Zero-day vulnerabilities are software flaws that can be exploited by threat actors to distribute malware, compromise systems and capture data. New vulnerabilities are discovered every day and, if they aren’t patched quickly, can spell disaster for unsuspecting software users.

Zero-day vulnerabilities may not always be as well publicised as ransomware attacks or major data breaches but we are seeing substantial growth in the number of cybercriminals who are accessing this kind of security flaw.

In our latest blog, we explore what a zero-day threat is, how this kind of attack works and how you can combat it.

What is a zero-day vulnerability?

The term zero-day is derived from the fact that the flaw has only just been discovered and the software developer or vendor has ‘zero days’ to fix it.

Zero-day vulnerabilities are software vulnerabilities that have not yet been identified by the developers of the software. These vulnerabilities can be exploited by cybercriminals to leverage an attack on computing systems.

Once a vulnerability has been identified, hackers create and release malware to target the flaw before the developer has time to create a patch. These attacks are not normally made public so it can be difficult to protect against them or even detect them in the first place.

There are many high-profile examples of zero-day attacks but perhaps the most famous is the Stuxnet Worm which rose to prominence in 2010. The malware exploited four different zero-day vulnerabilities in the Microsoft Windows operating system and targeted computers used for manufacturing - specifically Iran’s nuclear enrichment plants. Although the original malware expired some time ago, many of the large scale zero-day attacks from the last decade were based on this original code.

How do zero-day attacks work?

Software developers are constantly looking for flaws in their programmes and code so that they can develop a patch to secure the vulnerability. However, in some cases, cybercriminals discover the vulnerability first. Hackers look for ways to take advantage of the vulnerability by producing exploit code and distributing malware to attack software users.

When cybercriminals launch an attack, web browsers are a popular target as they are used so ubiquitously. Sharing fraudulent links and malicious files through social engineering attacks is also very common. The aim is to infect a software user's device with malware to steal or corrupt their private data.

Zero-day exploit code is even sold on the dark web for large sums of money with the aim of bringing down businesses, organisations or even governments.

It can sometimes take days, weeks, or even months before developers identify the vulnerability that led to the attack and, even once the patch is released, not all users are quick to implement it.

How to protect against a zero-day attack

Zero-day threats are notoriously hard to detect but there are a few measures that businesses of all sizes should embrace to mitigate the risk of an attack.

Patch management

Keeping systems up to date through consistent patch management is a vital step in combatting zero-day threats. Patch management is the process of identifying security vulnerabilities and installing software updates to correct the problem. Patches can be deployed on a number of endpoints including desktop and mobile computers and servers.

Firewalls

Firewalls are one of the first lines of defence against malware attacks. Web application firewalls protect the user at application level by filtering and monitoring traffic in real-time to prevent malicious threats from reaching your endpoint in the first place.

Vulnerability scanning

Just like penetration testing, vulnerability scanning involves simulating an attack on a piece of software to attempt to find new vulnerabilities. Identifying your vulnerabilities will help you stay one step ahead of the hackers and highlight what actions you need to take to secure your software.

Our solution

Working in partnership with WatchGuard Technologies, we offer a complete endpoint solution that will help you combat zero-day threats. Our centrally managed, next-generation endpoint solution prevents even advanced targeted attacks to give you peace of mind.

Our solution combines the latest machine learning with behavioural analysis and integrated firewall and web protection technologies to prevent malware, spyware and ransomware attacks in real-time.

Staying up to date with software patch management can be incredibly time-consuming. Luckily, we can manage that for you too. Our team can take the hassle out of software management and handle the entire process for you to ensure you are always up to date.

To discover the right endpoint solution for your business, contact one of the OX IT Solutions team today.