What is a zero-day vulnerability?

A zero-day vulnerability refers to a security flaw that is unknown to the software vendor or the developer at the time it is discovered by an attacker. Because the vendor is unaware of the vulnerability, there is no patch or fix available to address the security issue. This means that the vulnerability can be exploited by attackers, putting systems and data at risk until the vendor identifies the flaw and develops a remedy.

The absence of a patch means that organizations must be vigilant in monitoring their systems and implementing other security measures to mitigate potential exploits of such vulnerabilities. Zero-day vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can be exploited before any defenses can be put in place. Awareness of their existence is vital for maintaining a strong security posture.