Software vulnerabilities are flaws, weaknesses or misconfigurations in an application that an attacker can exploit to compromise its security. These vulnerabilities can lead to unauthorized access, data leakage, denial of service, or other malicious activities.
Common Software Vulnerabilities
| Vulnerability | Description |
|---|---|
| Buffer Overflow | Occurs when data exceeds a buffer’s capacity, potentially allowing code injection or crashes. |
| SQL Injection (SQLi) | Insertion of malicious SQL queries via user input to manipulate or access databases. |
| Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) | Injection of malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. |
| Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) | Forces a user to execute unwanted actions on a web application in which they are authenticated. |
| Insecure Authentication | Weak or predictable login mechanisms that can be bypassed by attackers. |
| Directory Traversal | Gaining unauthorized access to files/directories by manipulating file paths. |
| Remote Code Execution (RCE) | Vulnerability that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code on a remote system. |
| Privilege Escalation | Exploiting a vulnerability to gain higher-level permissions. |
| Unvalidated Input | Accepting user input without proper validation, leading to multiple injection attacks. |
| Denial of Service (DoS) | Making resources unavailable by overwhelming the system with traffic or requests. |
Exploitation Techniques
Attackers follow various strategies to exploit vulnerabilities:
a) Reconnaissance:
- Collect information about the system, such as software versions, open ports, and services.
b) Crafting Exploits:
- Develop malicious payloads or requests tailored to the identified vulnerability (e.g., a specially crafted SQL query or shellcode).
c) Executing the Attack:
- Deliver the exploit via vectors like web forms, network requests, or malicious links.
d) Post-Exploitation:
- Once access is gained, attackers may:
- Steal or alter data
- Install malware
- Create backdoors for future access
- Escalate privileges to gain deeper control