What is a Zero-Day Exploit?
A zero-day exploit is a security flaw that an attacker has exploited for a specific software version or service strictly before the official release date, and which the developers of said software or service have not had time to fix.
The Importance of Zero Day Exploits:
Exploiting vulnerabilities before their official release date can be lucrative for cybercriminals, as there are likely to be more unpatched computers and devices on the market.
Attackers may also use this technique as a method of ransom, in order to demand money from victims in return for disabling the exploit.
As such, many companies will always cover all vulnerabilities that they know about at the moment with advanced software updates, even if they are only aware of an issue just hours before it becomes public knowledge.
What are the Dangers of Zero-Day Exploits?
A 0-day exploit is a bug that has been found by the developer of an application and exploited before the developers have had a chance to release a patch for it.
The dangers of 0-day exploits are that they can be used for malicious purposes and cause data breaches. This can lead to identity theft, financial loss, or even physical harm.
One example of a 0-day exploit was when Sony Pictures Entertainment suffered a data breach in 2014 due to the Heartbleed vulnerability in OpenSSL, which was discovered by Google Security Team member Neel Mehta.
The 5 Types of Zero-Day Exploit Techniques
There are five types of zero-day exploit techniques:
- Software exploitation
- Social engineering
- Physical security exploits
- Information disclosure
- Denial of service attacks
Anatomy of a Zero-Day Exploit Attack
Zero-day attacks are difficult to detect and defend against because they rely on exploiting a flaw that the software developer did not know about. These attacks can be used by criminals or state actors to cause major damage.
There are two types of zero-day attacks:
- Remote Exploitation Attacks (Reverse)
- Local Exploitation Attacks (Local).
The former exploits vulnerabilities in remote systems while the latter exploits vulnerabilities in local systems, such as PCs, laptops, smartphones, etc.
Examples of Cyber Attacks and How They Differ from Zero-Day Exploits
Cyber attacks are a type of attack that can be executed remotely against a computer system. These attacks can be either zero-day exploits or cyber attacks.
Zero-Day Exploits: A zero-day exploit is an exploit that has not been disclosed to the public by the vendor, developer, or owner of the software/app. This is because it’s discovered and used before it’s been patched by the company who owns the software/app.
Cyber Attacks: A cyber attack is an attack on a computer system that involves malicious code being sent from one computer to another without any prior knowledge from the target computer owner.
What is the difference between a Zero-Day Exploit and a Vulnerability?
A vulnerability is a weakness in the software that can be exploited by hackers to gain unauthorized access. Zero-day exploits are malicious codes that exploit vulnerabilities without being detected by the system.
Why are Zero-Day Exploits Bad for Business?
Zero-Day Exploits are the most dangerous types of security flaws because they can be exploited by malicious actors to attack a computer system before a patch is released.
One of the reasons why these exploits are bad for business is because they can lead to data breaches, which have an adverse effect on the company’s reputation.
Zero-Day Exploits are also bad for business because they cost a lot of money to fix. This is especially true in cases where the exploit has been found by cybercriminals and not by the company’s own security team.
What Can Be Done about the Growing Problem of Zero-Days Exploits Like WannaCry?
The recent WannaCry ransomware attack has been a major setback for the cybersecurity industry. It affected thousands of computers worldwide and demanded ransom payments in Bitcoin.
The malware, which was released by hackers, exploited a vulnerability in Microsoft Windows that had not yet been patched. This is an example of how a zero-day exploit can be very dangerous to businesses and consumers alike.
In response to the WannaCry attack, Microsoft has announced that it will release a new security update for all versions of Windows, including Windows XP and Windows 8.1.
How Did We Get Here With So Many Zero-Day Exploits Like WannaCry & Petya?
Cyber attacks are becoming more frequent and more sophisticated. It’s important to understand the different types of cyber attacks and how they work in order to mitigate them.
In March 2017, WannaCry ransomware was released as a wormable exploit that affected over 300,000 computers worldwide. This was followed by Petya ransomware in June 2017 which affected around 400,000 computers worldwide.
What is the Best Way to Protect Against Zeroes Day Exploits in Enterprise Security Systems?
Zeroday is the name given to a zero-day exploit that affects many enterprise security systems. It is a type of exploit that takes advantage of vulnerabilities in software, which are not yet known to the public.
Companies need to be careful about what they install on their networks and how they update their software.
The best way for companies to protect themselves against Zeroday exploits is by using security systems that have been designed specifically for this type of attack.
