FAQ

A zero-day vulnerability is a security flaw that is not yet known to the public or the software vendor. It is called 'zero-day' because the developers have had zero days to fix it at the time of discovery or exploitation. In other words, no protection or patch exists when the attack occurs.

These vulnerabilities can affect any component: operating systems, software, hardware, firmware, or web services. When identified by malicious actors before defenders, they pose a critical risk as they can be exploited silently and without immediate defense.

Zero-day vulnerabilities are especially dangerous because they are unknown and unpredictable. Since no patch is available yet, vulnerable systems are exposed with no immediate solution. Traditional protections like antivirus or IDS/IPS may not detect the exploitation of a zero-day.

Due to their strategic value, zero-days are often used in targeted and stealthy attacks by organized cybercriminals or state-sponsored actors. They enable attackers to infiltrate systems, remain undetected, and exfiltrate or manipulate sensitive data.

Exploiting a zero-day involves creating a specific exploit, which is code or a method that takes advantage of the flaw before it’s patched. Attackers can deliver it via a malicious document, a compromised website, malware, or a phishing email.

Once triggered, the exploit may take control of the system, install a trojan, open a backdoor, or steal data. What makes zero-day exploits especially dangerous is that they bypass conventional detection tools, leveraging unknown weaknesses.