What Is A Vulnerability - Examples, Types, Causes - Balbix

Vulnerability in cyber security

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What Is A Vulnerability - Examples, Types, Causes - Balbix

Vulnerability in cyber security

Uploaded by

deronsammy

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What is a
Vulnerability?
A vulnerability in cybersecurity is a flaw or weakness in a system that
cybercriminals exploit to gain unauthorized access or cause harm. These
vulnerabilities often stem from coding errors or misconfigurations and can be
leveraged to disrupt operations, steal data, or compromise security. Once
identified, vulnerabilities are registered as CVEs (Common Vulnerabilities and
Exposures) and assessed for their potential risk.

Types of Security
Vulnerabilities
Security vulnerabilities come in various forms, each posing unique risks
attackers can exploit. Understanding these vulnerabilities is crucial for
maintaining a secure environment. Let’s discuss several different types of
vulnerabilities.
Unpatched Software: Failing to update software leaves known bugs
attackers can exploit to execute malicious code.
Misconfigurations: Default settings or unnecessary services can open
doors for unauthorized access.
Weak Credentials: Easily guessed passwords provide an easy entry point
for attackers.
Phishing-Prone Users: Users tricked by phishing attacks may inadvertently
expose systems to risks.
Trust Relationship Exploits: Attackers exploit trusted connections between
systems to spread breaches.
Compromised Credentials: Stolen credentials enable unauthorized access
to sensitive systems.
Malicious Insiders: Employees or vendors intentionally misuse their access
to compromise data.
Poor Encryption: Weak or absent encryption allows attackers to intercept
and steal sensitive information.

1. Other Vulnerability Examples

Application Vulnerabilities: Flaws in software due to coding errors, lack of
validation, or outdated components.
Zero-Day Vulnerabilities: Unknown security flaws are exploited by
attackers before the vendor can issue a fix.
Ransomware: Attackers exploit various vulnerabilities to deploy
ransomware, encrypting data and demanding payment for decryption keys.
Application Vulnerabilities: Flaws in software due to coding errors, lack of
validation, or outdated components.
Cloud Vulnerabilities: Security gaps in cloud environments due to
misconfigurations or insecure APIs.
IoT Vulnerabilities: Flaws in connected devices that attackers can exploit to
access networks.
Supply Chain Vulnerabilities: Security gaps in the supply chain where
attackers insert malicious components.

What’s the Difference

Between Vulnerabilities,
Exploits, and Risk?
A vulnerability is a flaw in an asset’s design, implementation, operation, or
management that a threat could exploit. An exploit is the method used to
exploit a vulnerability; a risk is the potential for loss when that threat occurs.

What is a cybersecurity vulnerability?

A cybersecurity vulnerability is a weakness that can be exploited to gain
unauthorized access or perform unauthorized actions on a computer system.

Vulnerabilities allow attackers to access a system, run code, install malware,

and access internal systems to steal, destroy, or modify sensitive data. If
undetected, attackers can pose as superusers or system administrators with
full access privileges.

What is a cybersecurity risk?

Risk refers to the potential damage that could occur if a vulnerability is
exploited. It combines both the likelihood and impact of the threat. Cyber risk is
the expected loss from a cyberattack or data breach. Vulnerability is part of the
likelihood in the risk equation.

Risk equation, where risk equals likelihood (%) multiplied by impact ($)

What is a Cybersecurity Exploit?

An exploit is a method or technique cybercriminals use to exploit a security
vulnerability in software or hardware. It allows attackers to gain unauthorized
access, disrupt services, or steal data. Exploits are often used in cyberattacks
to breach systems and cause harm.
What Causes Cybersecurity
Vulnerabilities?
Vulnerabilities are often caused by outdated software with known security
issues, commonly tracked as CVEs (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures).
However, they can also come from weak passwords, misconfigurations, and
insufficient or missing encryption. These issues expose systems to attacks and
security breaches.

A deep dive into some of the most common vulnerabilities can be found here.

When Should Known Vulnerabilities be

Publicly Disclosed?
Following responsible disclosure practices, known vulnerabilities should be
publicly disclosed after a 90-day window. This allows researchers to report the
flaw to the affected company, giving them time to develop and release a fix
before the vulnerability is announced.

Public disclosure after this period is crucial for alerting users and preventing
exploitation by bad actors. Bug bounties and internal audits are vital strategies
for identifying and addressing these vulnerabilities to enhance security.

What is Vulnerability
Management?
Vulnerability management (VM) is a continuous process of identifying,
assessing, prioritizing, and fixing security vulnerabilities across an
organization’s IT assets and software. By addressing these weaknesses, VM
helps reduce the attack surface, lower the risk of cyber threats, and protect
critical systems and data. The process typically involves scanning for
vulnerabilities, evaluating their impact, and implementing fixes or mitigations
promptly.