Weekly Cyber Threat Advisory: 5-11 January 2026 

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In the first full week of 2026, the cybersecurity landscape has been dominated by a surge in "Agentic AI" threats, critical remote code execution (RCE) flaws, and the persistent exploitation of legacy hardware. This Weekly Cyber Security Bulletin covers the most significant vulnerabilities, attack campaigns, and industry news from January 5th to January 11th, 2026.

1. Critical Vulnerabilities & Patch Alerts

1.1: Cisco Identity Services Engine (CVE-2026-20029)

Cisco has issued an urgent advisory for a medium-severity Information Disclosure vulnerability in its Identity Services Engine (ISE).

• The Risk: Authenticated attackers can upload malicious XML files to read sensitive OS files.
• Status: A public Proof-of-Concept (PoC) is available, increasing the risk of exploitation.
• Action: Update to 3.2 Patch 8, 3.3 Patch 8, or 3.4 Patch 4 immediately.

Reference: https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-ise-xxe-jWSbSDKt

1.2: n8n Workflow Automation RCE (CVE-2026-21877)

The popular n8n platform faces a CVSS 10.0 critical vulnerability.

• The Risk: Insufficient isolation in workflow execution allows authenticated users to execute arbitrary code.
• Impact: Full compromise of self-hosted and n8n Cloud instances.
• Action: Upgrade to version 1.121.3 or later.

Reference:  https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n/security/advisories/GHSA-v364-rw7m-3263

1.3: D-Link Legacy Gateway Zero-Day (CVE-2026-0625)

A critical OS Command Injection flaw is currently being exploited in the wild against EoL (End-of-Life) D-Link devices.

• The Risk: Remote, unauthenticated RCE via the dnscfg.cgi component.
• Affected Models: DSL-2740R, DSL-2640B, DSL-2780B, and DSL-526B.
• Recommendation: These devices are no longer supported; decommission them immediately.

Reference: https://supportannouncement.us.dlink.com/security/publication.aspx?name=SAP10488

2. Active Attack Campaigns

2.1: Texas Gas Station Operator Data Breach

Gulshan Management Services (operator of ~150 Handi Plus/Stop stations) confirmed a ransomware attack impacting 377,000 individuals.

• Attack Vector: Initial access was gained via phishing, with attackers maintaining 10 days of dwell time.
• Data Stolen: SSNs, driver’s licenses, and contact info.
• Key Takeaway: Mid-sized retail remains a high-value target for PII exfiltration.

Reference:

• https://www.maine.gov/agviewer/content/ag/985235c7-cb95-4be2-8792-a1252b4f8318/f697cde0-79d1-48bd-99f0-23db695fc166.html
• https://www.maine.gov/cgi-bin/agviewerad/ret?loc=3481

2.2: GoBruteforcer Botnet Targets Linux Servers

A Go-based botnet is aggressively targeting internet-facing Linux servers.

• Scale: Over 50,000 servers are estimated to be at risk.
• Method: Brute-forcing weak credentials on FTP, MySQL, and PostgreSQL.
• New Trend: The botnet specifically targets AI-generated deployment defaults, which often use predictable passwords.

Reference: https://research.checkpoint.com/2026/inside-gobruteforcer-ai-generated-server-defaults-weak-passwords-and-crypto-focused-campaigns/

3. Global Security News

3.1: Instagram Denies System Breach

Following reports of 17.5 million accounts being leaked, Instagram clarified that its core systems were not breached. The wave of password reset emails was caused by an external abuse of a reset feature that has since been patched. Users are encouraged to ignore unsolicited reset requests.

Reference: https://x.com/instagram/status/2010202301886238822

3.2: CISA Retires 10 Emergency Directives

In a sign of maturing federal defense, CISA has retired 10 Emergency Directives (2019-2024). This includes the closure of files on major incidents like SolarWinds and Log4j, signaling that these remediations are now "institutionalized" through long-term policy rather than active emergencies.

Reference: https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/news/cisa-retires-ten-emergency-directives-marking-era-federal-cybersecurity

3.3: The Rise of ‘ZombieAgent’ AI Attacks

Researchers have identified ZombieAgent, a novel attack targeting LLMs like ChatGPT via indirect prompt injection.

• How it works: Malicious instructions hidden in emails or files "infect" the AI’s long-term memory.
• The Danger: The AI can be turned into a persistent, stealthy data-collection tool that acts on behalf of the attacker in future conversations.

Reference: https://www.radware.com/blog/threat-intelligence/zombieagent/

Final Recommendations for the Week

1. Prioritize Identity: Enable phishing-resistant MFA (FIDO2) for all administrative accounts.
2. Audit Legacy Hardware: Immediately identify and replace EoL networking equipment that no longer receives security updates.
3. Secure Your AI: Implement strict content isolation and monitor AI agent logs for "prompt injection" patterns.

Stay secure. Stay informed.
Crowe UAE – Cyber Threat Management

+971 542468006 | [email protected]