Check Point analysts warn that threat actors are discussing the use of HexStrike AI to accelerate exploitation of recent n‑day vulnerabilities in Citrix NetScaler ADC/Gateway, notably CVE‑2025‑7775, CVE‑2025‑7776, and CVE‑2025‑8424. According to Shadowserver Foundation, as of 2 September 2025 roughly 8,000 endpoints remained exposed to CVE‑2025‑7775, down from at least 28,000 the prior week—evidence of active remediation, but not closure.
HexStrike AI: capabilities, architecture, and intent
HexStrike AI is an open‑source red‑team framework authored by Muhammad Osama. It integrates AI agents to autonomously orchestrate more than 150 security tools for penetration testing and vulnerability discovery, positioning itself as a platform for “adaptive automation.”
The framework connects to external large language models via the Model Context Protocol (MCP), creating a continuous loop of prompt generation, context analysis, command execution, and feedback collection. Built‑in retry and recovery features allow it to resume after errors so single failures do not halt operations.
Publicly available on GitHub for about a month, HexStrike AI has attracted approximately 1,800 stars and over 400 forks. The project explicitly disclaims unauthorized use. The author has also delayed release of a RAG‑enabled version that could dynamically blend CVE intelligence, citing risk of misuse.
Threat actor chatter and the Citrix NetScaler focus
Check Point observed dark‑web discussions beginning roughly 12 hours after public disclosures regarding the Citrix flaws. Posters claimed unauthenticated remote code execution (RCE) via CVE‑2025‑7775 with subsequent web‑shell deployment on compromised devices, and some allegedly offered access to exposed NetScaler instances for sale.
Researchers assess that adversaries aim to use HexStrike AI to automate the end‑to‑end kill chain: discovery of vulnerable hosts, exploit generation and adaptation, payload delivery, and post‑exploitation. At this stage, concrete use of HexStrike AI is evidenced primarily through forum chatter, while CVE‑2025‑7775 is already being exploited in the wild by independent campaigns.
Why this matters: AI compresses the response window
The Citrix case underscores a broader trend: AI‑driven orchestration is shifting n‑day exploitation from manual, labor‑intensive efforts to semi‑autonomous pipelines. The interval between disclosure and widespread probing is collapsing—from days to minutes—intensifying pressure on patch prioritization, attack surface management (ASM), and continuous exposure monitoring.
In practice, organizations need resilient threat‑intelligence feeds, automated perimeter configuration checks, and rapid deployment of virtual patches (WAF/IPS rules) to bridge the gap until vendor updates are applied. Reducing mean time to secure state directly lowers the probability of compromise.
Actionable guidance for SOC and security teams
Prioritize Citrix NetScaler patching
Immediately remediate CVE‑2025‑7775, CVE‑2025‑7776, and CVE‑2025‑8424. Validate all internet‑exposed appliances, remove unnecessary exposure, and disable legacy or unused administrative interfaces.
Apply virtual protection
Deploy temporary WAF/IPS signatures and enforce strict perimeter policies to reduce exploitable paths prior to full patch rollout. Consider geo/IP‑based controls and rate limiting for management endpoints.
Intensify detection and IOC monitoring
Hunt for anomalies in HTTP/HTTPS traffic, unexpected file artifacts such as web shells, suspicious account activity, and unplanned configuration changes on NetScaler devices and adjacent systems.
Adopt AI‑assisted defense and adaptive detection
Leverage EDR/NDR behavioral analytics, correlate telemetry with current CVE intelligence, and automate containment with SOAR playbooks to shrink mean time to detect and respond.
Validate backups and incident response readiness
Test restoration procedures, maintain isolated and immutable backups, and keep clear, rehearsed runbooks for escalation and recovery.
As AI‑enabled frameworks like HexStrike AI mature, the same automation that boosts defender efficiency can accelerate abuse. Minimize your attack window now: patch Citrix NetScaler promptly, enforce virtual shielding, and strengthen adaptive monitoring and response. Organizations that move from alert to action fastest are best positioned to preempt and contain AI‑accelerated threats.
