What is a Zero-Day Exploit?
A zero-day exploit is a software/hardware vulnerability exploited by cybercriminals before the developer of the vulnerable software discovers and publicly releases a fix. Zero-day exploits are especially harmful because they target zero-day vulnerabilities for which no patch exists, leaving your systems completely exposed at discovery.
In other words, a Zero-day exploit attack happens before the patch is made available to fix that particular vulnerability, and victims of an insight zero-day attack are left with no remedy.
Zero-day exploits are used mainly cybercriminals and advanced persistent threat (APT) actors to target victims and spread malware infection on a massive scale. Since zero-day exploits are used in the wild before the developers of vulnerable software are aware of them. They are potent tools attributed to cybercrime or nation-state attack campaigns.
Properties of a Zero-Day Exploit
- A flaw - A bug in computer system.
- Unknown vulnerability - Previously unknown to software vendors.
- No instant fix - There is no immediate fix available.
- Can be exploited - It is open to be attacked by hackers.
Difference between Zero-day vulnerability, Exploit and Attack
Zero-day Vulnerability
A flaw discovered before software vendor knows about it.
Exploit
The method to exploit zero-day has been discovered. No damage caused yet.
Attack
Damaged caused for example, data stolen, systems brought down etc.
