Catalog
concept#Security#Software engineering#Observability

Exploit

An exploit is a technique or piece of software that leverages a vulnerability to perform unauthorized actions on a system.

An exploit is a method or piece of software that leverages a vulnerability in a system to perform unauthorized actions.
Established
High

Classification

  • High
  • Technical
  • Architectural
  • Intermediate

Technical context

SIEM platformsEndpoint Detection and Response (EDR)Vulnerability management systems

Principles & goals

Contextualize vulnerabilitiesVerify before assumptionsApply defense-in-depth
Build
Enterprise, Domain, Team

Use cases & scenarios

Compromises

  • Lack of detection leads to prolonged compromise
  • Mis-prioritization wastes resources
  • Overreliance on signatures can blind defenses
  • Enforce principle of least privilege
  • Conduct regular threat model reviews
  • Integrate automated tests against known exploits

I/O & resources

  • Threat model
  • System and network topology
  • Log and telemetry data
  • Exploit indicators (IOCs)
  • Vulnerability risk assessment
  • Playbook for containment

Description

An exploit is a method or piece of software that leverages a vulnerability in a system to perform unauthorized actions. Exploits range from simple input manipulation to complex chains enabling remote code execution. Understanding exploits is essential for detection, mitigation, and risk assessment across development and operations.

✔

  • Improved understanding of attack paths
  • Enables targeted defensive measures
  • Better prioritization of patches

✖

  • Rapid evolution of new exploits
  • High level of detail required for full analysis
  • Incomplete indicators can be misleading

  • Mean time to detect (MTTD)

    Average time between exploitation and first detection.

  • Mean time to remediate (MTTR)

    Average time until an exploit is fixed or mitigated.

  • Number of successful exploits

    Count of incidents with confirmed exploitation over a period.

Heartbleed

Exploitation of a flaw in OpenSSL heartbeat extension that exposed sensitive memory contents.

EternalBlue

A network exploit against SMB that enabled widespread malware propagation.

Log4Shell

Remote code execution exploit in a widely used Java logging library with global impact.

1

Harden the threat model and prioritize

2

Extend telemetry and develop signatures

3

Establish detection, containment and patch workflows

⚠️ Technical debt & bottlenecks

  • Unmerged legacy patches
  • Uninstrumented legacy components
  • Ad-hoc detection rules without governance
Legacy componentsLack of telemetryInadequate patching processes
  • Uncontrolled use of exploits in test systems without isolation
  • Misinterpreting IOCs leads to wrong countermeasures
  • Automatic blocklists disrupting legitimate traffic
  • Missing exploit chains spanning multiple components
  • Assumptions about attacker capabilities without evidence
  • Insufficient testing after patches
Reverse engineeringNetwork forensicsSecure software development
Minimal attack surfaceSecure error handlingRobust input validation
  • • Constraints from third-party software
  • • Resource-limited incident response teams
  • • Regulatory disclosure obligations