The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is collaborating with federal agencies to remove network management tools from the public internet following the discovery of hundreds of exposed devices. CISA had previously issued a directive instructing federal civilian agencies to either remove these tools from the internet or implement access control measures within two weeks. However, researchers from security firm Censys found that numerous devices were still publicly exposed more than 14 days after the directive was issued. The exposed devices included routers, access points, firewalls, VPNs, and remote server management technologies from various vendors. CISA officials stated that they are working with agencies to ensure compliance with the directive and are leveraging commercial tools to identify exposed technology.
Why it matters: This situation highlights the critical need for strong cybersecurity practices, including regular audits of network configurations and diligent adherence to security best practices. Failure to address these vulnerabilities not only exposes sensitive data but also undermines public trust in government agencies’ ability to safeguard critical information.
- CISA is collaborating with federal agencies to remove publicly exposed network management tools.
- Hundreds of devices, including routers, firewalls, and VPNs, were found publicly exposed, posing significant security risks.
- The exposure of network management tools unnecessarily expands an organization’s attack surface and heightens the risk of unauthorized system access.
