Five Remote Access Security Risks And How To Protect Against Them
- Weak remote access policies. Once attackers get access to a virtual private network (VPN), they can often penetrate...
- A deluge of new devices to protect. Global “stay at home” policies have forced many organizations to purchase and...
- Lack of visibility into remote user activity. With the sudden...
Full Answer
Why are VPN vulnerabilities so dangerous?
For a number of reasons, VPN vulnerabilities are extremely dangerous. These devices reveal access points in insecure networks and there is very little evidence of a breach in security introspection tools. Attackers may break a VPN and then spend months mapping a target network until ransomware or extorting requests are implemented.
Is it safe to use a VPN for remote access?
Though VPN is for sensitive on-site work, remote access, and web browsing, some recent events made people realize that it is best to lock their systems down on both fronts. VPN vulnerabilities can be eliminated with a clientless solution to secure remote access without worry.
Are your vendors at risk from VPN attacks?
The more servers, applications, and network equipment your vendors can access, the more you have at risk. VPN servers and client software grant a vendor access to everything in your network unless least privileged access is implemented.
What is the role of a VPN in an enterprise network?
The system running the VPN client becomes, effectively, an extension of the enterprise network, existing inside that network's perimeter with access to resources generally equivalent to any other system on the enterprise network. VPNs defend against attack via authenticated access control and isolation.
What are the vulnerabilities of VPN?
VPNs are insecure because they expose entire networks to threats like malware, DDoS attacks, and spoofing attacks. Once an attacker has breached the network through a compromised device, the entire network can be brought down.
Is remote access VPN secure?
A remote access VPN works by creating a virtual tunnel between an employee's device and the company's network. This tunnel goes through the public internet but the data sent back and forth through it is protected by encryption and security protocols to help keep it private and secure.
Is VPN more secure than remote desktop?
The essential difference when comparing VPNs and RDP is that a VPN doesn't provide your device with any additional functionality the way an RDP does. You're still using the same old device, only that its IP address has changed and it is now a whole lot more secure when accessing the Internet.
Can VPN be hacked?
Their success comes from a combination of technical trickery, computing power, cheating, court orders, and behind-the-scenes persuasion. VPNs can be hacked, but it's hard to do so. Furthermore, the chances of being hacked without a VPN are significantly greater than being hacked with one.
What is the difference between remote access and a VPN?
A VPN is a smaller private network that runs on top of a larger public network, while Remote Desktop is a type of software that allows users to remotely control a computer. 2. Remote Desktop allows access and control to a specific computer, while VPN only allows access to shared network resources.
Why do companies use VPN for remote work?
A VPN allows remote employees to become an extension of the network as if they're in the office with the same security and connectivity benefits. Think of it as a secure network line from a user to applications, whether those applications reside in a private data center or on a public network.
Which method of remote access is the most secure?
Implement a Secure Connection for Remote Network AccessWired Connection: A wired connection is the most secure method for remote network access.Home Wi-Fi: The second most secure network connection is using a secured home Wi-Fi connection.More items...•
Why would you use RDS instead of VPN?
VPN – Virtual Private Network encrypts your data and masks the IP address so that no malicious hacker can access the data and detect your location. The data is decrypted only at the intended destination. RDS – In RDS, the data is stored on the remote server and not on the end-point device.
Is it safe to allow remote access?
Remote access solutions could leave you vulnerable. If you don't have proper security solutions in place, remote connections could act as a gateway for cybercriminals to access your devices and data. Hackers could use remote desktop protocol (RDP) to remotely access Windows computers in particular.
What does a VPN not protect you from?
It's important to remember that VPNs do not work in the same way as comprehensive anti-virus software. While they will protect your IP and encrypt your internet history, but that is as much as they can do. They won't keep you safe, for instance, if you visit phishing websites or download compromised files.
Which VPN is the most secure?
1. NordVPN – incredibly strong and secure VPN. NordVPN is the most secure VPN on the market. It is based in a privacy-friendly location, uses the newest encryption technology and security measures, as well as offers numerous additional features for safe browsing, entertainment, and more.
What is the safest VPN protocol?
Many VPN experts recommend OpenVPN as the most secure protocol. It uses 256-bit encryption as a default but also offers other ciphers such as 3DES (triple data encryption standard), Blowfish, CAST-128, and AES (Advanced Encryption Standard).
Does VPN can hack your phone?
You can never know exactly how secure a wireless network is, and connecting to it is often a leap in the deep. In any case, it is important to protect yourself against these break-ins, for example by means of a VPN connection. That way you enjoy mobile VPN security and it is almost impossible to hack your data.
Can VPN be tracked by police?
Police can't track live, encrypted VPN traffic, but if they have a court order, they can go to your ISP (Internet Service Provider) and request connection or usage logs. Since your ISP knows you're using a VPN, they can direct the police to them.
CACHATTO INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED
As the world becomes more connected every day, the cybersecurity surrounding remote access has never been more crucial.
The Remote workplace: a scalable and cost-effective alternative to traditional VPNs
You may be looking into a remote access option to keep your business running smoothly and efficiently. It’s vital to research all of the options available, including one many people don’t know about, the NinjaConnect Telework. The clientless solution with built-in DLP and SSO can efficiently serve as a complete alternative to a traditional VPN.
1. Remote workforces are more susceptible to phishing scams
Without the proper protections on personal devices, remote workers can face greater threats from phishing attacks. Cyber criminals don’t care if personnel are working from home or in the office. Either way, they can trick workers into giving up login credentials—or completing a financial transaction—by posing as a message from a reputable company.
2. Out-of-date devices give hackers an easy in
Opportunistic hackers typically aim for well-known vulnerabilities. They’re particularly interested in known exploits for older, out of-date-devices. An organization which allows remote workers to use outdated personal devices puts their critical business information at great risk to cyber criminals.
3. Virtual private networks (VPN) can provide substantial protection, but you need the right one
VPNs are employed by a wide range of organizations to help bridge the gap between centralized networks and remote workers, allowing users to securely access business networks in an encrypted channel. However, consumer-grade VPN services can still be vulnerable to savvy hackers.
What is VPN in business?
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are the backbone of today's businesses providing a wide range of entities from remote employees to business partners and sometimes even to customers, with the ability to connect to sensitive corporate information securely . Long gone are the days of buying a leased line or a dedicated physical network (or fiber) for these types of communications. VPNs provide a simple way to take advantage of the larger public internet by creating virtual encrypted communications. However, in recent months a number of VPN vulnerabilities have been discovered and are known to be actively exploited ( Cybersecurity Requirements Center Advisory ), putting at risk what was once considered the most reliable and trusted way to access sensitive corporate resources. In this blog post, I hope to explore the path that brought us here and highlight some recommendations that will hopefully guide the various next steps needed for secure remote network access to various partners.
What is VPN protocol?
Traditionally, VPN employed specific protocols (e.g., Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) ) and either hardware or software devices to enable trusted communications using the public internet. Starting around 2005, the ubiquitous encryption technologies SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) and its successor TLS (Transport Layer Security) were introduced into VPN products. These newer protocols, inherently present in modern browsers, make it easier for large corporations to adopt VPN with a simpler on-boarding process bypassing cumbersome provisioning and installation of traditional VPN software. The SSL VPN design allows for both client and clientless implementation, enabling users to seamlessly work remotely. A number of vendors also find the SSL VPN technology to have a quick time-to-market; this is due to the large number of resources allowing architects, developers, and designers to quickly bring many of the capabilities requested by the customers into production.
Is VPN a must?
VPN are a Must for Today's Enterprise. Many businesses today are physically dispersed around the globe with operations that work around the clock. Remote locations range from a single employee to larger branch offices.
Is there any downtime for VPN?
However, there is no such luxury of downtime afforded for VPN servers. For example, both Pulse Secure and FortiGate SSL VPN announced critical vulnerabilities around the end of April 2018 and patches were quickly released by the vendors.
Why is VPN so dangerous?
These devices reveal access points in insecure networks and there is very little evidence of a breach in security introspection tools.
What is an improper authorization vulnerability in SSL VPN?
An Improper Authorization vulnerability in the SSL VPN web portal may allow an unauthenticated attacker to change the password of an SSL VPN web portal user via specially crafted HTTP requests.
What are the vulnerabilities in Pulse Connect Secure?
This includes an authentication by-pass vulnerability that can allow an unauthenticated user to perform remote arbitrary file access on the Pulse Connect Secure gateway. This advisory also includes a remote code execution vulnerability that can allow an authenticated administrator to perform remote code execution on Pulse Connect Secure and Pulse Policy Secure gateways. Many of these vulnerabilities have a critical CVSS score and pose a significant risk to your deployment.
What is authentication bypass vulnerability?
An authentication bypass vulnerability exists in the GlobalProtect SSL VPN component of Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS software that allows an attacker to bypass all client certificate checks with an invalid certificate. A remote attacker can successfully authenticate as any user and gain access to restricted VPN network resources when the gateway or portal is configured to rely entirely on certificate-based authentication. Impacted features that use SSL VPN with client certificate verification are GlobalProtect Gateway, GlobalProtect Portal, GlobalProtect Clientless VPN.
How many vulnerabilities were exploited in the past decade?
Gartner states that only roughly one-eighth of all vulnerabilities in the past decade were actually exploited in the wild. Many of them are frequently reused and leveraged in a wide range of threats, such as Remote Access Trojans (RATs) and ransomware. Taking external-facing vulnerable services into perspective, SOCRadar is committed to providing you with actionable insights and context while speeding up the prioritization process.
What is a vulnerability in Cisco IOS XE?
A vulnerability in the hardware crypto driver of Cisco IOS XE Software for Cisco 4300 Series Integrated Services Routers and Cisco Catalyst 9800-L Wireless Controllers could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to disconnect legitimate IPsec VPN sessions to an affected device.
Can VPNs be attacked?
How VPNs can be attacked? Several SSL VPN products contain vulnerabilities that allow an attacker to retri eve arbitrary data like authentication files. An intruder can connect to the VPN and change configuration settings or connect to another internal infrastructure with those stolen credentials.
VPNs Put Remote Access Security at High Risk
In general, VPNs provide minimal security with traffic encryption and simple user authentication. Without inherent strong security measures, they present numerous risk areas:
VPNs Have Other Drawbacks
In addition to the security issues, VPNs have other drawbacks that make them unsuitable for long-term remote access connectivity. For example, an appliance has capacity to support a limited number of simultaneous users.
A Better Long-term Solution for Secure Remote Access
VPNs are no longer the only (or best) choice for enterprise remote access. Gartner’s Market Guide for Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) projected that by 2023, 60% of enterprises will phase out VPN and use ZTNA instead. The main driver of ZTNA adoption is the changing shape of enterprise network perimeters.
What is a VPN client?
The system running the VPN client becomes, effectively, an extension of the enterprise network, existing inside that network's perimeter with access to resources generally equivalent to any other system on the enterprise network. VPNs defend against attack via authenticated access control and isolation.
How does a VPN work?
A VPN establishes an encrypted tunnel between the system running the VPN client and a VPN server that then proxies traffic through the tunnel to the rest of the enterprise network. The system running the VPN client becomes, effectively, an extension of the enterprise network, existing inside that network's perimeter with access to resources generally equivalent to any other system on the enterprise network.
What is remote work?
Remote Work: Vulnerabilities and Threats to the Enterprise. For many organizations, COVID-19 dramatically changed the risk calculation for remote work. In January 2020, many enterprises viewed remote work with skepticism; by March, the choice for many was to become a remote-first enterprise or to shut down.
What is enterprise network?
Enterprise networks were traditionally accessed only on enterprise-provided equipment. This arrangement has permitted enterprises unrestricted access to monitor and configure the device precisely according to their risk profiles and mitigation strategies. It also has required the enterprise to purchase and maintain equipment. This has sometimes frustrated end users when the enterprise was unwilling to buy newer equipment, a problem that became particularly pronounced when smartphones and tablet devices entered the market.
Can VPNs be split horizon?
Unfortunately, fully maintaining this assumption is hard. Many VPNs are configured to prohibit a "split horizon"-that is, the ability to access the local physical network and the virtually connected enterprise network simultaneously.
Is home network friendlier to attackers?
Here too, the home network is friendlier to the attacker; threat detection is typically nearly absent, and remediation incidental, such as when a PC is reinstalled or retired because it is running slowly.
Can a VPN be always on?
Many fewer VPNs, however, are configured to be "always on," meaning that the VPN endpoint effectively never interacts directly with the local network. If an attacker has persistence in that network, even brief access can expose the enterprise endpoint to compromise.
What is VPN vulnerability?
The solution to the gaping problems exposed by VPN weaknesses is a system that does not create any trust between the remote worker devices and company network; and which authenticates remote workers in the cloud or away from company network before granting access to only authorized systems. Systems that fit this category are often referred to as Zero-Trust Network Access.
What is the flaw of VPN?
The original flaw of the VPN is that it establishes too much trust between the remote device and the corporate network. While the VPN tunnel between a remote worker and corporate network is cryptographically secure, the trust between the two is easily exploited. As a result, threats (including ransomware) affecting the remote worker device or network can travel to, and infect, the corporate network. Segmenting a company network to limit access over VPN is an arduous task and does not guarantee security from lateral threat movements.
Why is VPN up at all hours of the day?
The challenge is that many companies rely on their VPN to be up at all hours of the day to provide access to employees and contractors working remotely. This often causes VPN gateway appliances to go unpatched for months or years, and thus more vulnerable to new attacks.
