A cyber security vulnerability is a weakness, flaw or defect in a computer system, software application or network that can be exploited by an attacker to compromise the security of that system.
In other words, it is a potential entry point for a cybercriminal. This vulnerability may reside in the source code of a software application, in an inadequate network configuration, in an insecure communication protocol, or in the behaviour of a user.
Features
- CATEGORY : 🟥 Weakness
- FREQUENCY variable 🔥 at 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
- DANGEROUS variable 💀 at 💀💀💀💀💀
- DIFFICULTY OF ERADICATION variable 🧹 at 🧹🧹🧹🧹🧹
- Potential nature A vulnerability is a weakness that exists, whether or not it is known or exploited.
- Wide scope Vulnerabilities can exist in hardware, software, configurations or even human processes.
- Identification They can be discovered during security audits, penetration tests or by security researchers.
- Variable severity Vulnerabilities can have different levels of severity, ranging from low to critical.
👉 Types of vulnerabilities
- Software vulnerabilities bugs or programming errors in applications or operating systems.
- Hardware vulnerabilities Flaws in the physical components of devices (processors, integrated circuits, etc.).
- Configuration vulnerabilities Security settings: misconfigured or default security settings in a system or application.
- Network vulnerabilities Weaknesses in communication protocols or network infrastructure.
- Human vulnerabilities These include user error (clicking on a malicious link, divulging information, etc.), social engineering and lack of training.
- Vulnerabilities zero-day unknown to the manufacturer and therefore not corrected.
The difference between a flaw and a weakness
A loophole is generally considered to be a specific, identified vulnerability that presents a concrete risk to system security. Vulnerabilities are often listed and catalogued, for example, in the CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) database.
How it works
Vulnerabilities are generally exploited by attackers in the following way:
- Discover The attacker identifies a weakness in the target system.
- Operator development Creating code or a method to exploit the vulnerability.
- Operating Use of the exploit to access the system or data.
- Persistence : maintaining unauthorised access.
- Exfiltration or damage : data theft or systems disruption.
💥 Consequences of an exploited vulnerability
- Theft of sensitive data : identities, financial information, intellectual property...
- Denial of service : inability to access a system or service.
- Taking control of the system : the attacker can then install malicious software, spy on users or launch other attacks.
- Financial damage : costs associated with restoring systems, loss of reputation and possible fines.
💉 Protection and remedies
To protect themselves against vulnerabilities, organisations and individuals can adopt a number of strategies:
- Regular updates security: apply security patches quickly.
- Vulnerability analysis regular scans to identify vulnerabilities.
- User training Raising staff awareness of good safety practice.
- Network segmentation Limiting the spread of attacks in the event of a compromise.
- Access control applying the principle of least privilege.
- Encryption Protect sensitive data in transit and at rest.
- Continuous monitoring : rapid detection of suspicious activity.
📊 Figures for France and worldwide
- The number of vulnerabilities identified and published is increasing at a rate of one new vulnerability every 17 minutes.
- More than 30,000 new vulnerabilities and common exposures (CVEs) have been recorded in the National Vulnerability Database (NVD), half of which are classified as high or critical severity..
- The overall average cost of a data breach in 2024 is $4.88 million, an increase of $10% on the previous year.
- Security teams take an average of 277 days to identify and contain a data breach
Source: SentinelOne, "Key Cyber Security Statistics for 2024", 2024.
