Inventive HQ Weekly Security & Cloud Newsletter - 2/13/2025

Cyber Threats, Cloud Trends, and the Latest CVEs You Need to Know

Cyber threats aren’t slowing down, and businesses must stay ahead of evolving risks. This week, we explore a controversial trend in phishing simulations, concerning federal cybersecurity cuts, AWS’s cloud growth challenges, and critical vulnerabilities that need immediate attention.

🎭 Phishing Tests Are Getting Meaner – Where’s the Line?

Imagine receiving an email telling you that you’ve been fired—only to find out later that it was a cybersecurity test from your employer. Some companies are pushing the limits of phishing simulations, using emotionally charged messages to test employee vigilance. While these aggressive tactics may boost awareness, they are also creating stress and ethical concerns in the workplace.

Are these extreme simulations an effective training method, or do they cross the line? Let us know your thoughts.

🏛️ U.S. Cybersecurity Workforce Cuts – A Risk to National Security?

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recently cut positions in a division focused on countering election-related cyber threats. This move has sparked concern among security experts who warn that reducing cyber defenses could leave critical infrastructure vulnerable, especially with upcoming elections and increasing cyberattacks on public institutions.

With government-backed cyber threats on the rise, is this the right time to scale back security efforts?

☁️ AWS Growth Slows Amid AI Investment Concerns

Amazon Web Services (AWS) reported lower-than-expected revenue in Q4, fueling investor concerns about its heavy investments in AI infrastructure. As businesses increasingly move workloads to the cloud, AWS remains a major player, but slowing growth raises questions:

Will AWS adjust its pricing strategies to maintain dominance?
Could businesses see cost changes as cloud providers compete for market share?
How will AI investments reshape cloud security and operations?

For organizations relying on AWS, these shifts could impact long-term cloud strategies.

🔥 Fortinet’s Strong Q4 Performance Highlights Cybersecurity Demand

Cybersecurity giant Fortinet reported a 33% increase in Q4 earnings, with revenue reaching $1.66 billion. The driving force? A growing demand for advanced firewall solutions and early technology refresh cycles among enterprise customers.

Why does this matter? Fortinet’s success signals that businesses are prioritizing cybersecurity investments. If companies are ramping up their defenses, cyber threats must be evolving just as fast.

🚨 Critical CVEs You Need to Patch Now

🔴 CVE-2025-23094 (Mitel OpenScape 4000 – Command Injection)

What’s the risk? Allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary commands.
Who’s affected? Organizations using Mitel OpenScape 4000.
Action: Patch immediately to prevent exploitation.
🔗 More details: https://www.tenable.com/cve/newest

🟠 CVE-2025-22936 (Smartcom Routers – Weak WiFi Passwords)

What’s the risk? Default WiFi passwords are predictable, making them an easy target for hackers.
Who’s affected? Users of Smartcom Bulgaria AD’s Smartcom Ralink CPE/WiFi routers.
Action: Change default credentials and check for firmware updates.
🔗 More details: https://www.tenable.com/cve/newest

🟡 CVE-2024-54171 (IBM EntireX – XML External Entity Injection)

What’s the risk? Allows attackers to expose sensitive information and consume system resources.
Who’s affected? Organizations using IBM EntireX v11.1.
Action: Apply patches immediately.
🔗 More details: https://www.tenable.com/cve/newest

🛡️ Is Your Business Secure? Let’s Talk.

Cyber threats aren’t going anywhere—are your defenses strong enough to keep up? If you’re unsure whether your cloud environment or security posture is truly secure, let’s chat.

Our team at Inventive HQ specializes in securing cloud environments, mitigating vulnerabilities, and optimizing cybersecurity strategies to keep businesses protected.

🔍 Learn how we can help: https://inventivehq.com/services/

Stay secure,
The Inventive HQ Team

P.S. Know someone who needs a cybersecurity wake-up call? Forward this to them! 🚀

Want to subscribe to our weekly email? Fill out the form