Exploit (computer security): Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Method of attack on computer systems}}

{{Lead too long|date=August 2024}}

An '''exploit''' (from the English verb ''to exploit'', meaning "to use something to one’s own advantage") is a method or piece of code that takes advantage of [[Vulnerability (computer security)|vulnerabilities]] in [[software]], [[Application software|applications]], [[Computer network|networks]], [[operating systems]], or [[Computer hardware|hardware]], typically for malicious purposes.

The term "exploit" derives from the English verb "to exploit," meaning "to use something to one’s own advantage."

TheseExploits vulnerabilities, essentially flaws or weaknesses in the system's defenses, alloware exploitsdesigned to identify flaws, bypass security measures, gain unauthorized access to systems, take control of systems, install [[malware]], or [[data breach|steal sensitive data]].

While an exploit by itself may not be a [[malware]], it serves as a vehicle for delivering malicious software by breaching [[security controls]].<ref name=avast-202-09-29>

Common targets for exploits include operating systems, [[web browsers]], and various applications, where hidden vulnerabilities can be exploited to compromise the integrity and [[Computer security|security]] of [[computer systems]].

Exploits can cause unintended or unanticipated behavior in systems, potentially leading to severe [[security breaches]].<ref>{{cite web | last = Latto | first = Nica | title = Exploits: What You Need to Know | website = Exploits: What You Need to Know | date = 2020-09-29 | url = https://www.avast.com/c-exploits | access-date = 2024-08-12 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20240515153218/https://www.avast.com/c-exploits | archivedate = 2024-05-15 | url-status = live | quote = An exploit is any attack that takes advantage of vulnerabilities in applications, networks, operating systems, or hardware. Exploits usually take the form of software or code that aims to take control of computers or steal network data. }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title name= Exploit Definition | website = Malwarebytes | date = 2024Cisco-042023-15 | url = https://www.malwarebytes.com/exploits | access10-date = 2024-08-12 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20240516063544/https://www.malwarebytes.com/exploits | archivedate = 2024-05-16 | url-status = live | quote = A computer exploit is a type of malware that takes advantage of bugs or vulnerabilities, which cybercriminals use to gain illicit access to a system. These vulnerabilities are hidden in the code of the operating system and its applications just waiting to be discovered and put to use by cybercriminals. Commonly exploited software includes the operating system itself, browsers, Microsoft Office, and third-party applications. }}</ref><ref06>
{{cite web | title = What Is an Exploit? | website = Cisco | date = 2023-10-06 | url = https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/security/advanced-malware-protection/what-is-exploit.html | access-date = 2024-08-12 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20240531021442/https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/security/advanced-malware-protection/what-is-exploit.html | archivedate = 2024-05-31 | url-status = live | quote = An exploit is a program, or piece of code, designed to find and take advantage of a security flaw or vulnerability in an application or computer system, typically for malicious purposes such as installing malware. An exploit is not malware itself, but rather it is a method used by cybercriminals to deliver malware.}}</ref><ref name=Cybersecurity-2019>
{{cite book | last = Gonzalez | first = Joaquin Jay III | last2 = Kemp | first2 = Roger L. | title = Cybersecurity: Current Writings on Threats and Protection | publisher = McFarland & Company | publication-place = Jefferson, North Carolina | date = 2019-01-25 | isbn = 978-1-4766-3541-5 | page = 241 | url = https://books.google.co.th/books?id=yyqFDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA241&lpg=PA241&dq=%22A+technique+to+breach+the+security+of+a+network+or+information+system+in+violation+of+security+policy%22&ots=J6AejpcRHx&sig=ACfU3U0EoNbNEI0_wB1oBlWWLFd1TViycQ&hl=en#v=onepage&q=%22A%20technique%20to%20breach%20the%20security%20of%20a%20network%20or%20information%20system%20in%20violation%20of%20security%20policy%22&f=false | quote = A technique to breach the security of a network or information system in violation of security policy.}}</ref><ref name=OWASP>
{{cite web | title = OWASP Secure Coding Practices | website = OWASP Foundation | url = https://owasp.org/www-project-secure-coding-practices-quick-reference-guide/stable-en/03-appendices/05-glossary | access-date = 2024-08-12 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20240106035619/https://owasp.org/www-project-secure-coding-practices-quick-reference-guide/stable-en/03-appendices/05-glossary | archivedate = 2024-01-06 | url-status = live | quote = To take advantage of a vulnerability. Typically this is an intentional action designed to compromise the software's security controls by leveraging a vulnerability.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Obtain Capabilities: Exploits, Sub-technique T1588.005 | website = MITRE ATT&CK® | date = 2020-10-15 | url = https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1588/005/ | access-date = 2024-08-12 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20240524110426/https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1588/005/ | archivedate = 2024-05-24 | url-status = live | quote = Adversaries may buy, steal, or download exploits that can be used during targeting. An exploit takes advantage of a bug or vulnerability in order to cause unintended or unanticipated behavior to occur on computer hardware or software. }}</ref>

Exploits target vulnerabilities, which are essentially flaws or weaknesses in a system's defenses.

Many exploits are designed to provide superuser-level access to a computer system. However, it is also possible to use several exploits, first to gain low-level access, then to escalate privileges repeatedly until one reaches the highest administrative level (often called "root"). In this case the attacker is chaining several exploits together to perform one attack, this is known as an exploit chain.

Common targets for exploits include [[operating systems]], [[web browsers]], and various [[Application software|applications]], where hidden vulnerabilities can be exploited to compromise the integrity and [[Computer security|security]] of [[computer systems]].

Exploits can cause unintended or unanticipated behavior in systems, potentially leading to severe [[security breaches]].<ref name=MWB-2024-04-15>

{{cite web | title = Exploit Definition | website = Malwarebytes | date = 2024-04-15 | url = https://www.malwarebytes.com/exploits | access-date = 2024-08-12 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20240516063544/https://www.malwarebytes.com/exploits | archivedate = 2024-05-16 | url-status = live | quote = A computer exploit is a type of malware that takes advantage of bugs or vulnerabilities, which cybercriminals use to gain illicit access to a system. These vulnerabilities are hidden in the code of the operating system and its applications just waiting to be discovered and put to use by cybercriminals. Commonly exploited software includes the operating system itself, browsers, Microsoft Office, and third-party applications. }}</ref><ref name=mitre-2020-10-15>

{{cite web | title = Obtain Capabilities: Exploits, Sub-technique T1588.005 | website = MITRE ATT&CK® | date = 2020-10-15 | url = https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1588/005/ | access-date = 2024-08-12 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20240524110426/https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1588/005/ | archivedate = 2024-05-24 | url-status = live | quote = Adversaries may buy, steal, or download exploits that can be used during targeting. An exploit takes advantage of a bug or vulnerability in order to cause unintended or unanticipated behavior to occur on computer hardware or software. }}</ref>

Many exploits are designed to provide [[superuser]]-level access to a computer system.

After an exploit is made known to the authors of the affected software, the vulnerability is often fixed through a patch and the exploit becomes unusable. That is the reason why some [[Black hat hacking|black hat]] [[Hacker (computer security)|hackers]] as well as military or intelligence agencies' hackers do not publish their exploits but keep them private. Exploits unknown to everyone except the people that found and developed them are referred to as ''[[Zero-day (computing)|zero day]] or “0day” exploits''.

Attackers may use multiple exploits in succession to first gain low-level access and then [[Privilege escalation|escalate privileges]] repeatedly until they reach the highest administrative level, often referred to as "root."

This technique of chaining several exploits together to perform a single attack is known as an exploit chain.

Exploits that remain unknown to everyone except the individuals who discovered and developed them are referred to as zero-day or "0day" exploits.

One scheme that offers zero day exploits is [[exploit as a service]].<ref name=EAA_1>{{cite web| title=Exploit-as-a-service: Cybercriminals exploring potential of leasing out zero-day vulnerabilities| author=Leyden, J.| url=https://portswigger.net/daily-swig/exploit-as-a-service-cybercriminals-exploring-potential-of-leasing-out-zero-day-vulnerabilities| publisher=PortSwigger Ltd| date=16 November 2021| access-date=18 December 2023}}</ref>

After an exploit is disclosed to the authors of the affected software, the associated vulnerability is often fixed through a [[Patch (computing)|patch]], rendering the exploit unusable.

This is why some [[Black hat (computer security)|black hat hackers]], as well as military or intelligence agency hackers, do not publish their exploits but keep them private.

One scheme that offers zero -day exploits is known as [[exploit as a service]].<ref name=EAA_1>{{cite web| title=Exploit-as-a-service: Cybercriminals exploring potential of leasing out zero-day vulnerabilities| author=Leyden, J.| url=https://portswigger.net/daily-swig/exploit-as-a-service-cybercriminals-exploring-potential-of-leasing-out-zero-day-vulnerabilities| publisher=PortSwigger Ltd| date=16 November 2021| access-date=18 December 2023}}</ref>

Researchers estimate that malicious exploits cost the [[global economy]] over US$450 billion annually.

ResearchersIn haveresponse estimatedto thatthis malicious exploits cost the global economy over $450 billion every year. In responsethreat, organizations are usingincreasingly utilizing [[cyber threat intelligence]] to find theiridentify vulnerabilities and preventingprevent hacks before they happenoccur.<ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Indiana University, Bloomington | last2 = Samtani | first2 = Sagar | last3 = Chai | first3 = Yidong | last4 = Hefei University of Technology | last5 = Chen | first5 = Hsinchun | last6 = University of Arizona | date = 2022-05-24 | title = Linking Exploits from the Dark Web to Known Vulnerabilities for Proactive Cyber Threat Intelligence: An Attention-Based Deep Structured Semantic Model | url = https://misq.umn.edu/linking-exploits-from-the-dark-web-to-known-vulnerabilities-for-proactive-cyber-threat-intelligence-an-attention-based-deep-structured-semantic-model.html | journal = MIS Quarterly | volume = 46 | issue = 2 | pages = 911–946 | doi = 10.25300/MISQ/2022/15392}}</ref>

==Classification==