Major VPN Vulnerabilities Remain Unpatched Months After Discovery
Critical Security Alert
Over 4,500 SonicWall endpoints remain vulnerable with exploitable flaws allowing remote code execution.
Critical vulnerabilities in popular VPN systems including Ivanti Connect Secure and SonicWall SSL VPN remain exploitable by September 2025, with over 4,500 SonicWall endpoints still vulnerable. These security flaws allow attackers to bypass authentication and execute remote code, posing significant risks to UK businesses using these VPN solutions.
Affected VPN Systems
Several major enterprise VPN platforms continue to have unpatched vulnerabilities:
Vulnerable Systems:
- • SonicWall SSL VPN: 4,500+ endpoints with remote code execution flaws
- • Ivanti Connect Secure: Authentication bypass vulnerabilities
- • Fortinet FortiOS: Multiple SSL VPN security gaps
- • Pulse Secure: Legacy systems with known exploits
- • Cisco AnyConnect: Some versions with credential theft vulnerabilities
Technical Details of Key Vulnerabilities
The most critical vulnerabilities allow sophisticated attacks:
- CVE-2024-40766 (SonicWall): Improper access control allowing SSL VPN user impersonation
- CVE-2024-29824 (Ivanti): XML external entity injection in SAML responses
- Remote Code Execution: Buffer overflow attacks enabling system compromise
- Authentication Bypass: Flaws allowing unauthorized network access
- Privilege Escalation: Local exploits for administrative access
UK Business Impact
The unpatched vulnerabilities pose significant risks to UK organizations:
High-Risk Sectors:
- • Financial Services: 15% of UK banks using affected SonicWall systems
- • Healthcare: NHS trusts and private healthcare providers at risk
- • Government: Local councils and agencies with vulnerable endpoints
- • Manufacturing: Industrial companies with remote access needs
- • Education: Universities and colleges with student/staff remote access
Active Exploitation in the Wild
Security researchers have documented active exploitation of these vulnerabilities:
- Ransomware Groups: Using VPN vulnerabilities as initial access vectors
- Nation-State Actors: Targeting government and critical infrastructure
- Cybercriminal Networks: Selling VPN access on dark web marketplaces
- Data Theft Operations: Exfiltrating sensitive business information
Why Patches Remain Undeployed
Several factors contribute to the slow patching process:
Patching Challenges:
- • Downtime Concerns: Critical business systems requiring 24/7 availability
- • Testing Requirements: Complex validation processes for enterprise environments
- • Change Management: Lengthy approval processes for security updates
- • Resource Constraints: IT teams overwhelmed with competing priorities
- • Legacy Systems: Older hardware incompatible with latest patches
Immediate Action Required
UK organizations must take urgent steps to protect against these vulnerabilities:
Emergency Response Steps:
- • Immediate Assessment: Inventory all SSL VPN appliances and versions
- • Patch Deployment: Apply all available security updates immediately
- • Network Segmentation: Limit VPN user access to essential systems only
- • Multi-Factor Authentication: Enable additional verification layers
- • Monitoring Enhancement: Deploy advanced threat detection on VPN traffic
- • Incident Response: Prepare for potential compromise scenarios
Alternative Security Measures
Organizations unable to patch immediately should implement compensating controls:
- Zero Trust Architecture: Implement continuous verification for all access
- VPN Replacement: Consider modern SASE solutions
- Access Restriction: Limit VPN availability to essential users only
- Enhanced Logging: Comprehensive monitoring of all VPN connections
Regulatory and Compliance Implications
Unpatched vulnerabilities may violate UK regulatory requirements:
Compliance Risks:
- • UK GDPR: Failure to maintain appropriate technical safeguards
- • Financial Conduct Authority: Operational resilience requirements
- • Cyber Essentials: Vulnerability management obligations
- • ISO 27001: Information security management standards
Expert Recommendations
Cybersecurity experts strongly recommend treating these vulnerabilities as critical incidents requiring immediate attention. Organizations should prioritize patching over convenience and consider the potential catastrophic impact of a successful attack through these well-known and actively exploited vulnerabilities.