Vulnerability (computing)

In computer security, a vulnerability is a weakness which allows an attacker to reduce a system's information assurance.

Description

Vulnerability is the intersection of three elements:

• A system susceptibility or flaw
• Attacker access to the flaw
• And attacker capability to exploit the flaw

Attack surface

To exploit a vulnerability, an attacker must have at least one applicable tool or technique that can connect to a system weakness.

In this frame, vulnerability is also known as the attack surface.

See also

• Attack surface
• Computer science
• Computer security
• Computing
• Information assurance
• Security

External links

• Vulnerability (computing) @ Wikipedia