GeoServer RCE Vulnerability Exploited in Federal Agency Breach
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Attackers breached a U.S. federal agency's network in July 2024 by exploiting an unpatched GeoServer instance. The vulnerability (CVE-2024-36401) allowed remote code execution, enabling lateral movement and data exfiltration. The breach remained undetected for three weeks until an Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) tool flagged suspicious activity. The attackers used web shells, scripts for remote access, and brute force techniques for lateral movement and privilege escalation. The breach highlights the importance of timely patching and continuous monitoring of EDR alerts. CISA has urged organizations to expedite patching critical vulnerabilities and strengthen incident response plans.
Timeline
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23.09.2025 18:07 π° 1 articles Β· β± 5h ago
GeoServer RCE Vulnerability Exploited in Federal Agency Breach
In July 2024, attackers breached a U.S. federal agency's network by exploiting an unpatched GeoServer instance. The vulnerability (CVE-2024-36401) allowed remote code execution, enabling lateral movement and data exfiltration. The breach remained undetected for three weeks until an Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) tool flagged suspicious activity. The attackers used web shells, scripts for remote access, and brute force techniques for lateral movement and privilege escalation.
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- CISA says hackers breached federal agency using GeoServer exploit β www.bleepingcomputer.com β 23.09.2025 18:07
Information Snippets
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The breach occurred in July 2024 through an unpatched GeoServer instance.
First reported: 23.09.2025 18:07π° 1 source, 1 articleShow sources
- CISA says hackers breached federal agency using GeoServer exploit β www.bleepingcomputer.com β 23.09.2025 18:07
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The vulnerability (CVE-2024-36401) is a critical remote code execution flaw.
First reported: 23.09.2025 18:07π° 1 source, 1 articleShow sources
- CISA says hackers breached federal agency using GeoServer exploit β www.bleepingcomputer.com β 23.09.2025 18:07
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The flaw was patched on June 18, 2024, and added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
First reported: 23.09.2025 18:07π° 1 source, 1 articleShow sources
- CISA says hackers breached federal agency using GeoServer exploit β www.bleepingcomputer.com β 23.09.2025 18:07
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Attackers gained access to the federal agency's GeoServer server on July 11, 2024.
First reported: 23.09.2025 18:07π° 1 source, 1 articleShow sources
- CISA says hackers breached federal agency using GeoServer exploit β www.bleepingcomputer.com β 23.09.2025 18:07
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The attackers used web shells like China Chopper and scripts for remote access and persistence.
First reported: 23.09.2025 18:07π° 1 source, 1 articleShow sources
- CISA says hackers breached federal agency using GeoServer exploit β www.bleepingcomputer.com β 23.09.2025 18:07
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Brute force techniques were used for lateral movement and privilege escalation.
First reported: 23.09.2025 18:07π° 1 source, 1 articleShow sources
- CISA says hackers breached federal agency using GeoServer exploit β www.bleepingcomputer.com β 23.09.2025 18:07
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The breach remained undetected for three weeks until EDR alerts flagged suspicious activity.
First reported: 23.09.2025 18:07π° 1 source, 1 articleShow sources
- CISA says hackers breached federal agency using GeoServer exploit β www.bleepingcomputer.com β 23.09.2025 18:07
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CISA has urged organizations to expedite patching and strengthen incident response plans.
First reported: 23.09.2025 18:07π° 1 source, 1 articleShow sources
- CISA says hackers breached federal agency using GeoServer exploit β www.bleepingcomputer.com β 23.09.2025 18:07