One Exposed Server Uncovered Three Microsoft 365 Phishing Operations — Here's How They Worked and How to Stop Both Attack Types
On July 13, 2026, researchers at French security firm Lexfo uncovered three live Evilginx based phishing campaigns targeting Microsoft 365 after an attacker left a Python web server exposed with directory listing enab... The key defense distinction: AiTM proxy attacks are defeated by phishing resistant MFA (FIDO2/pa...
Published byEdited with DeepSeek-V4-FlashImages generated with GPT Image 1.5
On July 13, 2026, researchers at French security firm Lexfo uncovered three live Evilginx based phishing campaigns targeting Microsoft 365 after an attacker left a Python web server exposed with directory listing enab...
The key defense distinction: AiTM proxy attacks are defeated by phishing resistant MFA (FIDO2/passkeys), while device code phishing is best blocked by disabling the device code OAuth grant in Microsoft Entra ID Condit...
Search & fact-check with cited sources for What are the details of the recent Microsoft 365 phishing campaigns exposed by a misconfigured seAn open directory on a misconfigured server led researchers to three active phishing campaigns and the Forg365 PhaaS platform.
AI Prompt
Create a landscape editorial hero image for this Studio Global article: Search & fact-check with cited sources for What are the details of the recent Microsoft 365 phishing campaigns exposed by a misconfigured se. Article summary: On **July 13, 2026**, researchers at the French security firm **Lexfo** uncovered three live Evilginx-based phishing operations targeting Microsoft 365 after an attacker left a Python web server exposed on a public port . Topic tags: general, government, education, general web, user generated. Style: premium digital editorial illustration, source-backed research mood, clean composition, high detail, modern web publication hero. Use reference image context only for broad subject, composition, and topical grounding; do not copy the exact image. Avoid: logos, brand marks, copyrighted characters, real person likenesses, fake screenshots, UI text, readable text, wat
openai.com
In July 2026, two parallel discoveries revealed a surge in sophisticated Microsoft 365 phishing attacks that bypass multi-factor authentication (MFA) using two fundamentally different methods: adversary-in-the-middle (AiTM) proxy attacks and device code authentication abuse. The first discovery came from a single attacker mistake — a misconfigured Python web server that exposed three running campaigns. The second came from researchers tracking a new commercial phishing platform called Forg365. Understanding how each attack works is the first step to deploying the right defenses, because the fix for one does not stop the other.
The Misconfigured Server That Revealed Three Evilginx Operations
On July 13, 2026, researchers at the French security firm Lexfo uncovered three live Evilginx-based phishing operations targeting Microsoft 365 after an attacker left a Python web server exposed on a public port with directory listing enabled. The command python3 -m http.server 8080 was still visible in the server's .bash_history. From that open directory, Lexfo retrieved the operator's entire toolkit, logs, captured victim data, and pivoted to identify two additional phishing operators running separate campaigns .
Studio Global AI
Continue your research
This page includes a source-backed answer you can continue inside Studio Global.
What is the short answer to "One Exposed Server Uncovered Three Microsoft 365 Phishing Operations — Here's How They Worked and How to Stop Both Attack Types"?
On July 13, 2026, researchers at French security firm Lexfo uncovered three live Evilginx based phishing campaigns targeting Microsoft 365 after an attacker left a Python web server exposed with directory listing enab...
What are the key points to validate first?
On July 13, 2026, researchers at French security firm Lexfo uncovered three live Evilginx based phishing campaigns targeting Microsoft 365 after an attacker left a Python web server exposed with directory listing enab... The key defense distinction: AiTM proxy attacks are defeated by phishing resistant MFA (FIDO2/passkeys), while device code phishing is best blocked by disabling the device code OAuth grant in Microsoft Entra ID Condit...
One Exposed Server Uncovered Three Microsoft 365 Phishing Operations — Here's How They Worked and How to Stop Both Attack Types
On July 13, 2026, researchers at French security firm Lexfo uncovered three live Evilginx based phishing campaigns targeting Microsoft 365 after an attacker left a Python web server exposed with directory listing enab... The key defense distinction: AiTM proxy attacks are defeated by phishing resistant MFA (FIDO2/pa...
Published byEdited with DeepSeek-V4-FlashImages generated with GPT Image 1.5
On July 13, 2026, researchers at French security firm Lexfo uncovered three live Evilginx based phishing campaigns targeting Microsoft 365 after an attacker left a Python web server exposed with directory listing enab...
The key defense distinction: AiTM proxy attacks are defeated by phishing resistant MFA (FIDO2/passkeys), while device code phishing is best blocked by disabling the device code OAuth grant in Microsoft Entra ID Condit...
Search & fact-check with cited sources for What are the details of the recent Microsoft 365 phishing campaigns exposed by a misconfigured seAn open directory on a misconfigured server led researchers to three active phishing campaigns and the Forg365 PhaaS platform.
AI Prompt
Create a landscape editorial hero image for this Studio Global article: Search & fact-check with cited sources for What are the details of the recent Microsoft 365 phishing campaigns exposed by a misconfigured se. Article summary: On **July 13, 2026**, researchers at the French security firm **Lexfo** uncovered three live Evilginx-based phishing operations targeting Microsoft 365 after an attacker left a Python web server exposed on a public port . Topic tags: general, government, education, general web, user generated. Style: premium digital editorial illustration, source-backed research mood, clean composition, high detail, modern web publication hero. Use reference image context only for broad subject, composition, and topical grounding; do not copy the exact image. Avoid: logos, brand marks, copyrighted characters, real person likenesses, fake screenshots, UI text, readable text, wat
openai.com
In July 2026, two parallel discoveries revealed a surge in sophisticated Microsoft 365 phishing attacks that bypass multi-factor authentication (MFA) using two fundamentally different methods: adversary-in-the-middle (AiTM) proxy attacks and device code authentication abuse. The first discovery came from a single attacker mistake — a misconfigured Python web server that exposed three running campaigns. The second came from researchers tracking a new commercial phishing platform called Forg365. Understanding how each attack works is the first step to deploying the right defenses, because the fix for one does not stop the other.
The Misconfigured Server That Revealed Three Evilginx Operations
On July 13, 2026, researchers at the French security firm Lexfo uncovered three live Evilginx-based phishing operations targeting Microsoft 365 after an attacker left a Python web server exposed on a public port with directory listing enabled. The command python3 -m http.server 8080 was still visible in the server's .bash_history. From that open directory, Lexfo retrieved the operator's entire toolkit, logs, captured victim data, and pivoted to identify two additional phishing operators running separate campaigns .
Studio Global AI
Continue your research
This page includes a source-backed answer you can continue inside Studio Global.
What is the short answer to "One Exposed Server Uncovered Three Microsoft 365 Phishing Operations — Here's How They Worked and How to Stop Both Attack Types"?
On July 13, 2026, researchers at French security firm Lexfo uncovered three live Evilginx based phishing campaigns targeting Microsoft 365 after an attacker left a Python web server exposed with directory listing enab...
What are the key points to validate first?
On July 13, 2026, researchers at French security firm Lexfo uncovered three live Evilginx based phishing campaigns targeting Microsoft 365 after an attacker left a Python web server exposed with directory listing enab... The key defense distinction: AiTM proxy attacks are defeated by phishing resistant MFA (FIDO2/passkeys), while device code phishing is best blocked by disabling the device code OAuth grant in Microsoft Entra ID Condit...
All three operations were Evilginx-based AiTM phishing campaigns that proxied Microsoft 365 login pages to steal session tokens after the user completed MFA . One of the three campaigns had logged 218 captured accounts across 12 countries, of which 94% were corporate mailboxes. The operations used two distinct attack paths: Evilginx session token theft (via an AiTM proxy) and device code phishing — one kit sent victims to the real Microsoft device login page, where they authorized access themselves, and the attacker's backend polled for the token .
Forg365: A Commercial Phishing-as-a-Service Platform
Separately, the Forg365 phishing-as-a-service (PhaaS) platform was identified by ZeroBEC researchers (reported July 9–13, 2026) as a commercial Telegram-distributed kit that costs $400 per month (or $3,800 per year). Unlike the custom Evilginx forks found on the exposed server, Forg365 bundles multiple attack methods and tools into a single operator dashboard .
Forg365 combines three core capabilities:
AiTM proxying — a transparent reverse proxy that captures session tokens after the user completes MFA
Device code phishing — abuses Microsoft's legitimate OAuth device-code flow, meaning the user completes authentication on a real Microsoft page without the attacker ever seeing their password
AI-assisted lure generation — uses AI to craft convincing phishing emails and landing pages that impersonate SharePoint, OneDrive, DocuSign, and Adobe Acrobat Sign
The platform also includes antibot evasion (detects sandboxes and security crawlers), post-compromise mailbox access (operators can browse and exfiltrate email from within the panel), SMTP rotation, and campaign scheduling .
One Attack Steals Tokens After MFA; the Other Abuses a Legitimate Protocol
These two discoveries illustrate the critical distinction between AiTM proxy attacks and device code abuse. Understanding the difference is essential because the same defense does not work for both:
AiTM proxy attacks (Evilginx-style): The attacker sets up a fake login page that proxies traffic to the real Microsoft login page. The user enters their password and completes MFA on the attacker's proxy. After successful authentication, Microsoft issues a session cookie to what it believes is the legitimate user's browser — but that cookie actually lands in the attacker's proxy, not the user's browser. The attacker can then replay that cookie to access the victim's Microsoft 365 account .
Device code phishing: The attacker generates a legitimate Microsoft device code (a short code used to sign in on devices without keyboards, like smart TVs) and sends it to the victim in a phishing email. The victim visits the real Microsoft login page, enters the code, completes MFA, and authorizes the attacker's application. Nothing is "bypassed" — the victim has authorized access. The attacker's backend then polls Microsoft for the token .
Recommended Defenses: Which Controls Stop Each Attack
Defenses Against Adversary-in-the-Middle Proxy Attacks (Evilginx-style)
The single most effective defense against AiTM proxy attacks is phishing-resistant MFA, specifically FIDO2/WebAuthn and passkeys. These bind credentials to the legitimate domain name, so when the user's browser connects to the attacker's proxy site (which has a different domain), the authentication protocol detects the domain mismatch and blocks the credential exchange automatically .
Other defenses include:
Conditional Access policies (Entra ID): Require device compliance and trusted-location requirements to block token issuance from untrusted proxies
Continuous Access Evaluation (CAE): Enables near-real-time token revocation when risky conditions are detected
Monitor for anomalous token usage: Look for tokens used from a different IP or country than where they were issued, impossible travel, and "unfamiliar sign-in properties"
Block newly registered phishing domains: Monitor domains registered in the last 30 days that resolve to known hosting IP ranges used for phishing infrastructure
Defenses Against Device Code Authentication Abuse
Device code phishing does not require the attacker to trick the user into entering credentials on a fake page — the user interacts with the real Microsoft login page. This means FIDO2/passkeys alone do not fully protect against this attack because the legitimate OAuth flow is being used .
The primary defense is to block the device-code OAuth grant for users who do not need it, using Microsoft Entra ID Conditional Access:
Create a policy using the "Authentication Flows" condition to block device code flow for all users except a documented exception group
Before blocking, run in report-only mode or check historical sign-in logs to identify legitimate device-code usage (e.g., smart TVs, conference-room devices)
Plan for a Device Registration Service (DRS) exception, because blocking device code flow can interfere with Autopilot and Windows device enrollment
Additional defenses:
Restrict app consent and OAuth grant scopes: Limit which apps can use device-code grants and audit consented applications regularly
Deploy phishing-resistant MFA even for device-code flows: While not a complete fix, FIDO2 hardware keys or certificate-based authentication still reduce the attack surface
The Bottom Line
The FBI's May 2026 Public Service Announcement on the Kali365 PhaaS platform specifically recommended blocking device code flow as the primary defense . As phishing platforms like Forg365 continue to commercialize these attack techniques, the operational urgency for defenders is clear: deploy FIDO2/passkeys for all privileged accounts to stop AiTM proxy attacks, and use Conditional Access to disable the device-code grant for users who do not need it. One open directory may have exposed three campaigns — but the lessons apply to every Microsoft 365 tenant.
thehackernews.com
Forg365 PhaaS Targets Microsoft 365 with Device Code ...
All three operations were Evilginx-based AiTM phishing campaigns that proxied Microsoft 365 login pages to steal session tokens after the user completed MFA . One of the three campaigns had logged 218 captured accounts across 12 countries, of which 94% were corporate mailboxes. The operations used two distinct attack paths: Evilginx session token theft (via an AiTM proxy) and device code phishing — one kit sent victims to the real Microsoft device login page, where they authorized access themselves, and the attacker's backend polled for the token .
Forg365: A Commercial Phishing-as-a-Service Platform
Separately, the Forg365 phishing-as-a-service (PhaaS) platform was identified by ZeroBEC researchers (reported July 9–13, 2026) as a commercial Telegram-distributed kit that costs $400 per month (or $3,800 per year). Unlike the custom Evilginx forks found on the exposed server, Forg365 bundles multiple attack methods and tools into a single operator dashboard .
Forg365 combines three core capabilities:
AiTM proxying — a transparent reverse proxy that captures session tokens after the user completes MFA
Device code phishing — abuses Microsoft's legitimate OAuth device-code flow, meaning the user completes authentication on a real Microsoft page without the attacker ever seeing their password
AI-assisted lure generation — uses AI to craft convincing phishing emails and landing pages that impersonate SharePoint, OneDrive, DocuSign, and Adobe Acrobat Sign
The platform also includes antibot evasion (detects sandboxes and security crawlers), post-compromise mailbox access (operators can browse and exfiltrate email from within the panel), SMTP rotation, and campaign scheduling .
One Attack Steals Tokens After MFA; the Other Abuses a Legitimate Protocol
These two discoveries illustrate the critical distinction between AiTM proxy attacks and device code abuse. Understanding the difference is essential because the same defense does not work for both:
AiTM proxy attacks (Evilginx-style): The attacker sets up a fake login page that proxies traffic to the real Microsoft login page. The user enters their password and completes MFA on the attacker's proxy. After successful authentication, Microsoft issues a session cookie to what it believes is the legitimate user's browser — but that cookie actually lands in the attacker's proxy, not the user's browser. The attacker can then replay that cookie to access the victim's Microsoft 365 account .
Device code phishing: The attacker generates a legitimate Microsoft device code (a short code used to sign in on devices without keyboards, like smart TVs) and sends it to the victim in a phishing email. The victim visits the real Microsoft login page, enters the code, completes MFA, and authorizes the attacker's application. Nothing is "bypassed" — the victim has authorized access. The attacker's backend then polls Microsoft for the token .
Recommended Defenses: Which Controls Stop Each Attack
Defenses Against Adversary-in-the-Middle Proxy Attacks (Evilginx-style)
The single most effective defense against AiTM proxy attacks is phishing-resistant MFA, specifically FIDO2/WebAuthn and passkeys. These bind credentials to the legitimate domain name, so when the user's browser connects to the attacker's proxy site (which has a different domain), the authentication protocol detects the domain mismatch and blocks the credential exchange automatically .
Other defenses include:
Conditional Access policies (Entra ID): Require device compliance and trusted-location requirements to block token issuance from untrusted proxies
Continuous Access Evaluation (CAE): Enables near-real-time token revocation when risky conditions are detected
Monitor for anomalous token usage: Look for tokens used from a different IP or country than where they were issued, impossible travel, and "unfamiliar sign-in properties"
Block newly registered phishing domains: Monitor domains registered in the last 30 days that resolve to known hosting IP ranges used for phishing infrastructure
Defenses Against Device Code Authentication Abuse
Device code phishing does not require the attacker to trick the user into entering credentials on a fake page — the user interacts with the real Microsoft login page. This means FIDO2/passkeys alone do not fully protect against this attack because the legitimate OAuth flow is being used .
The primary defense is to block the device-code OAuth grant for users who do not need it, using Microsoft Entra ID Conditional Access:
Create a policy using the "Authentication Flows" condition to block device code flow for all users except a documented exception group
Before blocking, run in report-only mode or check historical sign-in logs to identify legitimate device-code usage (e.g., smart TVs, conference-room devices)
Plan for a Device Registration Service (DRS) exception, because blocking device code flow can interfere with Autopilot and Windows device enrollment
Additional defenses:
Restrict app consent and OAuth grant scopes: Limit which apps can use device-code grants and audit consented applications regularly
Deploy phishing-resistant MFA even for device-code flows: While not a complete fix, FIDO2 hardware keys or certificate-based authentication still reduce the attack surface
The Bottom Line
The FBI's May 2026 Public Service Announcement on the Kali365 PhaaS platform specifically recommended blocking device code flow as the primary defense . As phishing platforms like Forg365 continue to commercialize these attack techniques, the operational urgency for defenders is clear: deploy FIDO2/passkeys for all privileged accounts to stop AiTM proxy attacks, and use Conditional Access to disable the device-code grant for users who do not need it. One open directory may have exposed three campaigns — but the lessons apply to every Microsoft 365 tenant.
thehackernews.com
Forg365 PhaaS Targets Microsoft 365 with Device Code ...