What is a Zero Day Attack?
We have spoken about “Zero Day” vulnerabilities in many other articles, such as our article about the differences between Traditional Anti-Virus and modern solutions such as Endpoint Detection & Response. But what exactly is a “Zero Day Attack”?
In the IT Support and Cyber Security industry, a "Zero Day Attack" refers to a scenario where cyber criminals exploit previously unknown vulnerabilities in software and operating systems that have yet to have been patched by their developers. These vulnerabilities offer attackers an open door to infiltrate systems, steal data, or cause damage before any defensive actions can be taken.
Why is it called a “Zero Day Attack”?
The term "Zero Day" reflects the fact that developers (and security teams) are unaware of the vulnerability and have zero days to develop and deploy a patch to secure it, as the attack often occurs immediately upon the vulnerability’s discovery.
Zero-day vulnerabilities are typically found in a wide variety of commonly used software, operating systems, or even hardware components, making these attacks particularly dangerous. With the rapid pace of technological advancement, new vulnerabilities emerge frequently, creating an enticing opportunity for cyber criminals to take advantage of them before they are discovered and patched.
In an effort to reduce the amount of Zero Day attacks, developers often employ Penetration Testing teams to be able to probe for undiscovered vulnerabilities actively and continuously, with many larger businesses also providing “bug bounty” programmes to pay external cyber professionals who report vulnerabilities before they are discovered by cyber criminals.
How Do Zero Day Attacks Work?
Zero Day attacks can involve a complex series of steps before cyber criminals target businesses;
Discovery: Attackers identify a vulnerability before it is known to the software vendor or the cyber security community. Whilst developers may have their penetration testing to protect against unknown vulnerabilities, criminals are constantly probing common software for new attack vectors, and when they discover them, they will use them for their exploits.
Exploit Development: Once discovered, the attacker develops an exploit, usually in the form of an executable piece of code that takes advantage of the vulnerability. These can often be hidden in other files such as documents sent by email or disguised as another type of file entirely.
Distribution: One of the most common methods of distribution for these types of attacks is via phishing emails. However, it is not uncommon to receive malicious malware downloads, or direct infiltration if the vulnerability is severe enough.
Execution: Once the exploit executes on a target system, it could potentially allow attackers unauthorised administrative access to systems, could be used to steal data from target machines, disrupt services, launch ransomware attacks, or further launch a more widespread attack on your business network.
Examples of Zero Day Attacks
Several high-profile Zero Day attacks have demonstrated the risks associated with these vulnerabilities:
Stuxnet (2010): This worm, one of the most notable Zero Day attacks, targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities, exploiting vulnerabilities in Siemens industrial software.
Google Chrome Vulnerabilities (2021): In 2021, multiple Zero Day vulnerabilities were discovered in Google Chrome, leading to emergency patches.
Log4Shell (2021): This vulnerability in the widely used Log4j logging library created a widespread security threat, affecting systems globally across many organisations and industries.
Why Are Zero Day Attacks So Dangerous?
The primary danger of Zero Day attacks lies in their unpredictability. As software developers and IT teams are unaware of these vulnerabilities, no immediate protection is in place against these specific attack vectors. Additionally, 97% of successful cyber attacks occur because businesses do not have modern and comprehensive security solutions in place to protect themselves from these types of attacks. This lack of preparedness gives attackers a significant advantage, often enabling them to cause considerable damage to businesses and end users alike before patches can be released. For businesses, this could mean potential data loss, disruption of business operations, financial damages, and reputational harm.
How Can Businesses Protect Themselves from Zero Day Attacks?
While Zero Day attacks are difficult to predict, due to the unknown nature of the vulnerabilities, businesses can adopt various solutions and strategies to minimise risks, therefore protecting their digital infrastructure. Regular Cyber Security Audits, paired with comprehensive cyber security solutions and seeking proactive support from cyber security professionals such as us are vital elements to protect your business from these unknown threats. Examples of many solutions businesses can deploy to protect themselves include;
Implement Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions monitor network endpoints (such as your PC/Laptop), using real-time AI, Behavioural Analytics and Machine Learning to monitor for unusual, suspicious, and malicious activities, blocking it in their tracks. Even if the vulnerability is unknown and has not been patched by the developer.
Regular Software Updates and Patch Management
While Zero Day vulnerabilities are, by definition, unpatched, keeping all systems up-to-date with the latest security patches helps reduce the likelihood of being targeted by exploits in older vulnerabilities. We deploy automated patch management systems for our clients to ensure patches are applied as soon as they are available.
Implement Network Segmentation
Network segmentation limits access to sensitive data, reducing the potential impact of a Zero Day attack if only a limited number of devices are targeted. By isolating critical systems, departments, and data, businesses can contain an attack, preventing it from easily spreading throughout the network.
Adopt Advanced Firewall and Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS)
Modern Firewalls and Intrusion Detection solutions use AI and Machine Learning to detect abnormal traffic patterns, even in Zero Day scenarios as cyber criminals potentially attempt to access and move a cross a business network. Even modern cloud-based solutions such as SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) can protect remote users where traditional physical on-site equipment cannot.
Promote Security Awareness Training
Your employees are your weakest link, this is true in every business. As humans, we are more susceptible to phishing and other social engineering attacks than a computer is. Educating employees about cyber security, particularly phishing and social engineering tactics, helps reduce the risk of Zero Day exploits. Educated employees can serve as a strong first line of defence, minimising the risk of accidental breaches.
24/7 Cyber Security Operations Centre
Unfortunately, cyber criminals are constantly looking for new exploits and even ways to avoid detection by modern tools. But this is where solutions such as our Cyber Security Operations Centre come in. Our cyber security professions use threat intelligence platforms to gain insight into evolving threats, actively probe potential threats for our clients, penetration testing and put solutions in place to protect businesses from vulnerabilities that they may not be aware of and actively hunt for potential ways in which attackers could compromise your business.
How can we protect you from Zero Day threats?
At TwentyFour IT Services, we understand that Zero Day attacks are a significant threat to every business, with potentially severe consequences for businesses that do not have the right systems and solutions in place to protect themselves.
While these attacks are challenging to prevent due to their inherent unpredictability, adopting a comprehensive, multi-layered cyber security approach can vastly reduce the potential risk and impact your business could face. Fill out the form below to receive a FREE Cyber Security Health Check.