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Ivanti VPN Vulnerability: Critical Flaw Under Active Attack
Table of Contents
A critical vulnerability in Ivanti Connect Secure, a widely used virtual private network (VPN) solution, is currently under active exploitation. This flaw, one of eleven security issues recently patched by Ivanti, poses a significant risk to organizations relying on the software for secure remote access. The vulnerability allows for arbitrary code execution, meaning attackers could potentially gain complete control of affected systems. This is a highly actionable threat requiring immediate attention.
What is the Ivanti Connect Secure Vulnerability?
The vulnerability,tracked as CVE-2024-21893,is an insufficient validation input flaw. It allows an unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code on a vulnerable system. This means an attacker doesn’t need a username or password to exploit the weakness. The flaw resides within the VPN’s web portal, making it accessible from the internet.
Did You Know? Ivanti Connect Secure is used by a considerable number of organizations globally, including government agencies and critical infrastructure providers.
Why is This Vulnerability So Serious?
The severity stems from the potential for complete system compromise. Successful exploitation grants attackers the ability to install malware, steal sensitive data, disrupt operations, or even launch further attacks within the network.The fact that the vulnerability is actively being exploited elevates the risk considerably. According to ivanti, evidence indicates active exploitation of CVE-2024-21893 in the wild
(Ivanti Security Advisory). This means organizations should assume compromise and act accordingly.
Affected products and Timeline
The following Ivanti Connect Secure versions are affected:
| Product | Affected Versions | Patched Versions |
|---|---|---|
| ivanti Connect secure | Prior to 22.4.1.4 | 22.4.1.4 and later |
| Ivanti Policy Secure | Prior to 15.0.1.6 | 15.0.1.6 and later |
| Ivanti MobileConnect | Prior to 9.2.4.1 | 9.2.4.1 and later |
Ivanti released patches on January 25, 2024, but the active exploitation indicates that many organizations have not yet applied the updates. The delay in patching is a common issue, frequently enough due to the complexity of VPN infrastructure and the need for thorough testing before deploying updates.
How to Mitigate the Ivanti VPN vulnerability
Organizations using Ivanti Connect Secure should take the following strategic steps instantly:
- Apply Patches: Upgrade to the latest patched versions (22.4.1.4 or later for Connect Secure, 15.0.1.6 or later for Policy Secure, and 9.2.4.1 or later for MobileConnect) as a top priority.
- Implement Workarounds: If patching is not immediatly feasible, Ivanti has provided temporary workarounds, including disabling the web portal. However, these workarounds may impact functionality.
- Monitor for Suspicious Activity: Actively monitor network traffic and system logs for any signs of compromise. Look for unusual outbound connections or unexpected process execution.
- review Security Configurations: Ensure that multi-factor authentication (MFA) is enabled and properly configured. This adds an extra layer of security even if the VPN itself is compromised.
Pro Tip: Consider segmenting your network to limit the potential blast radius of a successful attack. If an attacker gains access through the VPN, network segmentation can prevent them from moving laterally to other critical systems.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has issued a binding operational directive requiring federal civilian executive branch agencies to address this vulnerability by February 2, 2024 (
