Common cybersecurity vulnerabilities that cybercriminals can exploit include weak credentials, lack of data encryption, misconfigurations, out-of-date software and zero days. These vulnerabilities often lead to cyber attacks that bypass an organization’s security measures and steal confidential data. Organizations need to identify and mitigate these vulnerabilities to prevent security breaches.
Continue reading to learn more about cybersecurity vulnerabilities, how they differ from cyber threats, nine common types of cybersecurity vulnerabilities and how to stay protected from them.
What Are Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities?
Cybersecurity vulnerabilities are weaknesses found within information systems, security procedures or internal controls that threat actors can exploit. When a threat actor takes advantage of a system’s vulnerabilities, they can gain unauthorized access to an organization’s confidential data and steal it. Threat actors often sell the stolen data on the dark web or back to the organization in exchange for a ransom payment.
Cybersecurity vulnerabilities can be the result of:
- Human error: When users fall for phishing attacks or practice poor password hygiene, cybercriminals can compromise their login credentials. After compromising a user’s login credentials, cybercriminals can gain unauthorized access to an organization’s network.
- Software bugs: Programmers can accidentally leave flaws and bugs that cybercriminals can exploit. If the software does not patch these bugs, cybercriminals can gain unauthorized access to the organization’s hardware, software, data and other resources.
- System complexity: When a system is too complex, an organization can set up its systems with misconfigurations, flaws and unauthorized access points that cybercriminals can exploit.
- Large attack surface: Attack surface refers to all the possible entry points cybercriminals can leverage to access a system. The more devices and systems that are connected to an organization’s network, the larger the attack surface that cybercriminals can target to gain unauthorized access.
- Poor access control: If an organization mismanages user roles, such as giving someone more access than they need or not removing access from former employees, the network can be vulnerable to internal and external security breaches.
Cybersecurity Vulnerability vs Cyber Threat: What’s the Difference?
Cybersecurity vulnerabilities and cyber threats are often confused with each other and used synonymously, but they refer to different things. Cybersecurity vulnerabilities are the weaknesses found within the infrastructure of a system. They are not introduced or the result of some cybercrime, but are present from the start.
On the other hand, a cyber threat is the risk posed by attacks that can take advantage of cyber vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access. They are introduced into the system by threat actors seeking to exploit vulnerabilities. If not addressed, cybersecurity vulnerabilities often lead to cyber threats.
9 Types of Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities
Cybercriminals will exploit all types of cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Here are nine of the most common types of cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
Weak or stolen credentials
Many people fail to create strong and unique passwords for each of their accounts. They often resort to poor password habits, such as reusing the same passwords across multiple accounts and creating weak ones that are easy to remember. Cybercriminals take advantage of weak login credentials and launch cyber attacks like brute force attacks that can steal these weak passwords.
Lack of encryption
If an organization doesn’t adequately encrypt its data, cybercriminals can intercept transmitted data, steal it and possibly use it to gain unauthorized access or plant malicious code, such as ransomware.
Misconfigurations
System misconfigurations occur when network assets have vulnerable settings or disparate security controls. Systems that require manual configuration can have errors and gaps if improperly configured. Cybercriminals look for these misconfigurations to exploit and gain unauthorized access.
Out-of-date software
Cybercriminals look for any bugs or flaws within software. They can exploit these flaws to gain unauthorized access and steal any sensitive data. However, updating software regularly will patch most flaws or bugs, particularly known vulnerabilities that cybercriminals are most likely to exploit. If an organization is running out-of-date software, it is susceptible to cyber threats.
Zero day
Zero-day vulnerabilities are software vulnerabilities that organizations and software vendors don’t yet know exist; therefore, they haven’t been patched. Zero-day vulnerabilities are dangerous because there is no defense against them until someone discovers them. That someone can be an ethical security researcher – or a threat actor.
Poor input sanitization
Input sanitization is the process of checking and filtering input data to ensure it does not contain malicious code that could damage a system. Cybercriminals look for systems with poor input sanitization to inject malicious code that grants them access.
Insider threats
Insider threats occur within an organization when current or former employees, partners, contractors or vendors either intentionally or unintentionally put sensitive data and systems at risk. This can be the result of negligent insiders who practice poor cyber hygiene or malicious insiders who steal sensitive data for their own benefit.
Unauthorized access
Organizations give their employees privileged access to resources needed to perform their jobs. However, organizations can accidentally give some employees more access and permissions than they need. This can create security risks if an employee abuses these permissions or their account gets compromised by a threat actor.
Vulnerable API
An Application Programming Interface (API) is a digital interface that enables applications to communicate with each other over the internet or a private network. Since APIs are assets with public IP addresses, cybercriminals can target and exploit them if they are not properly secured.
How To Stay Protected Against Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities
Some cybersecurity vulnerabilities are inevitable and will always be a problem for organizations. However, most vulnerabilities can be mitigated to prevent cybercriminals from exploiting them. Organizations can reduce cybersecurity vulnerabilities by doing the following.
Keep software up to date
Common cybersecurity vulnerabilities that cybercriminals exploit come from outdated or unpatched software. However, applications regularly create software updates that patch known security vulnerabilities and add security features to better protect your device. An organization should keep its software up to date to prevent cybercriminals from exploiting security vulnerabilities found within their software.
Practice cybersecurity best practices
Some cybersecurity vulnerabilities are the result of human error. An organization can reduce its risk from security vulnerabilities by having its employees exercise cybersecurity best practices.
A common security vulnerability caused by human error is weak login credentials. Cybercriminals can easily crack weak credentials to gain unauthorized access to an organization’s network. Employees should use strong and unique passwords to make them difficult for cybercriminals to compromise. A strong password includes at least 16 characters and a unique combination of letters, numbers and special characters. It omits any personal information, sequential numbers or letters and commonly used dictionary words.
Employees should also enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to protect their accounts from unauthorized access. MFA is a security measure that requires users to verify their identity by providing additional authentication. It adds an extra layer of security to user accounts because, even if a cybercriminal were to compromise a user’s login credentials, they would not be able to use them without the additional authentication factor.
Employees also need to be educated about social engineering attacks such as phishing that try to trick them into giving up their login credentials. To avoid falling victim to social engineering attacks, employees should avoid unsolicited messages and avoid clicking on any suspicious attachments or links.
Implement least-privilege access
The principle of least privilege reduces the security vulnerabilities caused by poor access control. The principle of least privilege is a cybersecurity concept in which users are given just enough privileged access to resources they need to do their jobs and no more. By implementing least-privilege access, organizations can reduce the attack surface that cybercriminals can target to breach their systems. If a threat actor were to infiltrate an organization’s systems, least privilege access would prevent lateral movement and limit the access of the threat actor.
Secure WiFi networks
Cybercriminals frequently exploit inadequate or nonexistent encryption, including data transmitted on unencrypted WiFi networks. Organizations need to secure their WiFi by protecting it with a strong password, keeping their router’s software up to date and turning on WPA3 or WPA2 encryption – WiFi encryption protocols that protect web traffic.
Run a penetration test
A penetration test is a security exercise that simulates a cyber attack on an organization’s security systems. It tests the strength of an organization’s security measures and identifies any security vulnerabilities that cybercriminals can exploit. By running a penetration test, an organization can determine what security protocols are working and what vulnerabilities they need to patch. A penetration test can identify all types of security vulnerabilities, from human error to software bugs, and help organizations remedy them.
Invest in cybersecurity solutions
An organization can reduce its security vulnerabilities by investing in cybersecurity solutions such as antivirus software, a Privileged Access Management (PAM) solution and a business password manager.
- Antivirus software: A program that prevents, detects and removes known malware from a user’s device. Many cyber threats exploit security vulnerabilities to deliver malware. Antivirus software will help prevent malware from installing on a device and prevent cybercriminals from breaching an organization’s systems.
- PAM solution: A tool that helps organizations manage and secure privileged accounts with access to highly sensitive data. It controls who has access to all networks, applications, servers and devices. With a PAM solution, organizations can implement least privilege access and reduce access control vulnerabilities.
- Business password manager: A tool that allows employees to store, track, share, protect and manage their login credentials. A business password manager allows employees to safely store and access their login credentials in a cloud-based digital vault. With a password manager, administrators can ensure employees are using strong passwords and enabling MFA.
Use Keeper® To Mitigate Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities
There are many cybersecurity vulnerabilities that cybercriminals can exploit to gain unauthorized access to an organization’s systems and confidential data. Organizations need to mitigate cybersecurity vulnerabilities to prevent security breaches. The best way organizations can mitigate cybersecurity vulnerabilities is with a PAM solution. A PAM solution can help reduce cybersecurity vulnerabilities that are caused by human error, a large attack surface and poor access control.
KeeperPAM™ is a privileged access management solution that combines Keeper’s Enterprise Password Manager (EPM), Keeper Secrets Manager® (KSM) and Keeper Connection Manager® (KCM). With KeeperPAM, your organization can secure passwords, credentials, secrets and connections, and control privileged access. Request a demo of KeeperPAM to mitigate your organization’s cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
