In
computer security
Computer security (also cybersecurity, digital security, or information technology (IT) security) is a subdiscipline within the field of information security. It consists of the protection of computer software, systems and computer network, n ...
, an attack vector is a specific path, method, or scenario that can be exploited to break into an IT system, thus compromising its security. The term was derived from the corresponding notion of
vector in biology. An attack vector may be exploited manually, automatically, or through a combination of manual and automatic activity.
Often, this is a multi-step process. For instance, malicious code (code that the user did not consent to being run and that performs actions the user would not consent to) often operates by being added to a harmless seeming document made available to an
end user
In product development, an end user (sometimes end-user) is a person who ultimately uses or is intended to ultimately use a product. The end user stands in contrast to users who support or maintain the product, such as sysops, system administrato ...
. When the unsuspecting end user opens the document, the malicious code in question (known as the
payload
Payload is the object or the entity that is being carried by an aircraft or launch vehicle. Sometimes payload also refers to the carrying capacity of an aircraft or launch vehicle, usually measured in terms of weight. Depending on the nature of t ...
) is executed and performs the abusive tasks it was programmed to execute, which may include things such as spreading itself further, opening up unauthorized access to the IT system, stealing or encrypting the user's documents, etc.
In order to limit the chance of discovery once installed, the code in question is often obfuscated by layers of seemingly harmless code.
Some common attack vectors:
* exploiting
buffer overflows; this is how the
Blaster worm
Blaster (also known as Lovsan, Lovesan, or MSBlast) was a computer worm that spread on computers running operating systems Windows XP and Windows 2000 during August 2003.
The worm was first noticed and started spreading on August 11, 2003. The ...
was able to propagate.
* exploiting webpages and email supporting the loading and subsequent execution of
JavaScript
JavaScript (), often abbreviated as JS, is a programming language and core technology of the World Wide Web, alongside HTML and CSS. Ninety-nine percent of websites use JavaScript on the client side for webpage behavior.
Web browsers have ...
or other types of scripts without properly limiting their powers.
* exploiting networking protocol flaws to perform unauthorized actions at the other end of a network connection.
*
phishing
Phishing is a form of social engineering and a scam where attackers deceive people into revealing sensitive information or installing malware such as viruses, worms, adware, or ransomware. Phishing attacks have become increasingly sophisticate ...
: sending deceptive messages to end users to entice them to reveal confidential information, such as passwords.
See also
References
Computer viruses
Computer worms
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