Navigating SonicWall SSL VPN Incident: How a Trusted IT Partner Makes All the Difference
In early August 2025, SonicWall confirmed a spike in suspicious activity targeting some of their firewall devices (Gen 7 and newer) that allow remote logins through a feature called SSL VPN. At first, it looked like a brand-new (and serious) security flaw – but it turns out the problem is actually tied to an older vulnerability that was already discovered and fixed back in 2024.
What Happened – and Why It Matters
The short version: Some businesses had upgraded from older SonicWall devices (Gen 6) to newer ones (Gen 7), but during that transition, user passwords were carried over without being updated or reset. This created an opportunity for hackers to use known or guessed passwords to try and break in – especially if multi-factor authentication (MFA) wasn’t turned on or was misconfigured. SonicWall has since confirmed there is no new zero-day threat and has published updated guidance to prevent future problems.
What to Watch For — and When to Call Us
If you use a SonicWall device to log in remotely and have noticed unusual slowness, trouble connecting, or password issues, it might be related to this incident. While this doesn’t affect everyone, if your firewall setup includes remote VPN access, we recommend checking in.
You should contact us right away if:
- You’re unable to log in remotely as usual
- The connection feels slower or glitchy
- You’ve recently upgraded your SonicWall device and didn’t reset passwords
- You’re unsure whether your system is fully protected
These are quick checks and easy fixes in most cases — and we’re here to walk you through them, step by step. Even if everything seems normal, we’re happy to review your system to make sure it’s up to date and secure.
For you techies out there, here is a more technical breakdown on this issue:
CVE-2024-40766 and Recommended Fixes
- CVE-2024-40766 is a known “improper access control” flaw that can allow hackers to access protected systems through SSL VPN if security settings aren’t properly updated.
- The issue mostly affected companies that moved from Gen 6 to Gen 7 firewalls and did not reset local user passwords.
- SonicWall has emphasized that this was already documented in their original advisory,but many users may have missed the critical step of resetting passwords during migration.
SonicWall’s Updated Guidance Includes:
- Upgrade to SonicOS 7.3.0 adds stronger protections against brute force and multi-factor authentication (MFA) bypass attacks.
- Reset all local SSL VPN user passwords – especially for any accounts carried over from Gen 6.
- Enable additional protections:
-Botnet Protection
-Geo-IP Filtering
-Remove unused or inactive user accounts
-Enforce MFA and strong password policies across all accounts.
Why a Trusted IT Team Matters
- Rapid Response & Containment: Trusted IT partners help detect and patch vulnerabilities fast – well before attackers exploit them.
- Blameless Post-Incident Review: Conducting a structured, blameless postmortem (incident review) lets organizations identify root causes, fix systemic gaps, and enhance future resilience without assigning blame (Exam-Labs, Atlassian).
- Reassuring Communication: Expert partners craft clear, calm client messaging – balancing transparency with reassurance, as in our own advisory communications.
- Continuous Improvement: Over time, this cycle of incident detection, analysis, and response strengthens your overall security posture – and maintains client trust (pentestpeople.com)
Key Takeaways
1. Not all “zero-days” are new attacks – some incidents stem from previously known issues coupled with overlooked best practices.
2. Proactive vulnerability management matters. Firmware updates, password resets, MFA, and filtering controls work.
3. Partnering with a skilled IT provider means faster mitigation, clearer communication, and stronger, evolving security.
At Tech 2020 Solutions, we’re here to make sure issues like these stay small—so you can stay focused on running your business, not chasing down tech problems. If you need us, call us, we’re always here to support you. To find out more visit us on the web at www.tech2020solutions.com.