Vulnerability discovered in VPN systems linked to cyberattacks by Check Point Software
In a recent blog post, Check Point Software linked a series of attacks to a vulnerability, CVE-2024-24919, in internet-connected gateways with IPSec VPN, remote access VPN, or mobile access enabled. The vulnerability allows an attacker to read certain information, potentially posing a significant security risk.
To prevent successful exploitation of this vulnerability, Check Point Software has made it mandatory for customers to install a hotfix. Gil Messing, chief of staff at Check Point Software, confirmed that the hotfix is both effective and relatively easy to install.
However, it is essential to note that the National Vulnerability Database has not yet performed an analysis on the vulnerability. Despite this, businesses should verify the patch installation and conduct thorough testing to confirm the vulnerability is resolved.
After applying the official Check Point hotfix, businesses should also consider implementing additional security measures. These include restricting VPN access using strong multi-factor authentication, monitoring VPN and network logs for suspicious activity, implementing network segmentation, using intrusion detection/prevention systems, and regularly updating and hardening VPN client and server configurations according to the vendor’s security guidelines.
Check Point Software has notified cybersecurity authorities about the attacks and is working with teams of incident response specialists, technical service, and product security experts to investigate the incidents. Messing acknowledged numerous other cases where hackers were able to regain access after the installation of initial mitigation measures and patches.
As a precaution, businesses should continue monitoring for exploitation attempts such as anomalous VPN sessions or privilege escalations. Deploying layered security controls around VPN infrastructure and educating users about strong credentials and phishing risks that could facilitate exploitation are also recommended.
While the Check Point hotfix might cover the vulnerability, it is crucial to remain vigilant. The evolving role of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) involves better understanding the risk calculus of their technology stacks in response to corporate stakeholders' desire to know if they are a target. In this context, corporate stakeholders want to better understand the risk calculus of their technology stacks, answering the question: Are we a target?
In summary, the primary workaround is to apply the Check Point hotfix promptly and combine it with complementary security measures as outlined. Without explicit detailed workaround steps from the search results for CVE-2024-24919, following the vendor patch and standard VPN security best practices remain the recommended approach.
- Businesses should be aware that the National Vulnerability Database has not yet analyzed CVE-2024-24919, so it's crucial to verify the patch installation and conduct thorough testing to ensure the vulnerability is resolved.
- To mitigate the risk of ransomware attacks exploiting the CVE-2024-24919 vulnerability, additional security measures such as multi-factor authentication, log monitoring, network segmentation, intrusion detection/prevention, and regular updates should be considered.
- As cyberattacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, it's essential for Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) to have a clear understanding of the risk calculus of their technology stacks, identifying whether their organizations are potential targets, ensuring strong cybersecurity practices are in place.
