Daily Security Briefing #142

January 22, 2026 | Read Online

Prompt injection risks AI, Microsoft Teams phishing surges, Osiris ransomware targets food service, and more…

Executive Summary

Today’s cybersecurity landscape highlights an increase in sophisticated social engineering and supply chain attacks, underscoring the evolving threat environment. Prompt injection techniques continue to challenge AI safety, revealing deeper security and trust issues in language models. Collaboration platforms like Microsoft Teams remain prime targets, with phishing campaigns intensifying in scale. Critical vulnerabilities affecting widely used software, like GNU InetUtils and SmarterMail, demonstrate how fast attackers exploit patches. Additionally, new ransomware strains and increased zero-day disclosures emphasize the expanding risks faced across industries, from food services to automotive systems.

Top Articles

Why AI Keeps Falling for Prompt Injection Attacks
Prompt injection remains a critical vulnerability for large language models, enabling attackers to trick AI into bypassing safeguards and executing unintended instructions. This analogy compares prompt injections to a malicious drive-through order that commands ignoring security protocols, illustrating the challenge in training AI to resist such manipulations. Ongoing research stresses the need for improved defenses against these AI-specific social engineering tactics.
Bruce Schneier

From Signals to Strategy: What Security Teams Must Prepare for in 2026
Cyber risk in 2026 increasingly reflects the convergence of long-standing threats such as geopolitical tensions, insider risks, and evolving threat intelligence. Security organizations must adapt as these factors directly influence daily operations and decision-making, making cyber defenses more complex. The report calls for proactive strategies and greater readiness to counter these accelerating and interconnected risks.
Rapid7

Attackers Continue to Target Trusted Collaboration Platforms: 12,000+ Emails Target Teams Users
A recent phishing campaign has sent over 12,800 malicious emails exploiting Microsoft Teams’ guest invitation feature to impersonate billing notifications and support services. These messages persuade users to contact fraudulent phone numbers, affecting more than 6,000 users. The attack highlights the risks posed by abuse of collaboration tools amid remote work reliance.
Checkpoint

AI-Powered North Korean Konni Malware Targets Developers
KONNI, a North Korea-linked threat group historically targeting diplomatic and governmental sectors, has shifted focus to blockchain and cryptocurrency software developers. Their phishing lures, enhanced with AI tools, are designed to deceive engineering teams working on these projects, marking a significant evolution in targeting tactics and campaign sophistication.
Checkpoint Research

Halo Security Achieves SOC 2 Type II Compliance, Demonstrating Sustained Security Excellence Over Time
Halo Security announced successful attainment of SOC 2 Type II certification following a comprehensive multi-month audit. This achievement validates Halo Security’s effectiveness in maintaining robust security controls consistently, reinforcing trust in their external attack surface management and penetration testing services.
GB Hackers

Hackers Exploit Snap Domains to Inject Malicious Code into Linux Software Packages
Cybercriminals have intensified attacks on the Snap Store by hijacking expired domains tied to trusted snap publishers. This shift from using new accounts to domain takeover undermines trust signals for Linux software packages, posing heightened risks to desktops, servers, and embedded devices relying on this distribution method.
GB Hackers

Attackers Reverse-Engineer Patch to Exploit SmarterMail Admin Bypass in Active Attacks
Within 48 hours of a SmarterMail security patch release, attackers reverse-engineered the fix for a critical authentication bypass vulnerability (WT-2026-0001) and have begun active exploitation. This case exemplifies the urgency in patch deployment and monitoring to mitigate rapid adversary reactions post-disclosure.
CyberPress

Hackers Earn $516,500 for 37 Unique Zero-Day Bugs at Pwn2Own Automotive 2026
Security researchers disclosed 37 zero-day vulnerabilities in automotive systems and EV charging infrastructure during the Pwn2Own Automotive 2026 event, earning over half a million dollars in rewards. This surge highlights increasing scrutiny of vehicle and charging station security amid growing electric vehicle adoption.
CyberPress

New Osiris Ransomware Emerges as New Strain Using POORTRY Driver in BYOVD Attack
The Osiris ransomware family, leveraging the POORTRY vulnerable driver in a bring-your-own-vulnerable-driver (BYOVD) attack, recently targeted a major Southeast Asian food service franchisee. This technique disables security software, illustrating a refined and dangerous approach to ransomware delivery through exploitation of legitimate drivers.
The Hacker News

Okta SSO Accounts Targeted in Vishing-Based Data Theft Attacks
Okta has warned of active voice phishing (vishing) attacks using custom kits designed to steal single sign-on (SSO) credentials. This social engineering approach focuses on intercepting authentication tokens, enabling attackers to access sensitive data through compromised enterprise accounts.
BleepingComputer

Critical GNU InetUtils telnetd Flaw Lets Attackers Bypass Login and Gain Root Access
A decade-old vulnerability in GNU InetUtils telnetd (CVE-2026-24061) has been uncovered, allowing remote attackers to bypass authentication and obtain root privileges. Rated 9.8/10 on CVSS, this flaw affects versions 1.9.3 through 2.7, exposing numerous systems to high-risk compromise until patched.
The Hacker News

AI Transparency: This newsletter uses AI to curate, rank, and summarize cybersecurity content from leading industry blogs. All articles link directly to original authors. Executive summaries are AI-generated based on article content. I curate the sources and deliver the digest—the original authors deserve the credit for their excellent work.