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Microsoft Defender BlueHammer (CVE-2026-33825) ransomware exploitation wave

Exploitation Wave
First reported
Last updated
Happening score
H score 41
1 unique sources, 1 articles

Summary

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CISA has flagged BlueHammer (CVE-2026-33825) as exploited in ransomware campaigns, expanding the risk to Windows devices exposed to privilege escalation. The flaw in Microsoft Defender can let an authorized attacker elevate to SYSTEM and take over a targeted machine. Microsoft patched the issue on April 14, but the KEV update shows active abuse is still occurring.

Related Happenings

Microsoft releases RoguePlanet Defender security update for CVE-2026-50656

Security Patch Release
H score32 First: 17.06.2026 20:36 Last: 17.06.2026 20:36 Sources 1

About this happening: Microsoft has released a security update for CVE-2026-50656, remediating RoguePlanet in the Microsoft Malware Protection Engine (mpengine.dll). The flaw is a *...

Latest development: 09.07.2026 11:48

Microsoft released security updates for CVE-2026-50656, remediating the RoguePlanet privilege-escalation flaw in Microsoft Malware Protection Engine (mpengine.dll) with version 1.1.26060.3008 and additional defense-in-depth updates. Microsoft said no customer action is required to install the update.

Microsoft Malware Protection Engine race-condition elevation-of-privilege remote code execution flaw (CVE-2026-50656)

Vulnerability
H score32 First: 17.06.2026 11:32 Last: 17.06.2026 11:32 Sources 1

About this happening: Microsoft has released a security update for CVE-2026-50656 after public disclosure of RoguePlanet, a privilege-escalation flaw in the Microsoft Malware Protecti...

Major U.S. services company hit by ransomware attack linked to DragonForce

Incident
H score38 First: 16.06.2026 13:18 Last: 16.06.2026 13:18 Sources 1

About this happening: A DragonForce ransomware incident hit a major U.S. services firm in December 2025, with attackers maintaining access for one to two months and hiding command-and...

Microsoft Windows June 2026 Patch Tuesday zero-day fixes (multiple vulnerabilities)

Security Patch Release
H score40 First: 10.06.2026 12:57 Last: 10.06.2026 12:57 Sources 1

About this happening: Microsoft's June 2026 Patch Tuesday fixed three Windows zero-days that could yield SYSTEM access or bypass BitLocker on vulnerable systems.

Microsoft Defender RoguePlanet race-condition zero-day remote code execution flaw

Vulnerability
H score39 First: 10.06.2026 02:11 Last: 10.06.2026 02:11 Sources 1

About this happening: Microsoft Defender zero-day RoguePlanet is a race-condition flaw affecting fully patched Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems. A public proof-of-concept exploit was released shortly...

Latest development: 10.06.2026 08:22

The anonymous security researcher Chaotic Eclipse, also known as Nightmare-Eclipse, released a proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit for the Microsoft Defender zero-day RoguePlanet under a new GitHub account named MSNightmare. The race-condition exploit can yield a SYSTEM-level shell and arbitrary code execution when it succeeds, has been tested on Windows 11 and Windows 10 with the June 2026 Patch Tuesday updates installed, and currently does not work on Windows Server without redesign because standard users cannot mount an ISO image.

Timeline

  1. 30.06.2026 11:53 1 articles · 15d ago

    Microsoft patches BlueHammer privilege-escalation flaw

    Mitigation Patch Update

    Microsoft patched BlueHammer (CVE-2026-33825) in the April 2026 Patch Tuesday, closing a Microsoft Defender access-control flaw that could let an authorized attacker elevate privileges locally and reach the Security Account Manager (SAM) database.

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  2. 30.06.2026 11:53 1 articles · 15d ago

    CISA adds BlueHammer to the KEV Catalog

    Legal Policy Action Update

    CISA added BlueHammer (CVE-2026-33825) to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) Catalog on April 22 and ordered Federal Civilian Executive Branch (FCEB) agencies to patch affected Windows devices by May 7 after ongoing attacks were identified.

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  3. 30.06.2026 03:00 2 articles · 16d ago

    CISA flags BlueHammer as exploited in ransomware campaigns

    Campaign Scope Update

    CISA's Monday KEV update said ransomware gangs are exploiting BlueHammer (CVE-2026-33825) against Microsoft Defender on Windows devices, extending earlier zero-day abuse into ransomware campaigns.

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