom, and Romania. KillSec has been active since 2024 and is linked to nearly one thousand ransomware incidents worldwide, primarily using a double-extortion model that combines data encryption with threats to publish stolen information. The seized data volume highlights the scale of the group's operations, which frequently targeted healthcare environments where system downtime directly impacts patient care.
ShinyHunters Claims Breach of FBI Recruitment Portal and Demands Eight-Figure Ransom
The hacker group ShinyHunters has publicly claimed responsibility for compromising the FBI's official recruitment website, FBIjobs.gov, asserting access to sensitive data belonging to nearly all FBI agents as well as job applicants. According to the group, the intrusion extended to multiple internal systems including criminal justice databases, human resources platforms, and Medlink. The attackers stated they exploited a zero-day vulnerability in Oracle PeopleSoft to achieve remote code execution and subsequently defaced the careers site with a fabricated seizure notice. The FBI has acknowledged awareness of unauthorized activity on the portal but has not confirmed any data theft or the scope of the intrusion. ShinyHunters is now demanding an eight-figure ransom payment, framing the amount as a minor fraction of its own resources and warning that time is limited. The operation appears to be retaliation for an FBI public statement issued in May regarding the group's prior activities. Independent verification of the claims remains unavailable, and experts note that extortion groups routinely exaggerate the value of stolen data to increase pressure on victims.
PAYLOAD Ransomware Seizes Active Directory GPO to Disrupt Entire Windows Domain Without Encryption
Researchers at Kaspersky have documented an attack by the PAYLOAD ransomware that paralyzes an entire Windows domain without encrypting a single file. Instead of encryption, the operators leverage native Windows policy mechanisms to enforce disruption across the environment. The core of the attack is a malicious Group Policy Object named PAYLOAD linked directly to the root of the Active Directory domain. This placement allows the policy to reach virtually every connected device, turning it into a corporate-wide disruption tool. Through the GPO, the group distributes ransom notes from SYSVOL, replaces wallpapers and lock screens with extortion images displaying the message Welcome to Payload, and disables local administrator accounts on affected machines. A second policy object named win Firewall Off disables the Windows firewall across the entire fleet, increasing exposure during the operation. Initial access occurred in April 2026 via a compromised legitimate domain account on a FortiGate SSL VPN, with possible entry vectors including phishing, password spraying, and credential stuffing. The victim is a manufacturing company in the Middle East. The extortion model combines data theft with operational shutdown, delivering effects similar to traditional ransomware but without any decryption key to negotiate.