CVE-2024-40766 SonicWall SonicOS: login or permission bypass
In plain words: A door that should be locked is not: part of the system can be reached without a valid login or permission. The attacker gets in as a user or administrator without knowing a password.
Confirmed exploited by CISA on · US federal patch deadline Sep 30, 2024
What to do
- Install SonicWall's security update for SonicOS. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships.
- Patch edge devices first — attackers often start scanning for them within hours of a fix.
- Never expose the device's admin page to the internet.
- After patching a device that was exposed, follow the vendor's compromise checks, end active sessions and change passwords.
Who is affected
Work IT. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.
What's at risk: They face the internet and guard the whole network, so a flaw here can hand attackers a way in — and these devices usually run no antivirus, so break-ins go unnoticed.
The details
- Official name
- SonicWall SonicOS Improper Access Control Vulnerability
- Product
- SonicWall SonicOS
- CISA description
- SonicWall SonicOS contains an improper access control vulnerability that could lead to unauthorized resource access and, under certain conditions, may cause the firewall to crash.
- Type of flaw
- Login or permission bypass (CWE-284)
- Confirmed exploited
- Sep 9, 2024 — known to be used in ransomware attacks
- US federal patch deadline
- Sep 30, 2024
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Answering about CVE-2024-40766 ·
Questions about CVE-2024-40766
Is CVE-2024-40766 being exploited?
Yes. CISA added CVE-2024-40766 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Sep 9, 2024, which means there is reliable evidence of real-world attacks, including by ransomware groups.
How do I fix CVE-2024-40766?
Install SonicWall's security update for SonicOS. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships. Patch edge devices first — attackers often start scanning for them within hours of a fix.
Am I affected by CVE-2024-40766?
Only if you use SonicWall SonicOS. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.