NTLM
Microsoft to disable NTLM by default in future Windows releases
Microsoft announced that it will disable the 30-year-old NTLM authentication protocol by default in upcoming Windows releases due to security vulnerabilities that expose organizations to cyberattacks. NTLM (short for New Technology LAN Manager) is a challenge-response authentication protocol introduced in 1993 with Windows NT 3.1 and is the successor to the LAN Manager (LM) protocol. Kerberos has superseded NTLM and […]
Microsoft disables File Explorer preview for downloads to block attacks
Microsoft says that the File Explorer (formerly Windows Explorer) now automatically blocks previews for files downloaded from the Internet to block credential theft attacks via malicious documents. The change is already live for users who have installed this month’s Patch Tuesday security updates on Windows 11 and Windows Server systems. As Redmond explains in a support […]
Windows NTLM hash leak flaw exploited in phishing attacks on governments
A Windows vulnerability that exposes NTLM hashes using .library-ms files is now actively exploited by hackers in phishing campaigns targeting government entities and private companies. The flaw tracked as CVE-2025-24054 was fixed in Microsoft’s March 2025 Patch Tuesday. Initially, it was not marked as actively exploited and was assessed as ‘less likely’ to be. However, Check Point researchers […]
New Windows zero-day leaks NTLM hashes, gets unofficial patch
Free unofficial patches are available for a new Windows zero-day vulnerability that can let remote attackers steal NTLM credentials by tricking targets into viewing malicious files in Windows Explorer. NTLM has been widely exploited in NTLM relay attacks (where threat actors force vulnerable network devices to authenticate to attacker-controlled servers) and pass-the-hash attacks (where they exploit vulnerabilities to steal […]
Microsoft patches Windows zero-day exploited in attacks on Ukraine
Suspected Russian hackers were caught exploiting a recently patched Windows vulnerability as a zero-day in ongoing attacks targeting Ukrainian entities. The security flaw (CVE-2024-43451) is an NTLM Hash Disclosure spoofing vulnerability reported by ClearSky security researchers, which can be exploited to steal the logged-in user’s NTLMv2 hash by forcing connections to a remote attacker-controlled server. […]
New Windows Themes zero-day gets free, unofficial patches
Free unofficial patches are now available for a new Windows Themes zero-day vulnerability that allows attackers to steal a target’s NTLM credentials remotely. NTLM has been extensively exploited in NTLM relay attacks, where threat actors force vulnerable network devices to authenticate against servers under their control, and pass-the-hash attacks, where they exploit system vulnerabilities or deploy malicious […]
Exploit released for new Windows Server “WinReg” NTLM Relay attack
Proof-of-concept exploit code is now public for a vulnerability in Microsoft’s Remote Registry client that could be used to take control of a Windows domain by downgrading the security of the authentication process. The vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2024-43532 and takes advantage of a fallback mechanism in the Windows Registry (WinReg) client implementation that relies on old transport protocols […]
Microsoft discloses unpatched Office flaw that exposes NTLM hashes
Microsoft has disclosed a high-severity vulnerability affecting Office 2016 that could expose NTLM hashes to a remote attacker. Tracked as CVE-2024-38200, this security flaw is caused by an information disclosure weakness that enables unauthorized actors to access protected information. It impacts multiple 32-bit and 64-bit Office versions, including Office 2016, Office 2019, Office LTSC 2021, and […]