Zero-Day Vulnerabilities (ZDVs)

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Source-This post on Zero-Day Vulnerabilities (ZDVs) is based on the article “Indian Govt Warns About Major Google Chrome Security Alert: What You Need To Know” published in “The News 18” on 13th May 2024.

Why in the News?

Another zero-day vulnerability has struck Google Chrome, prompting concern among users and cybersecurity professionals alike.

About Zero-Day Vulnerabilities (ZDVs)

1. About Zero-Day Vulnerability (ZDV): It denotes a system or software flaw that remains unknown to its vendor, lacking any available patch or mitigation at its discovery.

2. About Zero-Day Attack: Zero-Day Attack refers to the immediate exploitation of a ZDV, with no time-lapse between the vulnerability’s discovery and the commencement of the attack. A Zero-Day Attack transpires when threat actors swiftly develop and deploy malware specifically designed to target the ZDV.

3. About Zero-Day Exploit: Zero-Day Exploit refers to the method employed by hackers to capitalize on a ZDV, often through the deployment of malware, facilitating the execution of the attack.

Risks Associated with Zero-Day Vulnerabilities

1. Heightened Risk Factors: ZDVs pose a substantially elevated risk to users due to their discovery preceding awareness among security researchers and software developers.

2. Cybercriminal Exploitation: Cybercriminals actively exploit ZDVs to exploit vulnerabilities and profit from their malicious activities, creating urgency to address the issue.

3. Extended Exposure: Systems vulnerable to ZDVs remain exposed until the respective vendor releases a patch to address the identified flaw, leaving users susceptible to potential attacks.

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