Mitigating VPN Vulnerabilities

A virtual private network (VPN) is a type of technology that uses an encrypted connection to route internet traffic through a remote server, granting a user access to certain digital services while masking their online activity. Connecting to a VPN establishes a safe tunnel between a user’s device and the internet, making it seem as though they are browsing from the server’s original location and protecting their data from being intercepted by malicious parties. Over the years, VPNs have become a crucial cybersecurity tool for many companies, particularly those that permit employees to work from different locations and use public Wi-Fi networks.

Although VPNs are intended to benefit businesses by providing secure gateways to private IT infrastructure and simplifying remote access capabilities for staff, they must be launched correctly, adequately safeguarded and updated regularly to remain effective. Otherwise, they can end up becoming attack avenues for cybercriminals rather than protective barriers. What’s worse, VPN vulnerabilities are on the rise. According to a recent survey conducted by threat intelligence and security research firm Zscaler ThreatLabz, over half (56%) of companies have experienced VPN-related cyberattacks in the past year.

As such, it’s imperative for businesses to clearly understand the cybersecurity challenges tied to VPNs and take steps to mitigate them. This article provides more information on key VPN vulnerabilities, their possible ramifications, and the associated risk management measures that companies should consider.

Common VPN Vulnerabilities

Because VPNs provide a bridge between the internet and a company’s internal systems, they are an attractive target for cybercriminals. Consequently, hackers have been increasingly exploiting VPN vulnerabilities to launch cyberattacks. These vulnerabilities can stem from a range of factors, including:

• Poor encryption protocols—A VPN’s encryption standards play a major role in keeping users’ online activity and data private. Most sophisticated cybercriminals can bypass VPNs with outdated encryption protocols, creating significant cybersecurity exposures.
• Weak authentication mechanisms—In addition to poor encryption standards, minimal or otherwise weak authentication requirements can make it easier for hackers to infiltrate a VPN and its surrounding IT infrastructure through brute-force techniques.
• Software issues—An effective VPN requires routine software updates and proper patch management. When a VPN is left unpatched, this can lead to bugs, glitches and other technical problems, all of which increase the risk of a cyberattack.
• Coding concerns—A VPN also relies on accurate coding to operate as intended. If this code gets misconfigured, whether due to a system breakdown or human error, the VPN won’t function correctly, rendering it useless against cybercriminals. Upon exploiting a company’s VPN vulnerabilities, cybercriminals may be able to infiltrate its larger IT infrastructure, ultimately disrupting critical operations, creating possible supply chain complications and compromising confidential data. One example of this type of incident is the Ivanti Pulse Connect Secure data breach, in which foreign attackers identified a zero-day exploit—a software vulnerability unknown to developers or other parties capable of fixing it—in the IT provider’s VPN hardware. From there, the attackers leveraged the exploit to infiltrate several U.S. government agencies, defense firms and financial institutions using the VPN. It took months for the affected organizations to detect the breach, leaving multiple federal systems and a host of sensitive data compromised for an extended period.

Upon exploiting a company’s VPN vulnerabilities, cybercriminals may be able to infiltrate its larger IT infrastructure, ultimately disrupting critical operations, creating possible supply chain complications and compromising confidential data. One example of this type of incident is the Ivanti Pulse Connect Secure data breach, in which foreign attackers identified a zero-day exploit—a software vulnerability unknown to developers or other parties capable of fixing it—in the IT provider’s VPN hardware. From there, the attackers leveraged the exploit to infiltrate several U.S. government agencies, defense firms and financial institutions using the VPN. It took months for the affected organizations to detect the breach, leaving multiple federal systems and a host of sensitive data compromised for an extended period.

Consequences of VPN Vulnerabilities 

 Cyberattacks resulting from VPN vulnerabilities can pose a number of consequences, such as: 

• Financial and reputational fallout—As with any cyberattack, a VPN-related incident can cause substantial financial losses for the impacted company, especially when it involves compromised data, stolen corporate funds and prolonged operational disruptions. Depending on the nature and scale of the incident, it may also foster frustration and distrust among customers and other key stakeholders, resulting in considerable reputational damage.
• Legal and compliance issues—A company could encounter serious regulatory ramifications if certain types of sensitive data (e.g., stakeholders’ personally identifiable information, health records and financial details) are compromised in a VPN-related cyber incident. In particular, stakeholders whose information was exposed may file costly lawsuits against the company for failing to protect against the attack. Additionally, the company could face fines and other legal penalties for breaking any applicable data privacy or breach notification laws both during and in the immediate aftermath of the incident.
• Ongoing attacks—During a VPN-related cyber incident, hackers may infect certain elements of the impacted company’s larger IT infrastructure with malware or other harmful bugs and viruses, paving the way for ongoing attacks. In many cases, VPN vulnerabilities lay the groundwork for cybercriminals to deploy ransomware attacks, distributed denial-of-service events and man-in-the-middle incidents, each of which are known to cause major damage. According to the latest Coalition Cyber Threat Index Report, 60% of cyber insurance claims stemming from ransomware attacks involve VPN exploitation.

Risk Mitigation Strategies 

 Considering the potentially severe ramifications of VPN vulnerabilities, it’s essential for businesses to leverage effective risk management techniques. Here are some best practices for companies to implement:

• Conduct risk assessments. First and foremost, businesses should review and document their unique cyber risks, taking into consideration their key operations, essential services, sensitive data and digital assets. From there, businesses can better determine what type of VPN will be most effective for their particular circumstances.
• Select a trusted service provider. Businesses should carefully research different VPN service providers and choose one that fits their needs. Specifically, the provider should have a solid reputation and display a commitment to cybersecurity. The best VPN service providers typically provide built-in encryption features and have no-logs policies, meaning they won’t store any data regarding users’ online activity. Some providers may even offer extra security features, such as kill switches for compromised programs or devices.
• Enable security features. Businesses should be sure to enable any security features available to strengthen their VPNs, including anti-malware programs, adblockers, multifactor authentication protocols and data leak prevention tools. In addition to the VPN software itself, these security features should be updated regularly. If possible, businesses should consider enabling automatic software and security updates or deploying patch management solutions to stay on track with such updates. Monitor network activity and perform audits. Various threat detection tools (e.g., endpoint detection and response solutions) can help businesses closely monitor their VPN connections and identify any unusual network activity in real time. These tools can allow businesses to address connection issues as swiftly as possible and respond to potential threats before they escalate to large-scale attacks. In conjunction with such tools, businesses should also perform routine security audits to help detect any ongoing VPN vulnerabilities (e.g., misconfigured code) and make adjustments as needed.
• Educate staff. Employees are often the first line of defense against cyberattacks. With this in mind, businesses should educate their staff about proper VPN usage. This includes creating strong passwords; using safe devices; and only accessing data, systems and services deemed critical to fulfilling their job roles. Businesses should also provide employees with ways to identify potential VPN vulnerabilities or suspicious network activity and outline how to respond if a VPN-related cyberattack occurs.
• Consider alternatives. In some cases, VPNs may not be worth the risks they pose to businesses. Under these circumstances, businesses should consider alternative remote access solutions, such as zero-trust network access, virtual desktop infrastructure, secure access service edge, software-defined perimeters or privileged access management tools.  

Conclusion

Even though VPNs can help companies boost their cybersecurity measures, they may create additional vulnerabilities. Left unmanaged, these vulnerabilities could easily be exploited by cybercriminals. Fortunately, by upholding effective VPN security measures, businesses can minimize possible cyberattack avenues and avoid costly losses.   

Contact us today for more risk management guidance.

This Cyber Risks & Liabilities document is not intended to be exhaustive nor should any discussion or opinions be construed as legal advice. Readers should contact legal counsel or an insurance professional for appropriate advice. © 2025 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved.