VPNs are having ongoing Security problems including Zero-day attacks that by the time the CVE is published, it is already being exploited. Many get classed as High Risks on the CVE risk scale.
Secure remote access is essential for modern organizations. Despite the growing emphasis on returning to the office, remote and hybrid work have become integral to the way we operate. Ensuring the security of remote connections to both on-premise systems and cloud platforms is critical. A dispersed workforce significantly expands the attack surface, presenting opportunities that have not gone unnoticed by cybercriminals.
Relying on legacy VPN solutions leaves organizations with remote workers vulnerable to persistent security threats. The track record of vulnerabilities in recent years underscores the pressing need for businesses to adopt modern security solutions designed for today’s workforce. Continuously patching VPNs to address newly discovered vulnerabilities is neither sustainable nor secure—especially with the looming risk of zero-day exploits being used by attackers before a CVE or fix is even available. It’s time to move beyond outdated VPNs and embrace solutions built to meet the demands of the modern workplace.
Organizations can proactively boost the VPN security of their remote access networks by integrating Cloudbrink's high-performance ZTNA that is included with their personal Secure Access Service Edge (SASE). Cloudbrink eliminates these vulnerabilities inherent in legacy VPN solutions, offering zero-trust, high-performance, and automated security capabilities that neutralize threats before they materialize.
This blog will highlight the VPN security vulnerabilities, the technical advantages of Cloudbrink's architecture, and why businesses should integrate Cloudbrink as an essential layer in their remote access security stack.
The Persistent Security Risks of VPN Solutions
I want to stress that dealing with the ever growing list of ongoing CVEs around VPNs over time is untenable. For example, there are 123 Fortinet CVEs with 2024 in their name and 2 with 2025 in their name this year so far (Ref 1).
In January 2025, attackers actively exploited the critical vulnerability CVE-2024-55591, posing a significant threat to multiple devices. This flaw enables remote attackers to gain super-administrative access by leveraging a crafted Node.js WebSocket request to bypass improper input validation. The result? Full control of affected devices falls into the wrong hands.
Unfortunately, this isn’t an isolated incident. VPN solutions have repeatedly been targeted by zero-day exploits, leaving organizations scrambling to patch vulnerabilities. Each new CVE introduces operational disruptions and potential new attack vectors, locking businesses into a constant, reactive cycle.
Instead of patching vulnerabilities as they arise, businesses should embrace a proactive approach to secure remote access. Cloudbrink offers a robust, future-ready alternative—enhancing existing VPN infrastructures or serving as a full-scale remote access security solution, inherently immune to such vulnerabilities.
Augmenting and Securing Your VPNs
For businesses with significant investments in legacy VPNs and those currently relying on them for secure connectivity, transitioning to a modern solution can seem daunting. However, if you’re seeking immediate security improvements without disrupting your existing setup, Cloudbrink offers an effective solution. By deploying Cloudbrink, you can add a robust layer of protection to your current infrastructure, acting as a shield against potential threats. This approach ensures that your business remains secure while providing the flexibility to plan and execute a gradual migration to a more modern system. Best of all, this enhanced security can be achieved without the need for a complete infrastructure overhaul, minimizing downtime and reducing complexity.
With Cloudbrink, you can:
- Take immediate action to address the latest CVEs affecting your VPN infrastructure.
- Safeguard against potential future zero-day vulnerabilities.
- Enhance the remote access experience for your users.
- Maximize the lifespan and value of your current security investments
Cloudbrink's Fast Edge nodes seamlessly integrate with existing VPN gateways, providing an instant boost to your organization's security. With IPSec tunneling functionality, Cloudbrink ensures compatibility with enterprise firewalls and security protocols, enabling organizations to enhance security immediately while offering a gradual path to transition from legacy VPNs to a more secure, efficient, and scalable solution—if and when they choose to do so.
A full migration isn’t required to benefit from Cloudbrink. It works alongside your existing VPN infrastructure to mitigate risks, but it's essential to continue patching known CVEs for as long as VPNs remain in use. With Cloudbrink in place, your organization gains protection against Zero-day exploits, reducing vulnerabilities and strengthening overall security.
The security risks tied to traditional VPNs aren’t just persisting—they’re escalating. Inbound VPN connections expose networks to unnecessary threats, risks that can be eliminated with Cloudbrink’s advanced and forward-thinking solution.
The diagram above illustrates Cloudbrink’s innovative approach to securing IPSec VPN gateways, addressing long-standing vulnerabilities in traditional remote access solutions. Legacy IPSec VPN gateways inherently expose themselves to risk, requiring open ports to accept inbound connections from any client. This exposure creates a wide attack surface, enabling cybercriminals to probe for weaknesses, exploit zero-day vulnerabilities, and gain unauthorized access to the data center. Once inside, attackers can move laterally, compromise sensitive systems, and exfiltrate critical data.
Cloudbrink mitigates these risks by revolutionizing how organizations manage IPSec connections through the integration of FAST edges and the Brink IPSec Proxy. Instead of relying on an open, vulnerable gateway, the VPN now only accepts connections from a tightly controlled Cloudbrink IPSec Proxy. Unauthorized connection attempts are automatically blocked, drastically reducing the attack surface.
Moreover, users must authenticate via BrinkAgent before accessing the VPN. This ensures that only verified, authorized, and compliant devices can connect, allowing system administrators to enforce stringent access controls. With this model, attackers are not only blocked—they can’t even detect the presence of the VPN gateway.
Cloudbrink’s solution strengthens security, simplifies access management, and enhances resilience against evolving cyber threats, making remote connectivity both safer and smarter.
Cloudbrink: A Next-Generation Approach to Secure Remote Access
The Cloudbrink approach to network connectivity and security uses a modern Zero Trust Network and Secure Access Service Edge combination. The key aspects of the Cloudbrink approach that make it both an ideal remote access solution in its own right and suitable to plug the security gaps commonly discovered in legacy VPN solutions include:
Cloudbrink Dynamic Invisible Network (CDIN): Eliminating Attack Surfaces
Unlike legacy VPNs, which need open inbound network ports, no ports get exposed to the public internet in Cloudbrink's Dynamic Invisible Network (CIDN) design. Cloudbrink uses a fully outbound-only dark network connectivity model, making it invisible to threat actors and preventing direct attacks. Its architecture is based on a zero-trust framework, requiring continuous authentication and authorization.
Automated Moving Target Defense (AMTD): Dynamic Security at Scale
Traditional VPNs use static encryption keys and fixed IP addresses, which makes them susceptible to long-term, persistent attacks. In contrast, Cloudbrink uses AMTD to rotate security certificates several times per day, (well ahead of the 47 day requirement in 2029 from the Certification Authority Browser Forum) effectively countering low-and-slow cyberattacks that depend on prolonged access.
High-Performance ZTNA with Adaptive Routing
Cloudbrink builds on Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), which dynamically enforces access controls for each session. Its adaptive routing algorithms automatically identify the fastest and most secure network paths, reducing latency and enhancing connectivity performance speeds up to 30x (Ref 3). Unlike legacy VPNs, which can experience packet loss and congestion, Cloudbrink ensures seamless connectivity through intelligent packet loss recovery mechanisms. This means that if you migrate to a Cloudbrink native remote access solution, you'll improve both security and performance for your remote workforce.
Last-Mile Optimization with FAST Edge Technology
Traditional VPNs route traffic through centralized data centers, which can create performance bottlenecks. In contrast, Cloudbrink's distributed FAST Edge network uses thousands of globally distributed Points of Presence (PoPs) to minimize latency and improve reliability. As a result, remote users can enjoy performance that feels like being in the office, no matter where they work.
No Patch Dependency: Built-in Resilience Against Zero-Day Exploits
Legacy VPN ongoing security vulnerabilities force businesses into a continuous cycle of patching. Cloudbrink's zero-trust encrypted tunnels prevent typical remote code execution, authentication bypass, and credential harvesting attacks by design. With Cloudbrink, enterprises no longer need emergency patches in these situations to avert catastrophic breaches.
Getting the full benefits of Cloudbrink
Transitioning fully to Cloudbrink unlocks enhanced security, improved performance, and streamlined operations and management. This process involves replacing the VPN gateway with a Cloudbrink connector, ensuring a smoother, more efficient migration.
Conclusion
The recurring vulnerabilities in VPN solutions highlight the urgent need for businesses to deploy access solutions that don't need System Admins frequently applying patches to keep them secure. By adopting Cloudbrink, you can eliminate the constantly emerging vulnerabilities in VPNs and secure networks against zero-day threats using a proactive, zero-trust solution. Plus, you can fully migrate to Cloudbrink over time for even better performance and easier remote access management for your IT teams.
Find Out More
Take control of your network security and eliminate the risks of zero-day vulnerabilities for good. Deploy Cloudbrink's Personal SASE solution and empower your workforce with the security, speed, and simplicity they deserve.
For a demo and to learn more about how Cloudbrink can transform your organization's VPN, visit our Request a Demo page.
References
- Broadband Performance Tests of the Cloudbrink Service - https://cloudbrink.com/broadband-performance-tests-summary/
