What Is Zero Day Vulnerability?

There are some things that you should know about. We would only add a few exciting spices to it and get straight to the point. A zero-day vulnerability is an unknown or unanticipated software flaw or security hole in an IT system that hackers can exploit. On a given day, IT professionals may refer to several zero-day vulnerabilities. A zero-day vulnerability is sometimes referred to as a “zero-day exploit.” It can also be called an “undiscovered” or “unpatched” bug in the system. While these terms may sound similar, they can mean different things. A zero-day exploit refers specifically to the actual means of exploiting the vulnerability and gaining unauthorized access to the system or network it protects. A zero-day exploit could involve using a piece of malware or some other malicious code that allows for unauthorized access through an unpatched browser or email client on a user's computer—or even through their phone if it has an unpatched operating system such as Android OS or iOS. A zero-day vulnerability is a security flaw that is not known to the vendor or software developer, who has had zero days to patch or fix it. The term relies on the everyday use of the word "zero day" to describe the first day a specific IT problem is recognized. A zero-day also serves as a benchmark for addressing these software problems. Typically, IT and security professionals should look for upgrades or patches that resolve zero-day vulnerabilities before the fact or alter systems to tighten data and asset security. In short, when a vendor does not protect an issue discovered and branded a zero-day vulnerability, it is born into the consciousness of developers and security communities, enabling future rapid responses organizations require for adequate network security.