What if a hacker didn’t need to steal your password? What if they didn’t need to crack a login at all?

Instead, what if they simply waited for you to log in—then quietly stole your active session and gained full access to your sensitive apps, emails, and admin tools without ever touching your credentials?

That’s not science fiction. It’s happening now.

A newly identified attack, nicknamed “Cookie Bite,” is making waves across the cybersecurity world. This exploit bypasses traditional login protections like multi-factor authentication (MFA) by targeting something most companies overlook: browser session cookies.

At D1 Defend, we’re actively helping businesses defend against this emerging threat. Here’s what you need to know—and how to respond before it compromises your environment.

What Is the Cookie Bite Attack?

The Cookie Bite technique involves the use of malicious Chrome extensions that quietly hijack active web sessions. It allows attackers to steal authentication cookies—the digital tokens your browser uses to stay logged in to services like:

• Microsoft 365

• Google Workspace

• Online banking portals

• CRM and ERP systems

• Cloud admin dashboards

Once the cookie is captured, attackers can replay it from another machine—instantly impersonating the user without needing their credentials or triggering MFA.

This isn’t theoretical. Multiple campaigns using this technique have already been reported targeting SMBs, enterprise accounts, and cloud platforms.

Why This Exploit Is So Dangerous

🚫 It Bypasses Multi-Factor Authentication

Most organizations rely on MFA as a key security control. Cookie Bite renders it completely ineffective, as the attacker never reauthenticates—the session is already live.

🕵️ It’s Nearly Invisible

Users don’t see any failed login attempts. There are no password reset requests or phishing links. It all happens in the background.

📥 It Spreads Through Common Extensions

Some malicious Chrome extensions look harmless—like PDF converters, email tools, or shopping helpers. A user only needs to install one for the attacker to access their session tokens.

🛠 It Targets the Browser Layer

Because the attack lives in the browser (not on the network or server), traditional security tools often miss it. That’s why endpoint monitoring and browser policy enforcement are critical.

How Cookie Hijacking Works (Simplified)

1. User installs a malicious Chrome extension—often from a third-party website or an unofficial app store.

2. The extension silently collects session cookies while the user is logged in to sensitive accounts.

3. The cookies are exfiltrated to an attacker-controlled server.

4. The attacker replays the session cookies in their browser, instantly accessing the victim’s accounts without needing a password or triggering MFA.

The victim remains unaware while the attacker explores files, changes settings, or exfiltrates data—all under the cover of a legitimate session.

Who Is at Risk?

This threat targets any business that uses cloud-based applications—which means nearly everyone.

High-risk users include:

• Executives and admin users with elevated access

• Finance and HR staff using payroll or banking portals

• IT personnel with access to cloud platforms and infrastructure

• Remote employees who may install browser tools without oversight

How D1 Defend Protects Clients from Cookie Bite Attacks

We’re helping clients secure their environments against Cookie Bite and similar browser-based attacks by focusing on proactive detection, control, and education.

Here’s what we’re doing:

🔍 1. Identifying and Blocking Risky Browser Extensions

We audit your environment to detect and restrict:

• Extensions installed outside of authorized channels

• Add-ons with suspicious permissions (e.g., “read and change all your data on websites you visit”)

• Shadow IT browser activity

We can help you enforce group policies that allow only approved Chrome extensions in your organization.

🔐 2. Locking Down Access Control

Session hijacking only works if the attacker can use the stolen cookie without being flagged.

We help clients:

• Restrict logins based on geolocation and device type

• Require re-authentication for sensitive actions

• Monitor for suspicious sign-in patterns from unusual IPs or regions

🖥 3. Monitoring Browser Behavior at the Endpoint

Standard firewalls don’t detect what’s happening inside Chrome.

That’s why we deploy Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR) tools to:

• Watch browser memory and process behavior

• Detect unauthorized data exfiltration

• Automatically isolate infected machines

🧠 4. Training Employees to Spot Suspicious Browser Activity

Your team is your first line of defense.

We provide ongoing user education to help them:

• Avoid unapproved extensions

• Recognize warning signs of hijacked sessions

• Report unusual browser prompts or redirects

Plus, we include phishing simulations and browser hygiene best practices in our awareness training.

📄 5. Running a Third-Party Security Analysis

We offer one-time or recurring third-party reviews of your current environment to identify:

• Existing risky extensions

• Open Chrome policies

• Devices that lack endpoint protection

• Configuration gaps across Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and more

We’ll give you a roadmap to close the gaps—before attackers find them first.

What You Should Do Right Now

If you’re concerned your environment may be vulnerable to Cookie Bite or similar attacks, here are immediate actions to take:

✅ Review Chrome extension policies
✅ Conduct an audit of installed browser extensions
✅ Ensure EDR tools are in place and active
✅ Enforce MFA—but combine it with location and device restrictions
✅ Provide updated cybersecurity training focused on browser security
✅ Schedule a third-party risk analysis

Don’t Wait for a Breach

The Cookie Bite exploit is a reminder that attackers are targeting overlooked areas—like browser sessions and extensions—to bypass even the most trusted security controls.

At D1 Defend, we believe cybersecurity doesn’t stop at the firewall or login screen. That’s why we provide comprehensive, proactive protection that includes your cloud apps, endpoints, browsers, and users.

In cybersecurity, it’s often not the most obvious systems that cause the most damage—it’s the overlooked, often under-patched infrastructure at the edge.

That’s why we’re issuing an urgent warning: new critical vulnerabilities have been discovered in FortiSwitch and SonicWall NetExtender VPN clients, creating an open path for attackers to seize full administrative control of your network infrastructure.

If your business relies on either of these systems, the time to act is right now. Attackers are already scanning the internet for unpatched devices. Delays in remediation could result in catastrophic breaches—especially for companies who provide or manage services for others.

At D1 Defend, we’re helping organizations rapidly assess exposure, patch affected systems, and implement hardened configurations to prevent remote takeovers.

What’s Happening: Critical Vulnerabilities in Fortinet & SonicWall Devices

🔓 FortiSwitch Vulnerability: CVE-2024-48887

This is a remote, unauthenticated exploit with no credentials required.

Attackers can:

• Reset the admin password remotely

• Gain full administrative access to FortiSwitch devices

• Pivot into internal systems using elevated privileges

Impacted Versions: FortiSwitch firmware prior to version 7.2.2

⚠️ SonicWall NetExtender Vulnerabilities (Windows Client)

Three critical flaws identified:

• CVE-2025-23008 – Improper privilege management (CVSS 7.2)

• CVE-2025-23009 – Arbitrary file deletion (CVSS 5.9)

• CVE-2025-23010 – Link-following vulnerability (CVSS 6.5)

These allow attackers to:

• Escalate user privileges to system level

• Delete or tamper with files on the host machine

• Abuse internal symbolic links to redirect or modify file operations

Impacted Versions: SonicWall NetExtender for Windows (both 32-bit and 64-bit) below version 10.3.2

Why These Vulnerabilities Are So Dangerous

These vulnerabilities are dangerous not just because they exist—but because they’re in the infrastructure that connects and secures your environment.

Here’s why they matter:

• VPN clients and switches are often granted high trust within a network

• Remote exploits bypass firewall protections and access systems directly

• Attackers can gain persistence and move laterally once inside

• No authentication required in some cases—making detection difficult

Worse, these vulnerabilities are already being actively exploited, according to multiple threat intelligence reports. If your systems are still unpatched, they may already be scanned or targeted.

What Could Happen If Left Unpatched?

A successful exploit of these flaws could result in:

• Full administrative control of your infrastructure

• Installation of backdoors or ransomware

• Credential theft or certificate compromise

• Compromise of customer-facing or internal applications

• Massive regulatory and financial liability in case of data exposure

For MSPs and SaaS providers, the risk is multiplied—because if your perimeter is compromised, your clients’ data and systems may be next.

What You Should Do Right Now

At D1 Defend, we’ve mobilized our security teams to assist clients in rapidly closing these gaps.

Here’s what we recommend—and how we can help:

🔧 1. Patch Immediately

Apply firmware updates for all affected FortiSwitch and SonicWall systems.

• FortiSwitch: Upgrade to version 7.2.2 or later

• SonicWall NetExtender: Upgrade to version 10.3.2 or later

If you’re unsure whether your environment includes these components, we’ll run a rapid scan and inventory assessment for you.

🛑 2. Restrict Management Interfaces

Limit administrative access to:

• Internal IPs only

• Known, secure remote access platforms (e.g., via secure VPN)

• Geo-fenced IP ranges

We’ll help you configure ACLs (Access Control Lists) and VPN hardening measures to block unwanted access points.

🔁 3. Reset and Reissue Admin Credentials

If there’s any suspicion of compromise:

• Reset all admin credentials for FortiSwitch and SonicWall

• Review and rotate digital certificates used for authentication

• Disable or remove shared/admin accounts no longer in use

🔍 4. Perform a Targeted Security Assessment

We can conduct a targeted audit of your network to:

• Identify exposed Fortinet or SonicWall systems

• Validate patch levels and configurations

• Check for signs of suspicious or malicious activity

• Confirm endpoint integrity across connected devices

🧠 5. Educate Your IT Team

Your engineers and IT personnel should be trained on:

• Proper firewall and switch hardening

• VPN do’s and don’ts (e.g., avoid using split tunneling unless required)

• Best practices for patching and monitoring infrastructure

D1 Defend provides on-demand security briefings and incident simulations to ensure your team is prepared.

👁 6. Implement 24/7 Monitoring and Threat Detection

If you don’t have round-the-clock monitoring of your infrastructure, these types of threats can go unnoticed until it’s too late.

We offer:

• EDR (Endpoint Detection & Response) to detect lateral movement

• SIEM integration to alert on suspicious login attempts or config changes

• Anomaly detection for elevated privilege use.

   

What Sets D1 Defend Apart

We don’t just identify risks—we fix them fast. Our cybersecurity services combine:

• ✔ Real-world threat intelligence

• ✔ Hands-on patching and system hardening

• ✔ Proactive infrastructure protection

• ✔ 24/7 support and response

We’re already helping businesses lock down vulnerabilities like CVE-2024-48887 before attackers can exploit them.

Don’t Let Perimeter Devices Become Your Point of Failure

These vulnerabilities affect foundational technology. If FortiSwitch or SonicWall NetExtender is part of your network, you cannot afford to wait.

Protect Your Data Backups from a New High-Risk Vulnerability in QNAP NAS Devices

In today’s digital world, data is one of your organization’s most valuable assets, and data backups are your safety net in the face of cyber threats, accidental deletions, and other unforeseen disasters. However, this safety net itself is now under threat due to a recently discovered critical vulnerability in QNAP NAS devices—widely used data backup systems that many businesses rely on. This vulnerability, exposed at a recent cybersecurity conference, puts the integrity and security of your data backups at risk, making it crucial to act quickly to protect your systems.

Let’s dive into what this vulnerability entails, why it’s a high-risk issue, and the immediate steps you need to take to secure your data.

What You Need to Know

The vulnerability affecting QNAP NAS devices was disclosed during the Pwn2Own Ireland 2024 security event, a reputable platform where security researchers and experts present newly discovered security flaws in widely used technology. This particular vulnerability, identified as CVE-2024-50388, has the potential to allow unauthorized access and control over affected QNAP NAS devices, which could compromise the very backups meant to protect your organization’s data.

This flaw affects QNAP’s HBS 3 Hybrid Backup Sync application, a critical tool for managing data backups on QNAP NAS systems. The vulnerability stems from an OS command injection flaw in HBS 3 versions 25.1.x and earlier, which means it could enable attackers to execute malicious commands remotely. In practical terms, this vulnerability could allow an attacker to:

• Gain remote access to your NAS device without any authentication.
• Execute arbitrary code to manipulate, delete, or encrypt your data backups.
• Deploy ransomware or other malware to seize control of your data.

With the rise in ransomware attacks and cybercriminals increasingly targeting backup solutions, the importance of addressing this vulnerability cannot be overstated.

Why This Vulnerability is Especially Dangerous

The severity of this vulnerability lies not only in its potential impact but also in how easily attackers can exploit it. With a CVSS score of 9.8, this vulnerability is classified as “critical,” indicating a high level of risk and urgency. Here’s why this vulnerability is so concerning:

1. Remote Exploitability: Attackers can exploit this flaw remotely, meaning they don’t need physical access to your QNAP NAS device. All they need is network access, and if your NAS device is accessible via the internet, the risk of a breach increases dramatically.
2. No Authentication Required: This vulnerability does not require attackers to have login credentials, making it easier for them to gain unauthorized access without triggering standard security protocols.
3. Broad Application: QNAP NAS devices are widely used across industries, from small businesses to large corporations, for data backups. This wide usage means that a broad range of organizations are vulnerable to this flaw, making it a prime target for cybercriminals.
4. Potential for Ransomware: Given the capability to execute commands on affected systems, this vulnerability could lead to ransomware attacks. Attackers may encrypt your data backups and demand payment for decryption, potentially crippling your business’s recovery efforts.
5. No Alternative Solution: The only way to address this vulnerability is by updating the software. If updates are not applied, the system remains exposed to potential attacks.

Immediate Actions to Secure Your Data Backups

Given the critical nature of CVE-2024-50388, QNAP has issued a patch and strong recommendations for affected users. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Update HBS 3 Hybrid Backup Sync to the Latest Version

The most crucial step is to apply QNAP’s latest patch, which addresses the vulnerability. HBS 3 Hybrid Backup Sync version 25.1.1.673 or later resolves the command injection flaw and ensures that attackers cannot exploit this vulnerability. Updating to this version or a newer release is your first line of defense against unauthorized access and data manipulation.

2. Conduct a Comprehensive Security Audit

Even after applying the update, it’s essential to conduct a thorough audit of your system. Review system logs on your NAS device to identify any suspicious activity or attempts to exploit the vulnerability. This includes monitoring for unexpected logins, unauthorized command executions, or unusual data access patterns. A security audit can help you identify any existing breaches and take corrective action to secure your network.

3. Strengthen Your Network Security

Take this opportunity to evaluate and bolster your network security measures. To further protect your QNAP NAS devices:

• Enable strong, unique passwords for all user accounts and administrative access.
• Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an extra layer of security.
• Restrict external access by configuring your firewall to limit incoming connections and only allow authorized devices or IP addresses to communicate with your NAS device.
• Use VPN access for remote users rather than exposing NAS devices directly to the internet.

4. Regularly Monitor and Backup Your Data

Continuous monitoring is essential for early threat detection. Use real-time monitoring tools to identify any unusual behavior on your network and set up alerts for potential breaches. Additionally, ensure your backups are secure and maintained in an isolated environment to prevent ransomware or unauthorized access.

5. Educate Your Team on Cybersecurity Best Practices

Awareness is one of the best tools for preventing cyber incidents. Educate your team on the importance of prompt software updates, recognizing phishing attempts, and practicing secure login behaviors. By fostering a culture of cybersecurity awareness, you reduce the risk of accidental vulnerabilities or exploitations within your network.

The Bigger Picture: Backup Security is More Crucial Than Ever

As cyber threats evolve, targeting backup solutions has become a common tactic among cybercriminals. Once considered a safe fallback, data backups are now a frequent target, as they represent the last line of defense for businesses facing cyberattacks. With attacks on backup devices increasing, ensuring the security of your backups is now as critical as protecting your primary data systems.

Regular updates, strong security practices, and a proactive approach are essential to prevent vulnerabilities in backup systems. Failing to address this issue could result in stolen data, ransomware lockouts, and extensive recovery costs. By staying vigilant and taking immediate steps to address vulnerabilities, your organization can reduce risks and protect its most valuable digital assets.

The newly discovered vulnerability in QNAP NAS devices highlights the importance of proactive cybersecurity measures. With attackers constantly searching for weak points, it’s essential to act promptly. Updating your QNAP devices, auditing for potential security breaches, and reinforcing network security measures are steps you can take today to shield your organization from potential threats.

If you need assistance with the update process or want to discuss additional ways to protect your data, contact our team of cybersecurity professionals. We’re here to help ensure your data backups remain a reliable and secure part of your cybersecurity strategy.