Hackers hijacked antivirus features to install malware – here’s what we know

  • CVE-2025-12480 in Triofox allowed zero-day exploitation via improper access control
  • UNC6485 attackers deployed Zoho Assist, AnyDesk, and SSH tunneling for remote access
  • Patch released July 26; newer Triofox version available October 14 for mitigation

Popular remote file sharing and collaboration platform Triofox carried a critical vulnerability that was exploited as a zero-day used to deploy a remote access tool which granted the attackers lateral movement capabilities.

Security researchers from Google’s Mandiant and its Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) flagged that Triofox comes with a built-in antivirus feature, which carried an “improper access control” flaw that allowed access to initial setup pages even after setup is complete.

The flaw, tracked as CVE-2025-12480 and given a severity score of 9.1/10 (critical), was most likely introduced in early April 2025, was fixed in late July. However, the attacks were spotted almost a month later, which suggests that the victim organization did not apply the fix on time.

Who is UNC6485?

The researchers identified the attackers as UNC6485, an attack cluster that hasn’t been reported on in the past.

However, since Google’s Threat Intelligence Team is known for tracking state-sponsored threat actors, it is safe to assume that this group could have ties to nation-states and that the goal of the campaign was either data theft, or cyber-espionage and intelligence gathering.

In the attack, against an unnamed victim, the threat actors used malicious code to deploy Zoho UEMS, through which they installed Zoho Assist and AnyDesk – two legitimate tools that granted them both remote access, and lateral movement capabilities.

They also deployed the Plink and PUTTY tools to create an SSH tunnel and forward remote traffic.

The vulnerability was fixed on July 26, with Triofox version 16.7.10368.56560, and users are advised to apply the patch as soon as possible. What’s more, Gladinet (the company behind Triofox) released a newer version, 16.10.10408.56683, on October 14, which would be even better to install, if possible.

Via BleepingComputer

Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

Read more @ TechRadar

Latest posts

ICYMI: the week’s 7 biggest tech stories from testing Android XR glasses to a revolutionary smart ring

It has been another busy week in the world of tech, which included us testing new Android XR glasses and watching the new Supergirl...

The inevitable has happened – the EU has U-turned on its plan to ban the sale of ICE cars by 2035

Ban on ICE cars could be pushed back to 2040Manufacturers have argued against the legislationMore hybrid and range extender powertrains likely to arrive A...

The next phase of AI is agentic, and it starts with data architecture

If you look at the last decade of AI progress, most of it has been measured in a single dimension: bigger models and better...

I’ve found a new favorite pair of sub-$100 cuff-style open earbuds, with some surprisingly premium features

Soundpeats Clip1: Two minute reviewThe real measure of whether earbuds are good, is if I keep wearing them after the two-week testing period is...

New US border checks could involve scanning your last five years of social media history– here’s what you need to know

The US government wants to check your social media posts at the borderThat could impact your data privacy and free speech rightsPrivacy advocates are...

The race to zero downtime is on – and AI is leading it

It’s the moment every online business dreads. Pages freeze, payments stall, and seconds later, the site goes dark. In those brief minutes, sales evaporate,...

I tested the HHKB Professional Classic Type-S — a niche option for those prepared to learn a new keyboard layout to get Topre key...

HHKB Professional Classic Type-S keyboard: 30-second reviewWhen people first get into computing, the first peripherals they develop an opinion on are the mouse and...

This is perhaps the smallest mini PC with a 5060-class GPU you can buy right now — but you will have to go all...

FEVM FAEX1 mini PC features a Ryzen AI Max+ 395 CPU with 16 coresMemory is soldered LPDDR5X-8533, available in 64 or 128GBStorage includes three...

I tested 4 of Dyson’s best stick vacuums head to head – this is the one to buy, and the one to avoid

Most of Dyson's vacuums look pretty much the same, so figuring out what the differences are – and crucially, if those differences will translate...

Virgin Media offers Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses or £125 bill credit with new broadband and TV packages

Virgin Media is offering new customers the opportunity to get a pair of Meta Ray-Ban (Gen 1) smart glasses, worth £329, or a £125...