Cyber Brief: Active exploitation, data exposure and recovery

Today’s cyber reporting highlights a mix of immediate technical risk and longer-term resilience challenges. Actively exploited vulnerabilities are being addressed through emergency patching, a large-scale data exposure has been confirmed overseas and recovery confidence gaps continue to extend operational impact. Together, these stories reinforce the importance of timely remediation, visibility and preparedness.

Actively exploited vulnerabilities addressed in January patch release

Security authorities confirmed today that multiple vulnerabilities addressed in Microsoft’s January security update are being actively exploited in the wild. The update includes fixes for a wide range of flaws affecting Windows systems, with at least one vulnerability added to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue.
Threat actors are prioritising exposed and unpatched systems, particularly where patching was delayed during the year-end change freeze. In several observed cases, attackers used these weaknesses to gain initial access before harvesting credentials or establishing persistence.
The reporting highlights the compressed remediation window organisations face in January. As teams return to normal operations, they must rapidly assess exposure, prioritise patching and monitor for signs of compromise on systems that could have been exploited prior to remediation.

Why it matters
Active exploitation leaves little margin for delay. Organisations should prioritise patching of exposed systems and review logs for indicators of compromise.

Source
CISA

Large-scale data exposure confirmed following cyber incident

Reporting today confirms a significant data exposure affecting millions of customer records following a cyber incident at a major education services provider. The exposed data reportedly includes personal information that could be leveraged for phishing, fraud and identity-based attacks.
Initial investigation suggests attackers gained access through weaknesses in security controls rather than advanced techniques. While containment actions are underway, the incident highlights the long-term impact of data exposure even after systems are secured.
The reporting reinforces that breach impact extends beyond the initial incident. Exposed data often fuels secondary attacks, placing affected individuals and connected organisations at ongoing risk.

Why it matters
Data breaches create long-lasting risk. Organisations should treat data exposure as a continuing threat and strengthen controls around access, monitoring and incident response.

Source
BBC News

Cloud configuration drift continues to introduce avoidable risk

Cloud security analysis published today highlights how configuration drift remains a common cause of exposure across cloud environments. As systems evolve, permissions, networking rules and service configurations often change without consistent review or ownership.
In multiple cases reviewed, cloud services became externally accessible or inherited broader permissions than intended. Attackers actively scan for these conditions and exploit them without needing to bypass security controls.
The analysis shows that misconfiguration is rarely caused by lack of tooling. Instead, it reflects gaps in governance, review processes and accountability across teams managing cloud environments.

Why it matters
Configuration drift creates silent exposure. Regular reviews, clear ownership and guardrails reduce unintended access.

Source
Palo Alto Unit 42

Recovery confidence gaps extend operational disruption

UK-focused reporting today highlights that many organisations continue to struggle with recovery confidence during incidents. While detection capabilities have improved, teams often lack certainty around restoration processes and escalation decisions.
In several incidents reviewed, recovery was delayed due to unclear system dependencies, outdated plans and limited rehearsal. Even after technical containment, uncertainty extended downtime and operational impact.
The reporting reinforces that recovery effectiveness depends on preparation, communication and rehearsal, not just technical capability.

Why it matters
Recovery confidence reduces impact. Regular testing and scenario exercising improve response speed and decision-making.

Source
Computer Weekly

Today’s Key Actions

1. Prioritise patching of vulnerabilities confirmed as actively exploited.
2. Review logs for indicators of compromise on recently patched systems.
3. Assess exposure of sensitive data and strengthen monitoring controls.
4. Validate cloud configurations and address drift.
5. Test recovery and escalation plans using realistic scenarios.

Secarma Insight

Today’s stories underline a clear message. Cyber risk is driven by both immediate exposure and long-term preparedness. Organisations that combine timely remediation, disciplined configuration management and well-rehearsed recovery planning are far better positioned to reduce disruption and maintain confidence.

Get in touch with us to prioritise your next steps and strengthen your security posture.