Massive brute force attacks targeting VPNs and firewalls have surged in recent weeks, with cybercriminals using as many as 2.8 million unique IP addresses daily to conduct relentless login attempts.
The Shadowserver Foundation, a nonprofit cybersecurity organization, has confirmed this alarming trend through data collected from its global honeypot infrastructure.
These attacks primarily target devices from high-profile vendors such as Palo Alto Networks, Ivanti, and SonicWall.
In a recent update shared via Shadowserver’s official account on X, researchers highlighted a significant rise in web login brute-forcing activity aimed at edge devices.
The attacks focus on exploiting vulnerabilities in internet-facing devices, attempting to breach systems via weak or default login credentials.
Shadowserver noted that over 1 million of the source IPs involved in these attacks originated from Brazil, underscoring the global nature of the threat.
Further details were made available in their “Honeypot HTTP Scanner Events” report, which actively monitors such malicious activities.
Widespread Impact on Critical Infrastructure
Edge devices like VPN appliances and firewalls are critical components for securing networks, particularly for enterprises and organizations.
These systems are often exposed to the internet and therefore become high-value targets for threat actors looking to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data or infiltrate corporate networks.
The scale of the current attack campaign is unprecedented. With millions of IP addresses involved, these attacks are likely being conducted by large-scale botnets comprising compromised devices around the globe.
A successful intrusion could potentially lead to ransomware attacks, data theft, or disruption of critical services.
Experts strongly recommend that organizations take immediate action to protect their networks. Suggested steps include:
- Use strong, unique passwords for VPN and firewall logins.
- Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA)Â to limit unauthorized access.
- Update and patch all devices regularly, as unpatched vulnerabilities are common attack vectors for brute-force campaigns.
- Monitor network traffic for suspicious activity and block IPs identified as malicious.
Organizations can also subscribe to Shadowserver’s free daily reports, which include details of observed attacks and source IPs.
This proactive sharing of data enables affected networks to take action and mitigate risks.
As cyberattacks continue to grow in volume and sophistication, the importance of securing edge devices has never been more critical.
This incident serves as a stark reminder that no organization can afford to overlook the basics of cybersecurity hygiene.
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