A Rising Threat at the Network Edge
On August 4, 2025, cybersecurity researchers confirmed that the Akira ransomware group has launched a coordinated campaign targeting SonicWall SSL VPN appliances. By exploiting either unpatched vulnerabilities or misconfigured security settings, attackers have successfully bypassed authentication controls and deployed ransomware across sectors like healthcare, education, law, logistics, and finance.
This marks a critical shift in ransomware strategy-from phishing and endpoints to trusted perimeter infrastructure.
The Akira Attack Chain
Akira operators are now:
- Bypassing MFA via session hijacking and credential harvesting
- Deploying ransomware post-authentication across internal networks
- Exfiltrating sensitive data before encryption (double extortion)
- Erasing forensic logs, complicating incident response and compliance
In many incidents, outdated firmware or overlooked VPN configurations served as the attack entry point.
Why This Matters
VPNs and firewalls-once trusted as first lines of defense-are now prime targets.
This campaign confirms a trend: attackers are moving beyond social engineering into supply chain and infrastructure-level compromise. These are highly disciplined actors using native functionality to exploit misconfigurations, technical debt, and outdated security hygiene.
What Enterprises Must Do
Organizations using SonicWall or similar VPN platforms should:
- Immediately patch firmware and deploy hotfixes
- Audit VPN access logs for session anomalies and geolocation mismatches
- Enforce modern MFA policies, and disable legacy protocols
- Segment internal networks to limit ransomware propagation
- Rehearse legal and operational ransomware response plans with proper escalation channels
Key Takeaways
- Ransomware isn’t just about files-it’s now about infrastructure.
- VPNs are no longer a “set it and forget it” technology.
- Legal exposure from data theft is growing in regulated industries.
- Downtime can affect the entire supply chain, not just internal systems.
About COE Security
At COE Security, we help enterprises across healthcare, legal, logistics, finance, and education secure their perimeter and core systems against advanced threats.
Our services include:
- Perimeter risk assessments for VPNs, firewalls, and remote access
- Ransomware tabletop exercises and response planning
- Compliance advisory for HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001, and NIST CSF
- SIEM integrations, MFA policy reviews, and endpoint containment
- Forensic investigations and attack path reconstruction
We help you move from detection to resilience-before the next campaign finds your open door.