What Is an Attack Vector? 8 Common Examples

Many organizations are undergoing an expansive digital transformation, and as a result, their attack surface is growing. This increases the number of exploitable vulnerabilities on enterprise networks, and organizations must take the necessary steps today to securely defend their cybersecurity tomorrow.

Organizations must gain a complete understanding of the security vulnerabilities across their IT ecosystem so that a comprehensive cybersecurity program can be created. Then, the necessary steps can be taken to mitigate risks as well as put necessary defenses in place to ensure everything is protected moving forward. Doing so will allow security teams to keep up with cybercriminals as they evolve their attacks to try and stay ahead. Doing so will allow security teams to keep up with threat actors as they evolve their attack methods to stay ahead.

Let’s explore the common types of cyber attack vectors, how they’re leveraged by adversaries, and what your organization can do to defend against them.

How do attack vectors, attack surfaces, and security breaches differ?

To effectively build a cyber risk management program, you must have an understanding of the difference between attack vectors, attack surfaces, and security breaches.

Here are the key differences between each:

Attack vectors

Active attack vectors like phishing or zero-day attacks are the means or tactics by which hackers can gain network access. Attackers often use social engineering tactics, malicious code, or unpatched vulnerabilities to infiltrate systems. Conversely, passive attack vectors aim to intercept data stealthily, such as eavesdropping on private networks.

Attack surfaces

An organization’s attack surface is made up of all of the various touchpoints through which adversaries can gain access to or manipulate the network, or extract sensitive data.

An attack surface includes physical attack surfaces such as endpoint devices, routers, servers, and mobile devices and digital components like cloud infrastructure, software, and ports. Each of these surfaces represents potential entry points for unauthorized users.

Data breaches

A security breach occurs when unauthorized parties access, steal or publish an organization’s confidential or protected information. These incidents often involve compromised credentials, weak passwords, or exploits targeting software vulnerabilities.

Why and How Do Cybercriminals Use Attach Vectors?

Cybercriminals are motivated by malicious intent, with goals ranging from financial gain to espionage. Additionally, the motivation behind an attack may be related to the hackers’ moral opposition, and their attacks could be an attempt to diminish an organization’s reputation or harm sales.

 Common strategies include:

• Credential stuffing to exploit stolen user credentials.
• Brute force attacks to guess weak passwords.
• Deploying malware infections, such as ransomware, to lock endpoint devices.

Cybercriminals also exploit unpatched software or security gaps introduced by service providers to compromise organizations’ defenses.

Cybercriminals can carry out an attack in two ways. The first is passive, which refers to an attempt to access data without impacting system resources. The second is active, which refers to an attempt to disrupt service on a system or site.

8 examples of common attack vectors

For many organizations, their digital attack surface is expanding. To effectively secure a network amid evolving threats, organizations must be aware of the leading players across industries.

Below are attack vector examples that demonstrate how adversaries exploit vulnerabilities to compromise systems.

1. Ransomware

Ransomware attacks are a subset of malware that can cut off a user’s access to critical applications. Attackers will typically seize all control over a database and demand a ransom in return for restored access. These attacks target a wide range of industries, from healthcare to finance, making them a pervasive threat. Regularly applying software updates and using antivirus software are key defenses.

2. Phishing

Phishing attacks are among the most common types of attack vectors and can be one of the harder vulnerabilities to mitigate, given the primary target is not typically tech-savvy. They use social engineering attacks to trick the target into clicking a link or providing confidential information by disguising it as an official email entity or organization. Utilizing spam filters and adopting a proactive approach that fosters a culture of cybersecurity awareness is essential to combating (Update link) phishing attacks.

3. Distributed-denial-of-service (DDoS)

A Distributed-Denial-of-Service attack involves disrupting traffic on a site by overloading it and rendering it inoperable. By overloading systems, DDoS attacks exploit network segmentation flaws to disrupt services. These attacks are typically carried out with the help of botnets, which create an overflow of requests on the site until it is no longer able to function properly. 

As organizations adopt new Internet of Things (IoT) devices, they’ll need to implement defenses to keep all devices protected. Implementing an additional layer of security, such as traffic filtering, can protect against these assaults.

4. Compromised, weak, or stolen credentials

Weak passwords or compromised credentials are a leading cause of security breaches, so clear guidelines for users are necessary to ensure that the proper steps are taken. Credentials should not be shared between employees or across devices, as this makes it easier for hackers to turn a single breach into a much larger issue. Two-factor identification and password managers can also help to ensure that everyone in your organization is aware of the implicit vulnerabilities of weak encryption and poorly secured passwords.

5. Insider threats

Insider threats come in all shapes and sizes, both negligent and malicious. A trusted member of the organization typically carries out these attacks like an employee or contractor. An example of negligence is when sensitive information is sent to the wrong user, while an example of maliciousness might entail someone selling that information to an outside source. 

Also, adopting strong encryption methods and enforcing clear policies for behavior for users is essential. Another way to mitigate these attacks is with zero-trust security, which only gives users the exact level of access that they need to carry out their job function, nothing more.

6. Third-party vendors

While third and fourth-party vendors enable flexibility and improved productivity for many organizations, they must take the cybersecurity posture of their third-party vendors just as seriously as their own. The cost of third-party data breaches is rapidly increasing, and with more than 50% of organizations claiming to have experienced at least one data breach caused by a third party, it’s clear why a comprehensive third-party risk management program is a necessity.

7. Poor encryption

Without proper encryption, organizations may fall victim to malicious activity like man-in-the-middle attacks as data is transmitted across a network. When users connect to networks or applications that are at risk, the likelihood of sensitive information being exposed in a data breach rises. Proactive and preventative measures should be taken to ensure that all data is being secured as it moves between users and applications. Using strong encryption methods for both data at rest and in transit minimizes exposure.

8. System misconfiguration

Misconfigurations often create security flaws that provide easy opportunities for hackers to leverage and exploit vulnerabilities. Routine checks for software updates and continuous monitoring are essential to maintaining your organization’s cyber hygiene, ensuring that application and device settings remain up-to-date with industry standards and best practices.

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