Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities 101

Knowledge of cybersecurity vulnerabilities is critical to the safety and success of technology for businesses, governments, and other entities. Individuals should have a basic understanding of technology vulnerabilities so they can proactively protect their data and networks from attacks and other threats.

Learn more about cybersecurity vulnerabilities below, including how this concern differs from risks and threats.

What Is a Cybersecurity Vulnerability?

Cybersecurity vulnerabilities are weaknesses that make it more likely systems might experience breaches, hacks, disruptions, and theft. Software vulnerabilities exist within software, such as coding errors or outdated configurations. You can also have security vulnerabilities in hardware or networks.

Vulnerabilities can be caused by varied factors, including:

• Human error: Untrained or unaware employees falling for phishing schemes and errors in code are examples of human-driven vulnerabilities.
• Outdated software: If security is not fully supported or legacy software is forced into a system workflow, it can lead to security vulnerabilities.
• Lack of firmware updates: Skipping firmware or vendor updates can make hardware vulnerable.

What’s the Difference Between Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities, Risks and Threats?

Vulnerability, risk, and threat assessment are common phrases in the technology and computer sectors. Each category represents a different type of concern related to cyberattacks and cybersecurity.

Vulnerabilities are weaknesses, flaws, or other factors that might open the door for threats. Cybercriminals and other threat actors look for vulnerabilities they can exploit, such as unpatched software, poor password protection, or “open” back doors into systems.

Threats are actual or potential activities that might cause damage to the system or loss for consumers, businesses, or other entities. Deliberate attacks, such as the Salt Typhoon attacks in 2023 and 2024, are examples of threats. Malware infections, ransomware, malicious code, and distributed denial-of-service attacks are other intentional threats.

Risks refer to the potential harm or loss caused by a successful threat. For example, consumer identity theft and fraud are risks in a data breach. Downtime, loss of data, business loss due to compromised data, and the cost of addressing damage caused by a threat are other types of risks.

What Are the Most Common Types of Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities?

Knowing about common vulnerabilities makes it easier to protect networks, software, and other systems. Some of the most common types of vulnerabilities include:

• Zero-day: When hackers or others find a vulnerability before software developers, system engineers or others develop a patch to fix it, it’s known as a zero-day vulnerability. This can result in a lot of damage and loss because cybercriminals may be able to exploit the issue long before it’s identified and fixed.?
• Remote code execution: This type of vulnerability provides an opportunity for hackers to insert and execute malicious code. Often, such code is used to cause chaos within a system, steal data, or deploy malware that harms users in the future.?
• Unpatched software: When known software issues aren’t patched, it creates a weak point that hackers may exploit.?
• Unauthorized access: Inappropriate access can occur in a system when password protection is weak, people share passwords, or individuals who have been granted legitimate system credentials use them to access information they don’t have a reason to.
• Poor data sanitization: Invalid data that isn’t cleaned via data verification processes can allow cybercriminals to infiltrate a system and cause issues.?
• Credential theft: Cybercriminals may steal legitimate user login and password information via malware, phishing schemes, and even traditional cons.
• Vulnerable APIs: When APIs aren’t secured properly or updated with new security measures, they put the systems they bridge at risk.
• Misconfiguration: The wrong security, access, or other configurations for software or network systems can create vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit.

Understanding cybersecurity vulnerabilities is a critical step in safeguarding systems, networks, and data from potential harm. By identifying and addressing vulnerabilities, businesses, governments, and individuals can proactively reduce the likelihood of threats and mitigate risks. Staying informed about common vulnerabilities—such as zero-day exploits, unpatched software, and unauthorized access—enables better preparation against cyberattacks. With the right strategies and vigilance, it is possible to protect systems and minimize the impact of cybersecurity incidents, ensuring greater safety and resilience for both public and private organizations.

FAQ Pages: Cybersecurity Implementation for Government Agencies | Hybrid Cloud for Government Agencies: What You Need to Know | Cybersecurity Weaknesses and Government IT Systems|AI in Government |The Rise of Cyberattacks on the Public Sector | What is Salt Typhoon