As someone concerned about cybersecurity, zero-day vulnerability is likely to be a term that you have come across. What is a zero-day vulnerability attack? How do you fix zero-day vulnerability? This blog explores it in detail, covering interesting facts and effective solutions to address them.
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What Is Zero Day Attack in Cybersecurity?
Zero-day in cyber security means a vulnerability or threat that is not yet known to security experts. Consequently, when the attack is unleashed, they have no time or ‘zero days’ left to devise a solution to address this threat. When talking about zero-day cyber security, one must know the exact meaning of the concepts when the term ‘zero-day’ is used before vulnerability, exploit, and attack—the three phases of it.
Zero day vulnerability: Answering what is zero day vulnerability would mean a vulnerability that has been newly discovered and open to exploitation with the vendor having zero days to patch it.
Zero-day exploit: Zero-day exploit refers to the technique that a hacker might rely on to break into a new zero-day vulnerability of a system.
Zero-day attack: zero When the software vendor fails to protect against a zero-day cyber security vulnerability, the attacker will unleash attacks and compromise the systems.
How to Find Zero Day Vulnerability?
There is no straightforward way to find a zero-day vulnerability, as it typically involves unknown vulnerabilities that are not given in the database or a known list of zero-day vulnerabilities. However, implementing a combination of the steps discussed below would help identify and fix them.
Instant deployment of patches:
Almost all software vendors release patches designed to fix bugs and vulnerabilities. Installing these patches as soon as they are released will prevent any attackers from exploiting the known vulnerabilities. Most of the time, it is by leveraging those known vulnerabilities that attackers discover new loopholes.
Zero-day response strategy:
Software vendors can proactively act against the latest zero-day vulnerability, not necessarily by releasing patches but by rewarding security researchers who have the have the chance to discover them. This type of proactive measure helps prevent information about the vulnerabilities from getting leaked to hackers.
Regularly update your systems:
As and when any security patches or software updates are released by the software vendors, make sure you deploy them as early as possible. It will give you an edge to stay protected against any kinds of zero day threats that emerge as a result of outdated software or bugs that are unfixed.
Keep yourself up-to-date
While it is true that you can’t always know how to identify zero-day vulnerabilities, one thing you can certainly ensure is staying current on any such incidents. It will allow you to remain prepared to act against any zero-day attacks on DNS servers or other resources.
Utilize advanced security solutions:
Remember that basic security updates or protocols can’t always protect you from advanced threats like zero-day vulnerabilities. For protection against sophisticated threats, you require equally or more sophisticated defense mechanisms. Utilize solutions that mitigate zero-day attacks in cyber security.
How To Handle Zero Day Vulnerability?
Just as finding zero-day vulnerabilities is difficult, handling them is equally challenging. The reason is that you have very limited time to deal with them before an attacker starts exploiting them. Here are some known strategies that have helped to effectively handle some of the famous zero day attacks.
Regularly update your systems:
As and when any security patches or software updates are released by the software vendors, make sure you deploy them as early as possible. It will give you an edge to stay protected against any kinds of zero day threats that emerge as a result of outdated software or bugs that are unfixed.
Keep yourself up-to-date:
While it is true that you can’t always know how to identify zero-day vulnerabilities, one thing you can certainly ensure is staying current on any such incidents. It will allow you to remain prepared to act against any zero-day attacks on DNS servers or other resources.
Utilize advanced security solutions:
Remember that basic security updates or protocols can’t always protect you from advanced threats like zero-day vulnerabilities. For protection against sophisticated threats, you require equally or more sophisticated defense mechanisms. Utilize solutions that mitigate zero-day attacks in cyber security.
Who Are the Malicious Actors of Zero Day Attacks?
One effective way to address how to deal with zero day vulnerability is to identify the potential perpetrators, which can help inform strategies for mitigation and defense. Here is a list of common perpetrators:.
Cybercriminals:
Cybercriminals are common actors in zero-day exploits in cyber security. They do it for financial gain.
Corporate spies:
Corporate spies are those who do corporate espionage or industrial spying. They employ zero-day ransomware or other techniques to extract corporate data.
Hacktivists:
Hacktivists are a type of hacker who might exploit a zero day vulnerability to make a political statement or draw attention rather than any financial gain.
Cyberwarfare:
Zero-day attack examples are often reported in cyberwarfare where entities like countries or political forces unleash such attacks on the cyber resources of their enemies.
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Who Are the Common Targets of Zero-Day Exploits?
Zero-day attacks discriminate against no one. While businesses and government entities are frequent targets, a significant number of individuals are also victims of these attacks. Here is a list of common targets and the motives behind targeting them.
Financial institutions:
Zero-day attack examples are often reported in cyberwarfare where entities like countries or political forces unleash such attacks on the cyber resources of their enemies.
Cyberwarfare:
Cybercriminals launch zero-day attacks on financial institutions to access sensitive financial information and commit fraud.
Government agencies:
Hackers target government agencies for zero-day attacks, mostly to gain access to classified information. Sometimes, they use such attacks to interrupt critical services.
Individuals:
The main goal of zero-day attacks on individuals is financial gain. Cybercriminals achieve this through blackmail after stealing an individual’s data.
Healthcare organizations:
The systems of healthcare institutions contain thousands of patient records, like medical or insurance records. These systems are a goldmine for cybercriminals.
Business entities:
Business entities are targeted to leak their trade secrets. Cybercriminals might use such data to blackmail the company or sell the information to rival companies.
Critical infrastructure:
Targeting critical infrastructure allows cybercriminals to disrupt essential services like power, healthcare, and policing.
Zero Day Attack Example
Sony zero-day attack:
Sony Zero Day Attack is an infamous example where hackers used a zero-day exploit to breach Sony’s systems. It resulted in Sony’s loss of sensitive data and releasing of several unreleased movies online.
Operation Aurora:
Operation Aurora was a cyberattack reported in 2009 which exploited zero day vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer and Adobe Reader. It mainly targeted high-profile companies such as Yahoo, Google and Adobe.
Stuxnet:
Stuxnet was a worm used to infiltrate computers in manufacturing facilities across countries such as India, Indonesia, and Iran. Infamous for targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, it is a well-known example of exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities.
RSA:
In this example, a zero-day exploit in Adobe Flash enabled hackers to access sensitive data from a company named RSA and compromise the security of their SecurID tokens.
Conclusion
Zero day attacks in cyber security are a popular tactic used by cybercriminals to shun their victims unexpectedly and cause serious damage to them like data theft, service disruption, and more. We hope you get a fair idea of what zero-day vulnerability means by reading this blog. If you have any questions or need foolproof protection, including prevention from zero-day vulnerability, feel free to get in touch with us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Exchange zero day vulnerabilities are those vulnerabilities that are found in Microsoft Exchange, a widely used email platform.
A zero-click attack is a type of cyberattack where a vulnerability is exploited by a hacker without the user being required to initiate any click or interaction at all.
A zero-hour attack refers to a cyberattack that happens in the short period between the discovery of a vulnerability and the issue of a solution or patch to fix it.
A zero day attack is a cyberattack that exploits a vulnerability that has not yet been discovered by the vendor. It is called a “zero-day attack” because the developer or vendor has had zero days to find a solution to fix it.
A spoofing attack is an attack where an attacker acts as a trusted entity, disguising their true identity and deceiving their victims. They use fake emails, messages, or websites to do it.
A zero-day exploit is an attack on a vulnerability that has not been reported or protected with a patch. On the other hand, a CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) is a reported and documented vulnerability. There may be patches to fix it.