NewApp Digest
search bot

race condition

Microsoft Scrambles To Patch ShieldBreak Zero-Day Flaw In Windows Defender
Winsage
August 18, 2026

Microsoft Scrambles To Patch ShieldBreak Zero-Day Flaw In Windows Defender

A new exploit named ShieldBreak, developed by Nightmare-Eclipse, targets Microsoft Defender by allowing privilege escalation and bypassing previous security fixes related to the RoguePlanet vulnerability. ShieldBreak operates on Windows 11 25H2, its Canary channel, and Windows Server 2025, achieving a "100% success rate." Windows 10 may also be vulnerable, but the exploit is specifically designed for Windows 11. There is currently no patch for ShieldBreak, and users are advised to disable Microsoft Defender, implement two-factor authentication, and exercise caution with suspicious online activities. Malwarebytes has recommended its Premium Security antivirus as a temporary solution.
Microsoft-vendetta hacker has a new zero day that gives system privileges on fully patched Windows
Winsage
August 13, 2026

Microsoft-vendetta hacker has a new zero day that gives system privileges on fully patched Windows

Nightmare Eclipse has released a new zero-day exploit called ShieldBreak, which can bypass Microsoft's RoguePlanet patch (CVE-2026-50656) and allow attackers to gain SYSTEM privileges on fully patched Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server systems. The exploit has been confirmed by security expert Kevin Beaumont, who provided detection methods for it. ShieldBreak is the tenth zero-day from Nightmare Eclipse since April and was released shortly after Microsoft's monthly Patch Tuesday. The exploit allows local privilege escalation and has a 100% success rate on the latest version of Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025, while Windows 10 remains vulnerable. Microsoft is aware of the vulnerability and is investigating it, emphasizing the importance of coordinated vulnerability disclosure. Previous exploits from Nightmare Eclipse include LegacyHive and GreatXML, with earlier vulnerabilities having been patched but recent ones still unaddressed. Microsoft had threatened legal action against Nightmare Eclipse in May but later reconsidered its approach to vulnerability disclosure.
Nightmare Eclipse Drops Windows Zero-Day Exploit ‘ShieldBreak’
Winsage
August 13, 2026

Nightmare Eclipse Drops Windows Zero-Day Exploit ‘ShieldBreak’

Security researcher Nightmare Eclipse has released a zero-day exploit named ShieldBreak that allows privilege escalation on Windows by targeting a vulnerability in Microsoft Defender. This exploit, designated as CVE-2026-50656, is categorized as a race condition vulnerability and affects the latest versions of Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025, with potential impacts on Windows 10. The exploit was disclosed on June 9, 2026, and Microsoft acknowledged the issue on June 16, rolling out fixes by July 9. The mechanics of ShieldBreak involve manipulating Defender’s scan path and executing a scheduled task to gain System-level privileges. Experts have noted differences between ShieldBreak and the previously known RoguePlanet exploit, emphasizing that ShieldBreak requires Defender to be active to function.
Microsoft Windows 0-Day Attack Deploys Lazarus Rootkit—Patch Now
Winsage
August 12, 2026

Microsoft Windows 0-Day Attack Deploys Lazarus Rootkit—Patch Now

Microsoft released a patch for a zero-day vulnerability, CVE-2026-68820, which is being exploited by cybercriminals, specifically the North Korean hacking group Lazarus. This vulnerability allows unauthorized attackers to elevate their privileges locally, posing a significant risk to affected systems. The August 2026 Patch Tuesday update addressed 421 vulnerabilities, including three zero-days, with CVE-2026-68820 being the only one confirmed to be actively exploited. The vulnerability's impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability are rated as High. Users of Microsoft Windows 10, Windows 11, and various versions of Windows Server should prioritize deploying the patch for this vulnerability.
I played DOOM inside MS Paint on Windows 11 by hijacking the clipboard, and it's shockingly good
Winsage
August 5, 2026

I played DOOM inside MS Paint on Windows 11 by hijacking the clipboard, and it’s shockingly good

Mark Russinovich, the Chief Technology Officer of Microsoft Azure, has created a project called DoomPaint, which allows the classic game DOOM to be displayed within Microsoft Paint. The game operates through the ViZDoom engine, rendering frames headlessly and transferring them to Paint via the Windows clipboard. DoomPaint features full keyboard controls, sound effects, and a MIDI soundtrack, maintaining a frame rate of around 35 FPS. To run DoomPaint, users need to download the project from GitHub, ensure Python is installed, extract the folder, and run a batch file, which sets up a virtual environment and opens Microsoft Paint for gameplay. The default controls include movement with W/S or arrow keys, turning with A/D or arrow keys, strafing with Q/E, firing with Ctrl/F, and other functions assigned to different keys. The project uses the shareware DOOM1.WAD for the initial episode and additional maps from Freedoom due to licensing restrictions. DoomPaint differs from previous attempts to integrate DOOM into Paint by using Paint’s canvas as the sole display for the game. The clipboard race condition was addressed by allowing the application to own the clipboard as a reference-counted OLE data object. Sound effects come from ViZDoom through OpenAL, and music is played using a separate module that loops through the Windows MIDI sequencer. Russinovich utilized Claude Fable 5 for this project, demonstrating how AI tools can enhance software development.
A critical Windows 11 and Windows 10 flaw turns Microsoft Defender into a hacker's best friend
Winsage
June 30, 2026

A critical Windows 11 and Windows 10 flaw turns Microsoft Defender into a hacker’s best friend

Chaotic Eclipse, also known as Nightmare-Eclipse, bypassed Windows 11's BitLocker security using a USB stick and claimed Microsoft left a backdoor in the system. Following this, Microsoft patched three zero-day exploits named YellowKey, GreenPlasma, and MiniPlasma. Nightmare-Eclipse then revealed another zero-day vulnerability called RoguePlanet, which affects Microsoft Defender on Windows 10 and 11, potentially allowing attackers full control over compromised systems. Microsoft is tracking this vulnerability as CVE-2026-50656 and is working on a security update. Nightmare-Eclipse provided a proof-of-concept exploit and described it as a race condition with variable success rates. Microsoft has promoted Windows Defender as adequate for most users but acknowledged that third-party tools can offer additional protection. The company initially threatened legal action against Nightmare-Eclipse but later decided not to pursue lawsuits against researchers sharing their findings.
A critical exploit bypasses Microsoft Defender in Windows 11 and Windows 10 — so much for "everyday risk protection without additional software"
Winsage
June 30, 2026

A critical exploit bypasses Microsoft Defender in Windows 11 and Windows 10 — so much for “everyday risk protection without additional software”

Security researcher Chaotic Eclipse, known as Nightmare-Eclipse, bypassed Windows 11's BitLocker security using a USB stick and claimed Microsoft intentionally included a backdoor in the feature. Microsoft responded by patching three zero-day exploits disclosed by Nightmare-Eclipse: YellowKey, GreenPlasma, and MiniPlasma, and is monitoring another exploit called RoguePlanet, cataloged as CVE-2026-50656. The RoguePlanet exploit is a race condition with varying success rates on different machines, achieving a 100% success rate on some devices. Microsoft acknowledged that while Windows 11's Defender is generally sufficient for most users, third-party tools can offer additional security features. Tensions between Nightmare-Eclipse and Microsoft have risen, with the company previously considering legal action but now indicating it will not pursue lawsuits against researchers sharing their findings.
Search