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Critical Severity|Sonicwall
84
SVRS
9.8
CVSSv3
0.18177
EPSS
TAGS
In The WildExploit AvaliableCISA KEV
VECTOR STRING
CVSS:3.1AV:NAC:LPR:NUI:NS:UC:HI:HA:H
PUBLICATION DATE2024-08-23
LAST MODIFIED2025-10-21
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Security Intelligence Brief
1. What is this vulnerability and why does it matter?
This vulnerability, identified as CVE-2024-40766, is an improper access control flaw found in the SonicWall SonicOS management access. It is critical because it can lead to unauthorized access to firewall resources and, in certain conditions, can cause the firewall to crash, resulting in a denial of service. Given that firewalls are critical components of network security, such a vulnerability can severely compromise network integrity, confidentiality, and availability.
2. What are the CVSS score, severity level, and disclosure details?
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 9.8, which designates it as a Critical severity level. The vulnerability was publicly disclosed and published on 2024-08-23 06:19:07, and the record was last modified on 2025-10-21 22:55:46.
3. Which products, vendors, systems, and versions are affected?
The affected vendor is SonicWall. The vulnerability impacts the following products and versions:
- SonicWall Firewall Gen 5 devices
- SonicWall Firewall Gen 6 devices
- SonicWall Firewall Gen 7 devices running SonicOS 7.0.1-5035 and older versions
4. What is the technical root cause and attack vector?
The technical root cause is an improper access control vulnerability (CWE-284) within the SonicWall SonicOS management access mechanism. This flaw allows attackers to bypass intended security restrictions. The primary attack vector is through the management interface of the affected SonicWall firewall devices.
5. How can this vulnerability be exploited?
This vulnerability can be exploited by leveraging the improper access control flaw in the SonicOS management interface. An attacker can gain unauthorized access to firewall resources. Furthermore, under specific conditions, exploitation can lead to a denial of service by causing the affected firewall to crash. The fact that active exploits have been published indicates that the methods for exploitation are known and potentially publicly available.
6. What mitigation steps and patches are available?
To mitigate this vulnerability, administrators should upgrade their SonicWall Firewall Gen 7 devices to a SonicOS version newer than 7.0.1-5035. For Gen 5 and Gen 6 devices, the latest security patches and firmware updates released by SonicWall should be applied. Additionally, restricting access to the SonicOS management interface to only trusted networks and IP addresses can limit the exposure to potential attackers.
7. How can vulnerable systems be detected?
Vulnerable systems can be detected by checking the SonicOS version running on SonicWall Firewall Gen 5, Gen 6, and Gen 7 devices. Specifically, for Gen 7 devices, any installation running SonicOS 7.0.1-5035 or older is considered vulnerable. Administrators should verify their current firmware version against the vendor's advisories for the latest patched versions.
8. What are the indicators of compromise (IOCs)?
Indicators of Compromise (IOCs) for this vulnerability may include:
- Unauthorized login attempts or successful unauthorized access to the SonicOS management interface.
- Unexplained reboots or crashes of the SonicWall firewall devices.
- Unusual configuration changes or unauthorized modifications observed on the firewall.
- Unexpected network traffic originating from the firewall itself.
- Entries in firewall logs indicating access from unfamiliar or unauthorized IP addresses to the management interface.
9. Which threat actors are known to exploit this vulnerability?
While the CVE data does not name specific threat actor groups, it explicitly states that "Active exploits have been published to exploit the vulnerability." This indicates that the vulnerability is publicly known and is likely being targeted or actively exploited by various malicious actors, including cybercriminals, state-sponsored groups, or opportunistic attackers.
10. What public intelligence references and advisories exist?
The primary public intelligence reference is CVE-2024-40766 itself. Given that SonicWall is the affected vendor, official security advisories and patches are expected to be published by SonicWall. The existence of published active exploits suggests that details about the exploitation methods may be available in public security research, threat intelligence platforms, or exploit databases.
11. What is the risk assessment and urgency level?
The risk assessment for CVE-2024-40766 is rated as Critical, highlighted by a CVSS score of 9.8. This vulnerability affects critical network infrastructure (firewalls) and can lead to severe consequences such as unauthorized resource access and denial of service. The urgency level is Immediate. Organizations using affected SonicWall devices must prioritize patching and implementing mitigation strategies without delay to protect their networks from active exploitation.
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