January 2025 Cyber Threat Intelligence Report: Emerging Threats and Trends

As we begin 2025, the cyber threat landscape is rapidly evolving. January's cyber threat intelligence highlights the latest cybersecurity news, top cybersecurity trends to watch in 2025, major vulnerabilities, ongoing malware campaigns, and leading fraudulent domains.

Top cybersecurity trends to watch in Jan 2025:

Discover the top cybersecurity trends to watch in January 2025. From advanced persistent threats to IoT security, stay informed about what's shaping the future of digital safety and learn how to protect your data against evolving cyber risks.

1. Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs):

   Sophisticated, long-term cyberattacks targeting high-value information will continue to rise. These threats often involve state-sponsored actors or highly organized criminal groups aiming to steal sensitive data or disrupt critical infrastructure over extended periods.
   
   

2. Rise of Agentic AI:

   AI and machine learning will evolve from threat detection tools to fully integrated systems capable of autonomous defense. These systems will analyze vast amounts of data in real-time to predict, identify, and respond to threats faster than human teams alone. AI-driven systems will enhance security measures while also becoming more adept at adaptive learning.
   
   

3. Deepfakes and AI-Generated Scams:

   The use of AI to create deepfakes and sophisticated scams will become more prevalent. Cybercriminals will exploit generative technologies to create convincing fake videos, audio recordings, and other content to deceive individuals and organizations, leading to increased fraud and identity theft.
   
   

4. IoT Security:

   With the proliferation of IoT devices, securing these devices will be crucial to prevent them from being entry points for cyberattacks. Vulnerable IoT devices can be exploited to form botnets, launch DDoS attacks, or gain unauthorized access to networks. Ensuring robust security measures for IoT devices will be essential to maintaining overall cybersecurity.
   
   

5. Quantum Computing Threats:

   The emergence of quantum computing will pose new challenges and opportunities for cybersecurity. Quantum computers have the potential to break traditional encryption methods, necessitating the development of quantum-resistant algorithms. Organizations will need to invest in research and adopt new encryption standards to protect their data.
   
   

6. Regulatory Changes:

   New regulations and compliance requirements will shape cybersecurity practices and policies. Governments and regulatory bodies will introduce stricter data protection laws, mandating organizations to adopt advanced security measures. Compliance with these regulations will be critical to avoid legal penalties and protect sensitive information.
   
   

7. Supply Chain Attacks:

   Cybercriminals will increasingly target supply chains to compromise multiple organizations through a single attack. By infiltrating a trusted supplier or partner, attackers can gain access to sensitive data and systems of numerous organizations. Strengthening supply chain security will become crucial to mitigating these risks.
   
   

8. Zero-Trust Architectures:

   Zero-trust security models, which operate on the principle of "never trust, always verify," will become fundamental to enterprise security strategies. This model assumes threats could be present both inside and outside the network, requiring continuous authentication and validation of users and devices attempting to access sensitive data.

Major Top Vulnerabilities of January 2025 

CVE stands for Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures. It is a publicly accessible database that catalogs known cybersecurity vulnerabilities and exposures in both software and hardware systems. The purpose of CVE is to offer a standardized system for identifying and referencing vulnerabilities across various platforms, tools, and services, helping organizations stay updated on potential security risks.

CVE ID          Base Score      Description.

CVE-2025-21556     9.9      Oracle Agile PLM Framework Vulnerability, allowing attackers to seize control of susceptible instances.
CVE-2025-21535     9.8      Oracle WebLogic Server Vulnerability, which unauthenticated attackers with network access.
CVE-2025-0282      9.0      Ivanti VPN Zero-Day Vulnerabilities, exploited by the Chinese-linked espionage group UNC5221, these vulnerabilities pose significant risks to VPN security.
CVE-2025-21307     9.8      Windows Reliable Multicast Transport Driver (RMCAST) Remote Code Execution Vulnerability.
CVE-2025-21298     9.8      Windows OLE Remote Code Execution Vulnerability.
CVE-2025-21309     8.1      Windows Remote Desktop Services Remote Code Execution Vulnerability.
CVE-2025-21366     7.8      Microsoft Access Remote Code Execution Vulnerability.
CVE-2025-21333     7.8      Windows Hyper-V NT Kernel Integration VSP Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Ongoing Malware Campaigns:

Malware is malicious software designed to harm, disrupt, or gain unauthorized access to computer systems and networks. It comes in various forms, including viruses, worms, Trojans, and ransomware, often leading to data breaches or system vulnerabilities.

Here, we have highlighted five ongoing malware campaigns in January.

1. Mirai: This malware targets IoT devices, transforming them into a network of bots used in Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks. Mirai scans for devices with default usernames and passwords, compromising them to initiate massive attacks that can cripple large-scale online services.

2. XorBot: XorBot primarily affects Linux-based systems and IoT devices, employing sophisticated techniques to avoid detection and ensure it remains on infected devices. Often used to build botnets, it is involved in launching DDoS attacks or mining cryptocurrencies for cybercriminals.

3. Gafgyt: Also referred to as Bashlite, Gafgyt is designed to exploit IoT devices with weak security settings. Once it takes control of these devices, it forms botnets to carry out DDoS attacks. Gafgyt has a reputation for causing significant disruptions to networks.

4. FormBook: FormBook is an information-stealing malware that typically spreads through phishing emails. It records keystrokes, takes screenshots, and extracts data from web forms, stealing sensitive information such as login credentials and personal details.

5. LummaStealer: LummaStealer focuses on pilfering data and credentials from compromised systems. It often spreads through malicious downloads and phishing emails. After infiltrating a system, it sends the stolen information back to the attacker.

Leading Top Fraudulent Domains:

Phishing is a kind of social engineering attack used to deceive individuals into providing sensitive information like passwords or credit card details. It typically involves deceptive emails, messages, or websites designed to appear genuine, aiming to trick recipients into revealing confidential data or clicking on malicious links. These attacks can result in identity theft, financial harm, and unauthorized access to personal accounts or systems.

Stay updated with the latest in Cybersecurity! Read the latest blogs here:

https://cyberwarehub.com/blogs/linux-malware-xorbot-returns-with-advanced-tactics
https://cyberwarehub.com/blogs/what-is-a-zero-day-attack-how-attackers-use-it-in-cybersecurity
https://cyberwarehub.com/blogs/cve-2025-21298-windows-ole-remote-code-execution-vulnerability
https://cyberwarehub.com/blogs/lokibot-2025-new-tactics-and-technical-insights-into-its-evolving-malware
https://cyberwarehub.com/blogs/wp3-xyz-malware-infects-5-000-wordpress-sites-how-to-protect-your-website
https://cyberwarehub.com/blogs/what-is-a-brute-force-attack-types-and-how-it-works
https://cyberwarehub.com/blogs/detection-engineering-enhancing-active-directory-security

Happy Reading !!