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CVE-2024-21412 is a Microsoft Windows Internet Shortcut Files security feature bypass vulnerability affecting the handling of Internet Shortcut files, including .url content and related shortcut-driven retrieval of remote content over WebDAV/UNC paths. A remote, unauthenticated attacker can craft a malicious shortcut file that causes Windows to bypass expected security checks, including Microsoft Defender SmartScreen warnings, when the victim opens or clicks the file. Reported exploitation chains used specially crafted .url files that referenced attacker-controlled remote content, including secondary shortcut or script content hosted on WebDAV shares, enabling execution of follow-on payloads without the normal warning flow users would expect for internet-originated files. The vulnerability has been observed in the wild as a zero-day and has been associated with campaigns delivering malware such as DarkMe and DarkGate.
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1 valid exploit after Mallory filtered fakes, detection scripts, and README-only repos.
This repository demonstrates a proof-of-concept exploit for CVE-2024-21412, targeting Microsoft Windows. The exploit leverages a chain of .url (Internet Shortcut) files and a crafted HTML file to bypass Microsoft Defender SmartScreen and achieve arbitrary code execution via a remote SMB share. The structure includes: - A 'webserver' directory with an HTML file that uses the 'search:' protocol to direct Windows Explorer to a malicious SMB share. - A 'samba-compose' directory with Docker Compose and Samba configuration files, setting up an SMB server with specific shares and user credentials. - The 'pictures' subdirectory contains chained .url files that ultimately point to a CMD script (a2.cmd) inside a ZIP archive on the SMB share. - The 'loader' directory contains the CMD script payload, which demonstrates code execution by launching calc.exe. Commented lines in the script suggest the potential for more advanced payloads, such as DLL injection. The exploit requires the attacker to run both the web server and the Samba server, and the victim to access the malicious HTML or .url files, triggering the exploit chain. The endpoints and configuration files are tailored for a local network (192.168.1.70), but could be adapted for other environments. The repository is a functional POC and does not include weaponized or highly automated payloads.
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29 sources tracked across advisories, community write-ups, and news. New activity surfaces here as Mallory finds it.
A Microsoft Windows Defender vulnerability referenced in the group's CVE discussions.
A SmartScreen/Mark-of-the-Web bypass vulnerability historically associated in the report with WaterHydra activity; noted as patched by Microsoft in February 2024.
A Windows SmartScreen zero-day / Mark-of-the-Web bypass exploited by WaterHydra/DarkCasino in late 2023 and patched by Microsoft in February 2024.
A vulnerability referenced as affecting Internet Shortcut Files security; discussed as one of the exploited vulnerabilities used by FishMonger (aka Earth Lusca).
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Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.
Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.
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Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.
Community discussion across Reddit, Mastodon, and other social sources.