Recent security telemetry indicates a significant shift in perimeter risk. Check Point has identified a vulnerability (CVE-2024-24919) affecting Security Gateways, which are critical components for remote access in many enterprises. Simultaneously, reports indicate a rise in large-scale data exfiltration events linked to credential compromise in cloud environments. These developments highlight the dual necessity of patching infrastructure vulnerabilities and reinforcing identity-based controls.
The situation regarding Check Point’s Security Gateways requires immediate attention. Following the detection of anomalous activity, the vendor confirmed a high-severity information disclosure vulnerability. This flaw allows unauthorized parties to access sensitive information on internet-connected gateways without authentication. This aligns with a broader trend where threat actors focus on edge devices—such as those from Ivanti, Fortinet, and Palo Alto Networks—rather than traditional endpoint methods. Because these devices often operate outside the scope of standard Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) tools, they can become unmonitored entry points for lateral movement.
In parallel, the risk environment is adapting to a credential-based campaign affecting Snowflake cloud instances. While the Snowflake platform itself has not reported a direct vulnerability, threat actors are utilizing stolen credentials to access accounts where Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is not enforced. This activity has been associated with significant data exposure, including the incident reported by Ticketmaster. The pattern suggests a cohesive strategy: when technical vulnerabilities like the Check Point zero-day are unavailable, actors will leverage compromised credentials to bypass perimeter defenses.
Technical Analysis
The Check Point vulnerability (CVE-2024-24919) presents a risk due to its low barrier for utilization. The issue involves how the Security Gateway processes specific requests when the Remote Access VPN or Mobile Access Software Blade is active. This allows for path traversal, granting access to sensitive local files. Most notably, this includes the potential to read the /etc/shadow file, which stores encrypted passwords for local accounts. Access to these hashes could allow threat actors to attempt offline cracking or use administrative accounts for persistent access (MITRE ATT&CK T1133 - External Remote Services).
Regarding the Snowflake-related activity, tactics have focused on data exfiltration (T1567) following unauthorized login. Reports indicate the use of custom tooling to automate data harvesting from cloud databases post-authentication. A consistent factor in these events is the absence of MFA on service accounts or legacy user profiles. Both the infrastructure vulnerability and the credential-stuffing activity demonstrate that threat actors are prioritizing high-bandwidth access points for bulk data access.
Remediation and Defense
For security teams, the immediate priority is addressing the Check Point vulnerability. Organizations utilizing Quantum Maestro, Quantum Scalable Chassis, Quantum Security Gateways, or CloudGuard Network should apply the vendor-provided hotfix without delay.
Defense extends beyond patching. Teams should review logs for signs of unauthorized access that may have preceded the advisory. Key indicators include unauthorized access to sensitive system files and unusual local account activity on gateways. If evidence of file access appears, a mandatory password reset for all local accounts on those devices is necessary.
To address cloud identity risks, this cycle demonstrates the necessity of auditing MFA coverage across all service and administrative accounts. Detection strategies should include:
Source Monitoring: Alert on unusual source IP addresses or "impossible travel" events, particularly for accounts without MFA.
Egress Baselines: Establish baselines for typical data movement from cloud warehouses. Significant spikes may indicate the use of automated exfiltration tools.
Strategic Outlook
The speed at which threat actors moved from initial probing to utilizing the Check Point vulnerability suggests that reactive patching windows are narrowing. Security programs benefit from adopting a Zero Trust architecture that verifies every request, assuming the edge may be compromised. This approach prioritizes internal segmentation and rigorous identity verification over reliance on the perimeter alone.
As forensic investigations into the Snowflake-related activity continue, the full scope of affected organizations may expand. Similarly, while the Check Point patch is available, researchers are still assessing how long the vulnerability was active prior to disclosure. Security teams should remain vigilant for new indicators of compromise (IOCs) as the community analyzes the emergency hotfixes.