Definition
A vulnerability is a weakness in a system, application, or process that could be exploited by a threat actor. These weaknesses can arise from design flaws, coding errors, misconfigurations, or human mistakes. In practice, vulnerabilities allow attackers to gain unauthorized access, steal data, disrupt operations, or cause other damage. Understanding and mitigating vulnerabilities is crucial for protecting sensitive information and maintaining system integrity. For example, an unpatched software flaw on a web server is a common vulnerability that could allow an attacker to deface the website. Unlike a threat, which is a potential danger, a vulnerability is the specific flaw that a threat could exploit. This concept is fundamental to cybersecurity certifications like Security+, CySA+, and CISSP.