Why Firewalls, VPNs and Proxies Are the #1 Target—and What to Harden First
Firewalls, VPNs, and proxy servers sit at the very edge of enterprise networks. They are designed to protect internal systems, yet paradoxically they have become the most targeted attack surface in modern cyberattacks. From ransomware gangs to nation-state actors, attackers increasingly focus on these perimeter devices as their preferred entry point.
Understanding why these systems are targeted—and what to harden first—is now critical for organizations of all sizes.
Why Firewalls, VPNs, and Proxies Are Prime Targets
They Sit at the Network Perimeter
Firewalls, VPNs, and proxies are exposed to the internet by design. Unlike internal servers or endpoints, they must accept inbound connections from untrusted networks.
This makes them:
- Continuously reachable
- Easy to scan at scale
- High-value gateways into internal systems
A single successful exploit can grant attackers broad access without needing phishing or malware delivery.
One Exploit Can Bypass Multiple Defenses
Compromising a perimeter device often allows attackers to:
- Bypass endpoint protection
- Evade email security controls
- Avoid user authentication entirely
Unlike endpoint attacks that require lateral movement, exploiting a VPN or firewall vulnerability can provide direct network-level access, sometimes with administrator privileges.
This efficiency makes perimeter devices a favorite target for sophisticated threat actors.
Patch Gaps Are Common
Many organizations struggle to patch network appliances quickly due to:
- Fear of downtime
- Complex upgrade procedures
- Legacy hardware dependencies
- Limited visibility into firmware versions
Attackers know this—and routinely weaponize newly disclosed vulnerabilities within days or even hours of public disclosure.
How Attackers Exploit These Systems
Zero-Day and N-Day Vulnerabilities
Firewalls and VPN appliances are frequent targets of both zero-day and recently disclosed (“N-day”) vulnerabilities. Once a flaw is discovered, attackers rapidly scan the internet to identify unpatched systems.
Common outcomes include:
- Authentication bypass
- Remote code execution
- Credential extraction
- Persistent backdoor installation
Because these devices often lack advanced detection, compromises can remain undetected for long periods.
Stolen Credentials and Configuration Abuse
Even without software exploits, attackers target:
- Weak VPN passwords
- Reused admin credentials
- Default or legacy configurations
Credential stuffing and brute-force attacks remain effective against poorly hardened systems—especially when multi-factor authentication (MFA) is absent.
Living-Off-the-Land Techniques
Once inside, attackers often avoid deploying malware. Instead, they:
- Abuse built-in network tools
- Modify firewall rules
- Create hidden VPN accounts
- Tunnel traffic through proxies
This “living-off-the-land” approach reduces detection and extends dwell time.
Why Traditional Security Models Fall Short
Overreliance on the Perimeter
Many organizations still assume that perimeter defenses are inherently trustworthy. This outdated model creates blind spots once the perimeter itself is compromised.
When a firewall or VPN is breached:
- Internal traffic may appear “trusted”
- Monitoring tools may not flag anomalies
- Attackers blend into legitimate network flows
This is why perimeter compromise often leads to full network takeover.
Limited Visibility Into Appliance Behavior
Unlike endpoints, many network devices lack:
- Detailed logging
- Behavioral analytics
- Real-time alerting
Without external monitoring, suspicious activity can go unnoticed until significant damage occurs.
What to Harden First (Priority Checklist)
1. Patch Management for Network Appliances
The single most important action is aggressive patching of firewalls, VPNs, and proxies.
Best practices:
- Track vendor security advisories daily
- Apply critical patches within days—not weeks
- Replace unsupported or end-of-life devices
If a device cannot be patched promptly, it should be isolated or disabled.
2. Enforce Strong Authentication Everywhere
Perimeter systems must use:
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all admin and VPN access
- Strong, unique credentials
- Role-based access controls
Eliminate shared admin accounts and audit access regularly.
3. Reduce Attack Surface
Disable anything not strictly required:
- Unused VPN portals
- Legacy authentication methods
- Deprecated encryption protocols
- Administrative interfaces exposed to the internet
Every exposed service increases risk.
4. Monitor Logs and Network Behavior
Logging is essential—but only if logs are reviewed and correlated.
Key steps:
- Centralize firewall, VPN, and proxy logs
- Monitor for unusual login patterns
- Alert on configuration changes
- Detect abnormal data flows
Network Detection and Response (NDR) tools can add critical visibility here.
5. Segment and Limit Trust
Even if the perimeter is compromised, segmentation can prevent full network access.
Apply:
- Least-privilege network access
- Segmentation between user, server, and admin networks
- Zero-trust principles for internal traffic
Perimeter compromise should not equal total compromise.
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The Role of Zero Trust and Defense-in-Depth
Assume Breach, Not Perfection
Modern security strategy assumes that perimeter devices will eventually fail. Zero Trust architecture limits the blast radius by continuously verifying users, devices, and traffic—even inside the network.
This approach reduces the impact of firewall or VPN compromise.
Layered Security Still Matters
Firewalls, VPNs, and proxies remain essential—but they must be part of a layered defense that includes:
- Endpoint detection and response (EDR)
- Identity and access management (IAM)
- Network segmentation
- Continuous monitoring
No single control should be a single point of failure.
Why This Threat Is Growing
Automation Favors Attackers
Attackers now use automated scanning and exploitation frameworks that:
- Continuously scan the internet
- Instantly exploit new vulnerabilities
- Scale attacks globally
This means vulnerable perimeter devices are often compromised quickly and indiscriminately.
Remote Work Expanded the Attack Surface
The growth of remote access has dramatically increased reliance on VPNs and proxies. Many organizations exposed critical infrastructure rapidly—sometimes without proper hardening.
Attackers followed.
Conclusion: Protect the Gate Before the House
Firewalls, VPNs, and proxies are targeted not because they are weak—but because they are strategically powerful. Compromising them provides attackers with stealthy, high-impact access that bypasses many traditional defenses.
Hardening these systems first—through patching, strong authentication, reduced exposure, and continuous monitoring—is one of the most effective steps organizations can take to reduce breach risk.
In modern cybersecurity, protecting the gate matters just as much as protecting what lies behind it.
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