What is a zero-day attack and why is it so dangerous? Learn how hackers exploit software vulnerabilities before patches are available, a critical concept for the Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) Cybersecurity 100-160 exam.
Table of Contents
Question
A hacker exploits a software vulnerability before a patch is released. What is this type of attack called?
A. Zero-day attack
B. Rootkit attack
C. Phishing attack
D. Insider threat
E. Supply chain attack
Answer
A. Zero-day attack
Explanation
A zero-day attack exploits a vulnerability before developers have issued a fix.
The attack where a hacker exploits a software vulnerability before a patch is released is called a zero-day attack.
A zero-day attack targets a software vulnerability that is unknown to the vendor or developer and for which no patch or fix exists at the time of the attack.
The term “zero-day” refers to the fact that developers have had zero days to address or fix the vulnerability once it becomes known, leaving systems exposed to exploitation.
Attackers discover these vulnerabilities and quickly develop exploit code to take advantage of them before the vendor can respond, often leading to data breaches, malware infections, or system compromises.
Zero-day attacks are particularly dangerous because traditional security tools and antivirus solutions may not recognize or block them, as the vulnerability is not yet documented or understood by defenders.
Once the vulnerability is discovered by the vendor and a patch is released, the exploit is no longer considered “zero-day,” but until then, affected systems remain highly vulnerable.
A zero-day attack exploits a previously unknown vulnerability before a software developer can issue a fix, making it one of the most critical and challenging threats in cybersecurity.
Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) Cybersecurity 100-160 certification exam practice question and answer (Q&A) dump with detail explanation and reference available free, helpful to pass the Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) Cybersecurity 100-160 exam and earn Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) Cybersecurity 100-160 certification.