Simply Cyber Newsletter #123

Start your work week off at full speed with expert analysis and actionable intel from top cybersecurity news stories. Share with your End Users, Peers, and Executives to support weekly security awareness with Simply Cyber Newsletter!

FOR END USERS

A Sneaky Phish Just Grabbed my Mailchimp Mailing List. Even cybersecurity experts can fall for phishing scams. Troy Hunt, creator of "Have I Been Pwned," was tricked by a fake Mailchimp email, leading to his mailing list being compromised. This highlights that anyone can be vulnerable, and vigilance is crucial.

What you need to know: Edit this to fit your communication style and send to your end users as a quick reminder:

“Subject: Stop. Trust Your Gut on Phishing

Team, Cybersecurity pro Troy Hunt recently got phished. Yes, the Troy Hunt and creator of "Have I Been Pwned." It wasn't a tech failure; it was a gut feeling failure. He knew something was off, but second-guessed himself. The Lesson? If an email feels weird, it's weird. Don't overthink it. Don't "just click" to get it over with.

•Trust Your Instincts: That nagging feeling? That's your brain's security system. Listen to it.

•Slow Down: Phishers want you to rush. Pause. Breathe. Check.

•Verify, Always: Hover over links, check sender emails. If unsure, ask security.

Even experts get fooled when they ignore their gut. This shows that vigilance is everyone's responsibility, and by trusting our instincts and verifying, we strengthen our collective security.

Stay safe,

[signature block]"

FOR PEERS

Attackers can bypass middleware auth checks by exploiting critical Next.js flaw. Next.js had a gaping hole letting attackers skip middleware auth with one sneaky header, fixed now, but if you’re self-hosting, you’re on the clock.

What you need to know: Speak with your peers to hunt for x-middleware-subrequest header abuse in your Next.js applications now. Check your version: anything below 15.2.3 needs an urgent upgrade, or you should block external requests carrying that header at your edge. Review your middleware setup. If it’s your only authentication gate, add backend validation quickly. Confirm with your developers whether you’re self-hosting with next start and output: standalone. Audit all HTTP header handling, because this won’t be the last framework flaw we face. Web application firewalls can buy time, but don’t pause; major players have already been exposed.

FOR EXECUTIVES

Oracle customers confirm data stolen in alleged cloud breach is valid. Rumors swirl of a potential Oracle Cloud SSO breach affecting 6M users. True or not, assess your exposure now as others may already be focused on resilience, risk, and readiness.

What you need to know: You’ve likely seen the Oracle chatter over the last two weeks. Bring this to your senior business leaders as a chance to tabletop your vendor landscape. Today it’s (allegedly) Oracle, tomorrow it’s another linchpin system, where a flaw like CVE-2021-35587 might quietly fracture access, disrupt workflows, or erode trust before verification catches up. This isn’t about predicting the next hit, it’s about reviewing what you rely on now and stress-testing your response. Rumors can shift client or regulatory scrutiny overnight. Raise this as a proactive lens, even if you’re unscathed today.

LET’S CONNECT

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As always, please send me feedback. Which tip above is your favorite? What do you want more or less of? Other suggestions? Please let me know. Just send a DM on X with #actionableintel in the subject so I can find it.

Find more about what’s happening this week in the Simply Cyber community, below.

Thank you and see you again next time! Have a great week, #TeamSC!

Gerry

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SC MEDIA GROUP SIMPLY ICS CYBER PODCAST

When: Wednesday, April 2 at 9:30 AM ET | Presented by: Simply Cyber Media Group

S1 E4: What are the 5 ICS Cybersecurity Controls?

In this episode, Tom and Don host special guest Michael Hilken, Cyber Physical Engineer at Grimm. The trio review and discuss the Five ICS Cybersecurity Critical Controls.

Join us every other Wednesday for Season 1 of the Simply ICS Cyber podcast, with your hosts, Don C. Weber and Tom VanNorman.

Set your notifications and we hope to see you there!

SIMPLY CYBER FIRESIDES ALL ABOUT CMMC

When: Thursday, April 3 at 4:30 PM ET | Presented by: Simply Cyber Media Group

🎙️ Join host Gerald Auger, Ph.D., and special guest Andy Sauer, CEO of Sentinel Blue, for an in-depth exploration of CMMC that you won't want to miss!

Andy Sauer brings a unique blend of expertise as a CEO, vCISO, paramedic, and host of The Watchers Podcast. With a mission to help organizations build robust cybersecurity maturity, Andy will break down the complexities of CMMC and provide invaluable insights into defending businesses against today's evolving threat landscape.

Whether you're a cybersecurity professional, business leader, or tech enthusiast, this episode promises to deliver actionable knowledge and deep insights.

Join us live this Thursday!

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