How Hackers Are Exploiting Microsoft Teams and Zoom to Evade Detection
Cybercriminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and their latest tactic involves exploiting trusted communication platforms like Microsoft Teams and Zoom. These apps, widely used in business environments, are now being hijacked in a stealthy new method known as Ghost Calls. This technique allows attackers to bypass traditional security systems, making detection difficult. If you've searched for how hackers are using Microsoft Teams and Zoom to hide attacks, you're in the right place. Here’s what you need to know and how to stay one step ahead.
Ghost Calls: How the Attack Works Using Microsoft Teams and Zoom
At the heart of this strategy is a method where hackers take advantage of TURN (Traversal Using Relays around NAT) servers—systems designed to support real-time communication through firewalls. Typically, when a user joins a video call, TURN credentials are temporarily generated. Attackers, after compromising a device, steal these credentials and reroute their malicious traffic through the trusted infrastructure of Microsoft Teams and Zoom.
This is a clever tactic because enterprise networks often whitelist traffic from these platforms. The security systems, trusting the source IP addresses from these services, do not flag the traffic as malicious. What looks like a regular business video call might actually be a disguised command-and-control (C2) channel between a hacker and the compromised system. This makes detection and mitigation especially difficult.
Why Traditional Security Measures Are Failing
Security tools typically rely on reputation-based filtering or pattern recognition to detect threats. Since Microsoft Teams and Zoom are essential communication tools, many companies trust their domains and IPs by default. That trust is now being exploited. What makes Microsoft Teams and Zoom so effective for this type of evasion is not that they are insecure, but that attackers are using their legitimate infrastructure against us.
There are no direct vulnerabilities in these applications themselves. The problem lies in the misuse of the TURN servers, which were never designed to verify the nature of the traffic they relay. Once a hacker hijacks the temporary TURN credentials, they create a secure tunnel that blends in with normal communications. This tunnel can be used to exfiltrate data, control infected machines, or stage more sophisticated attacks—all without raising any alarms.
How to Protect Against Ghost Call Exploits in Microsoft Teams and Zoom
Addressing this issue requires a shift in how organizations think about trusted services. It’s not enough to simply allow or block traffic based on known-good IP addresses. Security teams must implement deeper packet inspection, behavioral analytics, and zero-trust principles. Monitoring application behavior—not just where traffic comes from—is now crucial.
Businesses should also rotate and limit TURN credentials more aggressively and monitor for unusual usage patterns. If TURN credentials are being used outside of normal video call contexts or during odd hours, that could indicate an active exploit. It’s also wise to apply strict policies around third-party apps that integrate with Microsoft Teams and Zoom. Segmenting networks and limiting access for non-essential services can reduce the attack surface.
The Bigger Picture: Securing Communication Tools in 2025 and Beyond
With remote and hybrid work becoming the norm, the reliance on tools like Microsoft Teams and Zoom will only increase. That makes these platforms an attractive vector for attackers seeking stealth and persistence. Organizations must recognize that attackers don’t need to breach apps with vulnerabilities—they can simply exploit how trusted systems are used.
Moving forward, expect to see increased attention to TURN abuse and new security features from video conferencing providers. However, ultimate responsibility still lies with the user and organization to adapt their cybersecurity strategies. As attackers grow more creative, defense must evolve to include proactive threat hunting and advanced anomaly detection. Understanding the tactics being used is the first step toward defending against them.
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